Cessnock District Cricket saw first grade complete the second week of competition last Saturday, with second and fourth grade commencing their competitions. Third grade will not start until the 4th December.
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Flying high after a great opening win against the highly fancied Mulbring the previous week, the Piranhas came crashing back to earth in a heavy 226-run loss to Greta/Branxton at Miller Park.
Embarrassed by their dismal batting display against Wine Country the week before, Greta/Branxton again made first use of the favourable batting conditions.
This time they found their groove that took them to their third district premiership last season, amassing 6-267 from their 40 overs.
Opener Nathan Holz blasted 81, Greg Andrews scored an entertaining 60 not out in his first hit out for the season, receiving great support from fellow veteran Darren Thomson who too remained unbeaten on 38.
Mark Bercini (28), Belmont import Jace Lawson (22) and Josh Dagg (22) also kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Dane Grills (2-44 off 9) and James Collins (2-42 off 5) were the pick of the Piranhas attack.
The visitors never settled into the run chase, dismissed in just the 14th over for 41.
A week seemed like a long time after their powerful batting display against Mulbring, with Collins the only willowman in double figures with 14.
Lawson did not take long to settle into rhythm in his new competition after a long stint in Newcastle, bagging 5-10 off 7 very tidy overs of left-arm swing bowling to complete a fine all-round game.
He received great support from fellow seamers Patrick Andrews (3-23 off 5) and Will Regan (2-7 off 1.4).
After the first round bye, inaugural Coalfields Cup champions Bellbird opened their account with a comfortable five-wicket victory over first round winners Wine Country at Allandale.
The home side batted first, but managed a modest 6-135 from their 40 overs.
Sam Peacock led the way with a patient 33, with Luke Jeans (27), Matt Lightfoot (21), Jason Ambrose (15no) and Steve Abel (15) making starts.
Zach Kronholm started his season with the four-piece in fine fashion, bagging 3-24 off his 10 overs.
Bellbird reeled in the target in pretty good time in reply, achieving it with 15 overs to spare and five wickets left in the sheds. Openers Jason Orr (54) and Peter Brennan (40) did the job with the bat for the Tigers, with Steve Abel the pick of the Wood Duck attack with 3-37 off 10.
Mulbring enjoyed the week off with the bye.
Second Grade
Greta/Branxton 1/75 (Blake Kellett 40no, Darren Holz 24no, Adam Williams 1-13 off 6) defeated Piranhas 10/71 (Ryan Fox 21, Robert Clark 14, Mark Peace 4-22 off 10, Tanveer Singh 4-26 off 10).
Bellbird 8/107 (Gavin Kronholm 33, Jon Schatz 14, Matt Harrison 13, Tyler Wade 3-19 off 4, Alessandro Ganino 2-23 off 9) defeated Wine Country 10/97 (Alessandro Ganino 34, Eain Harris 19, Robert Clark 3-18 off 10, Gavin Kronholm 3-4 off 3.4, Matt Harrison 2-18 off 7).
Chelmsford Hotel bye.
Fourth Grade
Supporters 10/163 (L. Smith 53, K. Jordan 29, J. Butt 16, Scott Minter 13, Daniel McCann 3-38 off 7, Zach MacBeth 3-38 off 10, Logan Rutter 2-25 off 6) defeated Greta/Branxton 10/130 (Sam Dagg 36no, Daniel McCann 31, Logan Rutter 16, Scott Minter 6-50 off 10, Aaron Field 2-29 off 5, Nev Taylor 2-32 off 4.2).
Chelmsford Hotel 3/105 (Venkatasaisandeep Inakollu 27, Vijayashanka Tharumakulasingam 23, Logeshwaran Panneerselvan 16, Ryan Wilcox 13no, Jason McMichael 2-34 off 10) defeated Wine Country 10/103 (Jason McMichael 45, Brodey Saunders 11no, Andrew Wanless 3-16 off 7, Vijayashanka Tharumakulasingam 2-14 off 10, Praveen Kuppan 2-23 off 5).
Cessnock Hotel 8/181 (Karl Caparara 74no, Steve Bedford 49, Nic Wallace 14, Ricky Hollis 3-43, Matthew Kemp 2-50) defeated 6/177 (Ricky Hollis 48, Jack Stoker 45, Matthew Kemp 41, Jamie Spence 4-15 off 9, Steve Bedford 2-31 off 5).
Points Tables
First Grade Greta/Branxton 10, Piranhas 10, Wine Country 10, Bellbird 7*, Mulbring 3*.
* byes received, no points allocated.
Second Grade Bellbird 7, Greta/Branxton 7, Piranhas 3, Wine Country 3, Chelmsford Hotel 0*.
* byes received, no points allocated.
Third Grade Does not start until 4.12.21
Fourth Grade Chelmsford Hotel 7, Piranhas 7, Supporters 7, Cessnock Hotel 3, Greta/Branxton 3, Wine Country 3.
Club Championship Greta/Branxton 96.60, Piranhas 85.40, Wine Country 82.60, Bellbird 73.50.
Club Championship Formula:- First Grade x 7, Second Grade x 3.5, Third Grade x 2.1,
Fourth Grade x 0.7.