Some exciting games were contested to finalise semi-final positions in all grades of the Coalfields Cup at the weekend.

The individual highlight, however belonged to Greta-Branxton third grade bowler Ethen Spliet-Miller, who picked up a hat-trick against Valley/JPC at Cook Park No. 4.

He took the new two-piece and snared the bowling holy grail with the fifth and sixth deliveries of his fourth over and first of his fifth.

That enabled Spliet-Miller to capture 6-21 off his six overs.

The unpredictable first grade competition finished in that exact fashion, with the bottom three sides defeating the top three to see the final ladder unchanged from the week before.

With their backs to the wall, defending premiers Piranhas/Bellbird were able to chase down Greta-Branxton’s healthy total of 5-238 at East End.

Needing to win to stay alive in this year’s comp, they rallied via an unbeaten 80 from veteran Rob Drage.

He was well-supported by Joey Barber (43), skipper Luke Sweeney (41no), Matt Hopley (26) and Ben Fairlie (22).

Mark Bercini (2-29 off 5) took a brace of wickets for Greta-Branxton.

Earlier in the day, Bercini (102no) notched his second career century, with skipper Joey Butler (64), Nathan Holz (45) scoring freely.

Hopley (1-38 off 8), Luke Sweeney (1-41 off 8), Aaron Sweeney (1-10 off 2) and Barber (1-19 off 2) were the wicket takers.

With a noon start due to the Country Plate semi-final in Dubbo the next day, PCH/Glendon overcame minor premiers Valley/JPC by seven wickets at Howe Park.

The latter managed a modest 168 batting first, with Alex Stafa (56), Isaac Barry (33), Liam Storey (16) and Ross Parker (15) all contributing.

The Bailey combination of Cooper (3-22 off 6) and Anthony (3-32 off 8) took a treble of wickets each for PCH/Glendon, with Chris Ryan (2-24 off 3.3) chipping in with a couple.

Gleights reeled in the target with more than 12 overs to spare, with skipper Jackson Cox (63no) and Kyle Bailey (62no) finishing their seasons on a high.

Liam Storey (2-18 off 3) was the pick of the Valley/JPC attack.

Wine Country’s good seven-wicket win over Creeks went in vain, but not all was lost as they managed to avoid the wooden spoon at Allandale Oval.

Creeks posted 166 batting first.

Most batsmen made starts without pushing on, with Ganesh Kumar (27), Steve Abel (26), Luke Morris (22), Chad Solman (20) and Dan Tracey (14) ticking things over.

Wine Country’s Dave Hornby (3-15 off 8) was their pick with a fine spell of leg-spin bowling, with youngster Jacob Edwards continuing to impress with 2-28 off 5.1.

Ben Wood was the other to make a dent with 2-47 off eight. 

This weekend’s semi-finals will see minor premiers Valley/JPC take on second-placed Greta-Branxton in the major showdown at Howe Park.

The winner of the match will advance through and host the decider.

The loser gets a second crack in the preliminary final the following week.

The minor semi sees Creeks looking to bounce back from three losses on the trot when they face a fast-finishing Piranhas/Bellbird at Cook Park No. 1.

For the loser, there is no tomorrow, with the winner advancing to the preliminary final. 

• Mark Bercini

Second grade

• Piranhas 7/105 (Aaron Zechel 32no, Hayden Farrell 25, Mark White 20, James Halpin 3-20 off 5, Declan Williams 2-15 off 2.3) defeated Greta-Branxton 104 (Tony Williams 28, Kenny Gorton 27no, Adam Kerry 18, Jackson White 13, Aaron Zechel 4-10 off 8, Matt Zechel 3-26 off 8, Scott Burgess 2-5 off 2.3) at Miller 1
• Creeks 2/131 (Chris Unicomb 66no, Hayden Bourke 34, Steve Unicomb 17no, Jonathan Holt 1-35 off 8, Archer Turner-Zeller 1-37 off 7.1) defeated Wine Country 130 (Robbie Sidebottom 47, Jason Gregory 38no, Mark O’Hara 18, Chris Unicomb 3-38 off 7, Mitch Bourke 3-13 off 7.1, Brendan Leach 2-37 off 7) at Cook 1
• Denman 114 (Jack Mann 56, Shaun Wilkins 20, Mason Kelly 2-21 off 8, Daniel Thrift 2-21 off 8, Kashintha Ambagahawatte 2-41 off 8, Chris Howard 2-5 off 3) defeated Valley/JPC 93 (Jason Barry 27, Chris Howard 15, Shaun Wilkins 4-17 off 7.1, Jackson Ball 3-27 off 7) at Cook 2
• Bellbird 2/190 (Aaron Duffie 115no, Joey Millington 41, Ethan Rudder 1-52 off 5.4, Matt Pearce 1-37 off 8) defeated PCH 186 (Jackson Skinner 63, Evan Moss 38, Matt Pearce 34, Luke Meyn 30, Daniel Burford 3-20 off 5.3) at Carmichael 1

