Cessnock District Cricket Association sides once again dominated their Singleton counterparts in the second round of the Coalfields Cup at the weekend.
The scheduled match between PCH and Bellbird at Cook Park was switched to Carmichael Park, with the latter having an early afternoon with a six-wicket victory.
Batting first, PCH was skittled inside 23 overs for just 48, with Jake Mackaway (19) the only batsman to reach double figures in a fairly dismal looking scorecard.
Zach Kronholm produced a beautiful spell of seam bowling with the new ball, bagging 6-15 off 7.2, with Joey Barber chipping in with 2-15 off 7.
Bellbird took just 11.2 overs to reel in the small target, with Matt Schrieber (11) and skipper Joey Main (10no) getting the job done.
However, they lost four scalps on the way, these belonged to Jake Daniels (3) and Jackson Shade (1).
Greta/Branxton also recorded a fairly comfortable six-wicket triumph in its Coalfields Cup clash with Valley at Miller Park.
Valley was sent into bat, and their only real shining light was an aggressive 59 from competition instigator Daniel Storey.
B. Whittington (12no) and M. Maher (11) showed some resistance in the tail, but the afternoon belonged to former Singleton legend Darren Thomson who bagged 5-42 off 8 for Greta/Branxton.
He was well-supported by Jace Lawson who was tidy in his 2-13 off 7.
The Blues remained in control throughout the run chase, reaching the modest target in the 24th over after losing four wickets.
Reuben Andrews continued his recent good spate of form with an unbeaten 43, Mark Bercini also made a scratchy 43, with Lawson (13no) at the crease for the winning runs.
Brad Maher (3-28 off 5.5) was the pick of the Valley attack.
Wine Country also made it back-to-back wins in their nine-wicket thumping of Creeks at Allandale Oval.
Creeks were dismissed for just 63 batting first, with Jarrod Campbell (18) and skipper Blake Cook (17) the only pair in double figures.
Luke Jeans was the pick of the home side’s attack with a very economical 4-6 off 5, with veteran South African Brendan Briedenhann (2-10 off 4.4) chipping in with a brace of wickets with his tweakers.
The Wood Ducks surpassed the target in the 15th over after losing just the one pole.
Club president Mark O’Hara timed the ball nicely in his unbeaten 37.
Cook was the sole wicket-taker for Creeks (1-21 off 3).
In the only other Coalfields Cup game played, Mulbring was far too good for JPC by eight wickets at Mulbring Oval.
JPC started positively, but could not consolidate when needed, and were all out in the 33rd over for 84.
Skipper Stuart Johnstone led from the front with 23 at the top of the order, with Kye Dann and Daniel Thrift making 19 apiece.
Mulbring speedster and newly-appointed skipper Ben Neaves was a little hard to handle with 4-17 off 7, with Zach Sneesby (2-21 off 10) and Cameron Ross (2-19 off 6.3) supporting nicely.
The home side lost just the two scalps in reply, with Chad Lewis (29), Scott Robertson (24) and Mick Mascord (18no) completing the formality.
The match between the Piranhas and Glendon at East End was washed out.
- By Mark Bercini
Second grade
Chelmsford Hotel 7/92 (Arron Follan 25, Brad Hanlon 17, Brett Bartley 16no, Jaiden Herbert 4-19 off 8) defeated Wine Country 9/91 (Henry Murray 29, Tyler Wade 10, Matt Turnbull 2-312 off 10, Hayden Ridley 2-23 off 10)
Bellbird v Greta/Branxton at Carmichael 2 washed out
Piranhas bye
Third grade
Bellbird 7/218 (Jordan Field 99, Gavin Kronholm 48, Nathan Davey 18no, Graham Stoker 16, Lewis Jacobs 2-38 off 10, Riley McKewen 2-35 off 7) defeated Greta/Branxton 10/75 (Mitch Bradford 24, Riley McKewen 20, Alex Clifford 2-17 off 5, Dan Field 2-19 off 8.1)
Wine Country v Mulbring at Baddeley 2 washed out
Piranhas v Cessnock Hotel at Turner Park washed out
Fourth grade
Greta/Branxton 9/144 (Jack McNickle 47, Zac Watkins 39, Rob Chard 14, Isaac Minter 3-25 off 6, Scott Minter 2-29 off 7.1, Sean O’Brien 2-39 off 10) defeated Supporters 10/95 (Kane Jordan 34, Jamie Butt 18, Jack McNickle 3-24 off 6.2, Logan Rutter 2-34 off 7, Jeremy Brown 2-25 off 10)
Wine Country v Chelmsford Hotel at Baddeley 1 washed out
Cessnock Hotel v Piranhas at Drain Oval washed out
Points tables 2021-22
Coalfields Cup: Bellbird 12, Greta/Branxton 12, Wine Country 12, Mulbring 9, Piranhas 6, Creeks 3, JPC 3, Glendon 3, PCH 0, Valley 0
First grade: Bellbird 22*, Greta/Branxton 21*, Wine Country 18*, Piranhas 17*, Mulbring 14*
* byes received, no points allocated
Second grade: Chelmsford Hotel 29*, Wine Country 24*, Bellbird 22*, Greta/Branxton 22*, Piranhas 13**
* byes received, no points allocated
Third grade: Cessnock Hotel 11, Mulbring 11, Bellbird 10, Wine Country 8, Greta/Branxton 7, Bellbird 7
Fourth grade: Chelmsford Hotel 30, Cessnock Hotel 29, Wine Country 29, Supporters 28, Greta/Branxton 24, Piranhas 22
Club Championships: Greta/Branxton 255.50, Bellbird 252.00, Wine Country 247.10 Piranhas 194.60
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