A handful of matches in the combined Cessnock and Singleton Districts Cricket Association fell victim to the weather at the weekend.
In fact, the only first grade fixture to take place occurred at Miller Park on Saturday.
And, Greta-Branxton maintained Creeks’ winless start to the season by prevailing by 43 runs.
After being sent into bat, the Blues posted a competitive 9-184 from their 40 overs, with Connor Thomson (55) posting his second half century of 2023/24 already.
He was well-supported by Chris Murray (27), Mark Bercini (23), Joey Butler (19) and Patrick Andrews (17no).
Jarrod Campbell was the pick of the Creeks’ attack with 3-24 off 7, with Daniel Tracey (2-35 off 8) and Macauley Johnsson (2-31 off 6) picking up a brace of wickets each.
The visitors were all in the 34th over in reply for 141.
Opener Chris Unicomb led the way and looked really solid for his 32 but succumbed to a knee injury and unfortunately had to retire hurt.
Chad Solman (21), Hayden Bourke (20) and Daniel Wojcikewycz (15) all made starts.
For the Blues, Jamie Moore kept the Creeks batsmen guessing with 4-39 off 7.4, with Patrick Andrews (2-23 off 8) and out-of-retirement Darren Thomson (2-43 off 8) also taking wickets.
The other scheduled top grade clashes between Glendon and Valley/JPC at Howe Park and Wine Country and Piranhas/Bellbird at Allandale were both washed out.
- Mark Bercini
Cessnock and Singleton Districts Cricket Association
Second grade
- Piranhas 10/172 (Ben Hipwell 77, Aaron Zechel 48, Koby Brown 3-3-11 off 8, Johan Briedenhann 3-66 off 8, Wayne Harris 2-15 off 5.5) defeated Wine Country 10/146 (Oscar Vaughan 46, Lachlan Marino 32, Koby Brown 25no, Aaron Zechel 3-39 off 8, Ben Hipwell 2-23 off 8, Lucas Zechel 2-8 off 2.4)
- JPC 3/62 (Lyle Banks 17, Ethan Bowden 14, Siaan Carman 3-10 off 5, Brad Driscoll 2-13 off 5, Dave Moorcroft 2-8 off 2.4) defeated Glendon/PCH 10/61 (Rhys Giles 29, Andrew Knox 24no, Xavier Gunn 2-23 off 3.4)
- Bellbird 8/63 (Jon Schatz 14, Nic Siers 12no, Mark Donnelly 4-19 off 7, Peter Mills 2-11 off 6, Jackson Ball 2-14 off 6) defeated Denman 10/59 (Mark Donnelly, Tim Hewitt 12, Daniel Burford 4-20 off 8, Jack Swift 3-16 off 4.5, 3-16 off 4.5, Stef Durie 2-15 off 5)
- Greta-Branxton defeated Creeks by forfeit
Third grade
- Wine Country 10/178 (Brody Saunders 57, Martin Ashton 41, John Cato-Symonds, Lachlan Eather 16, Scott Burgess 2-35 off 8, Lance Lennard 2-22 off 8, Seth Simmonds 2-28 off 4) defeated Piranhas 10/138 (Mark White 32, Andrew Beer 27, Lochie Lennard 20, Dylan Knipe 15, Jason McMichael 3-21 off 6.1, Riley Rees 2-21 off 4, Tom Vaughan 2-6 off 1)
- JPC 10/169 (James Shoulders 34, Jimmy Moore 33, Daniel Thrift 27, Jonah Andrews 17, Ross Burden 3-20 off 5, Preston Miller 2-34 off 7, Mason Kelly 2-35 off 5, Chris Howard 2-41 off 8) defeated Valley 10/91 (Chris Howard 27, Nathan Bagnall 25, Troy Barnett 15, Daniel Thrift 5-32 off 8, James Shoulders 3-18 off 2.5)
- Greta-Branxton v Hotel Cessnock at Miller 2 washed out
- Bye: Denman
Fourth grade
- Hotel Cessnock v Piranhas at Drain Oval washed out
- Wine Country v Supporters at Baddeley 2 washed out
- Bye: Greta-Branxton
Points tables
First grade: Piranhas/Bellbird 21, Greta-Branxton 18, PCH 12*, Valley/JPC 9*, Wine Country 9, Glendon 3*, Creeks 0*
* bye received, no points awarded
Second grade: Bellbird 24, JPC 18, Denman 18, Piranhas 12, Greta-Branxton 12, Wine Country 6, Creeks 6, Glendon/PCH 0
Third grade: Wine Country 18, Hotel Cessnock 15*, Greta-Branxton 15, Piranhas 12, Valley 6*, JPC 6*, Denman 0*
* bye received, no points awarded
Fourth grade: Hotel Cessnock 15*, Wine Country 15, Supporters 9*, Greta-Branxton 6*, Piranhas 3*
* bye received, no points awarded
For more sports stories:
- Hard-working MP Repacholi targets sixth Olympic Games campaign
- A GOOD SPORT: Death of one-day cricket highly exaggerated
- Maitland’s champions teams honoured at Civic Reception
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