Third grade

• Greta-Branxton 9/190 (Zac Watkins 45, Lewis Jacobs 33, Henry Beverley 30, Brad Stewart 24, Brett Stewart 19, Ethen Spliet-Miller 16no, Siaan Carman 3-33 off 8, Lachlan Anderson 2-25 off 8, Matt Chilcott 2-13 off 3) defeated Valley/JPC 70 (Cody Rowe 29, Steve Morris 26, Ethen Spliet-Miller 6-21 off 6, Finn Coddington 2-2 off 1) at Cook 4
• Glendon 9/190 (Ethan Newman 62, Jack Land 36, Tom Pearce 26no, Clancy Cameron 25, Heath Cameron 3-43 off 8, Noah Cooper 2-26 off 7) defeated Hotel Cessnock 106 (Ethan Gunther 55, Gavin Kronholm 14no, Ethan Newman 4-13 off 8, Clancy Cameron 3-31 off 8, Harry Land 2-2 off 4) at Drain Oval
• Wine Country 7/234 (Adam Elbourne 83, Matt Hollis 38, Peter Davis 30no, Toby Shields 27, Asher Olsen 3-41 off 8, Nic Wells 2-52 off 8) defeated Piranhas Blue 5/109 (Daniel Olsen 43, Sean Sweeney 35, Nic Wells 20, Sonny Olsen 13, Matt Hollis 1-8 off 4, Tallen Howson 1-31 off 5, Toby Shields 3-23 off 6, Darren Sutton 2-16 off 7) at Baddeley 2
• Bellbird 9/185 (Andrew Chalker 43, Daniel Ross 39, Josh Fuller 20, Jon Schatz 19, Nic Siers 14no, TJ Roe 3-32 off 8, Tom Page 3-49 off 6, Oliver Spruce 2-32 off 4.3) defeated Piranhas White 182 (Oliver Spruce 52, Sam Apthorpe 38, Byron Whyborn 19no, Damon Besoff 14, Shaun Burgess 6-35 off 8) at Carmichael 2

Fourth grade

• Piranhas 2/90 (Dean Campbell 39, Adam Campbell 21no, Craig Beer 12no, Riley Sundberg 1-13 off 4, Maison Pearce 1-19 off 3) defeated Greta-Branxton Blue 89 (Richard Sundberg 20, Evan Sundberg 18, Adam Williams 3-7 off 3, Logan Marino 3-26 off 6.3, Kaiden Howson 2-20 off 8) at Turner Park
• Valley/JPC 5/128 (Brennan Whittington 50, Brayden Thornton 27, Bruce Dempster 16, Jasper Wright 2-16 off 5) defeated Greta-Branxton White 127 (Jasper Wright 33, Blake Hampton 26, Liam Wright 20, Brayden Thornton 5-23 off 8, Jack Richardson 2-23 off 7.2, Brad Driscoll 2-19 off 8) at Miller 2
• Denman defeated Wine Country by forfeit
• Hotel Cessnock defeated Supporters by forfeit
• Bye: Bellbird

Points Tables (final standings)

• First grade: Valley/JPC 72, Greta-Branxton 68, Creeks 56, Piranhas/Bellbird 52, Wine Country 49, PCH/Glendon 49
• Second grade: Bellbird 67, Greta-Branxton 65, Creeks 62, Piranhas 58, Denman 54, Wine Country 49, Valley/JPC 45, PCH 34
• Third grade: Hotel Cessnock 62, Bellbird 58, Piranhas White 58, Glendon 55, Wine Country 55, Greta-Branxton 54, Valley/JPC 48, Piranhas Blue 42
• Fourth grade: Hotel Cessnock 77, Piranhas 72, Denman 71, Valley/JPC 68, Supporters 50, Bellbird 50, Greta-Branxton Blue 49, Greta-Branxton White 49, Wine Country 48

SEMI-FINAL DRAW (1pm start)

Saturday 7 March

First grade

• Major semi-final: Valley/JPC (1st) v Greta-Branxton (2nd) at Howe Park

Winner to advance to grand final, loser to take on winner of minor semi-final in preliminary final

• Minor semi-final: Creeks (3rd) v Piranhas/Bellbird (4th) at Cook 1

Loser eliminated, winner to take on loser of major semi-final in preliminary final

Second grade

• Major semi-final: Bellbird (1st) v Greta-Branxton (2nd) at Carmichael 1

Winner to advance to grand final, loser to take on winner of minor semi-final in preliminary final

• Minor semi-final: Creeks (3rd) v Piranhas (4th) at Cook 2

Loser eliminated, winner to take on loser of major semi-final in preliminary final

Third grade

• Major semi-final: Hotel Cessnock (1st) v Bellbird (2nd) at Drain Oval. 

Winner to advance to grand final, loser to take on winner of minor semi-final in preliminary final

• Minor semi-final: Piranhas White (3rd) v TBC (4th) at East End

Loser eliminated, winner to take on loser of major semi-final in preliminary final

Fourth grade

• Major semi-final: Hotel Cessnock (1st) v Piranhas (2nd) at Miller 1

Winner to advance to grand final, loser to take on winner of minor semi-final in preliminary final

• Minor semi-final: Denman (3rd) v Valley/JPC (4th) at Alan Mills Oval

Loser eliminated, winner to take on loser of major semi-final in preliminary final

For more sports stories:

• Junior rugby league is back… and so is the dream
• Knights ‘open’ to explore more overseas trips as NRL looks at global expansion
• Maitland netball legend named Local Woman of the Year

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