The return to Cessnock District 40-over cricket was rain-affected at the weekend, with just the one match completed.
Greta/Branxton consolidated its position at the top of the first grade ladder with a six-wicket victory over the Piranhas at Miller Park on Saturday 6 February.
The Piranhas won the toss and elected to bat but were skittled inside 21 overs for just 54.
Opener Adam Sable top scored with 14, with skipper Matt Zechel the only other batsman to reach double figures with 11.
Greta/Branxton’s seamers did all the damage with the four-piece, with rookie Hayden Regan their best with 4-16 off 3.4.
He was well-supported by Connor Thomson (3-17 off 7) and Brent Watson (2-16 off 7).
With rain on the radar, the home side went about chasing down the target in quick time, reaching it inside seven overs after losing four scalps.
Greg Andrews made 19, with skipper Joey Butler (8no) at the crease for the winning runs.
Matt Hopley was the Piranhas’ best with the new ball, taking 2-20 off 2.
After being washed out in the Coalfields Cup semi-final and again in the CDCA T20 decider, Wine Country have been waiting to have a piece of Bellbird for some time now.
But, again, they had to share the points as play was abandoned during the home side’s innings.
The Wood Ducks were 7-136 in the 35th over when rain brought things to a halt.
Most batsmen made starts, with Josh Dwyer (27), Jack Morris (24no), skipper Andrew Fensom (21), Sam Peacock (18) and Matt Lightfoot (16) all keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Bellbird skipper Joey Main stood out with the ball, bagging 3-32 off 6.
Mulbring had the bye.
- by Mark Bercini
Other CDCA results:
Second grade
Greta/Branxton 7/106 (Brett Bridge 28no, Mark Herbert 15, Jason Haines 14, Anthony Brunsdon 13, Mathew Turnbull 2-13 off 5, Hayden Yates 2-29 off 7) v Chelmsford Hotel (match abandoned due to rain)
Bellbird 8/99 (Lachlan Marino 41, Hilal Abbas 12, Matt Tomlinson 11, Scott Bendeich 3-27 off 10, James Collins 2-26 off 10) v Piranhas (match abandoned due to rain)
Wine Country bye
Third grade
Piranhas 10/70 (Adam Williams 22, Mark Williams 18, Lucas Zechel 14, Robert Clark 3-18 off 7, Clint Starkey 3-4 off 2.4, Matt Harrison 2-22 off 9) v Bellbird 5/10 (Aaron Duffie 5no, Mark Williams 4-6 off 3) match abandoned due to rain
Greta/Branxton 7/125 (Adam Kerry 44, Noah McNamara 28no, Jamie McNamara 19, Darren Sutton 4-21 off 9, Matt Gough 3-18 off 10) v Mulbring (match abandoned due to rain)
Wine Country Blue vs Wine Country White washed out
Fourth grade
Chelmsford Hotel 10/104 (Vijay Tharumakulasingam 27, Abinandan Sudharsanam 21, Michael Gillis 18, Gavin Kronholm 4-9 off 8, Dan Field 3-31 off 10) v Bellbird Maroon 1/24 off 7.3 (Tony Yates 12no, Ben Rowlands 6no, Abindandan Sudharsanam 1-9 off 4) match abandoned due to rain
Greta/Branxton Blue 9/191 off 40 (Sam Dagg 36, Ben Van Haren 33no, Daniel McCann 33, Mitch Bradford 26, Zach MacBeth 13no, Riley McKewen 13, Harrison Webb 3-22 off 7) v Wine Country (match abandoned due to rain)
Supporters 6/167 off 37 (Scott Minter 62, Isaac Minter 45, Kobe Minter 15, Josh Noble 2-25 off 4.5, Malcolm Hedger 2-14 off 4.5) v Greta/Branxton White (match abandoned due to rain)
Cessnock Hotel v Bellbird White match abandoned (no details submitted)
Piranhas bye
2020-21 points tables
First grade: Greta/Branxton 31, Bellbird 26, Wine Country 22, Piranhas 17, Mulbring 14
Second grade: Chelmsford Hotel 51**, Wine Country 43***, Bellbird 39**, Greta/Branxton 39**, Piranhas 30**
* byes received, 0 points allocated
Third grade: Bellbird 54, Wine Country White 54, Piranhas 51, Wine Country Blue 49, Greta/Branxton 47, Mulbring 43
Fourth grade: Chelmsford Hotel 55*, Bellbird White 54*, Greta/Branxton Blue 53*, Bellbird Maroon 51*, Cessnock Hotel 46*, Wine Country 39**, Greta/Branxton White 35*, Supporters 35*, Piranhas 31**
* byes received, 0 points allocated
Club championship: Greta/Branxton 456.40, Bellbird 431.90, Wine Country 407.40, Piranhas 317.10
Club championship formula: First grade x 7, Second grade x 3.5, Third grade x 1.4, Fourth grade x 0.7
NB: The team with the higher total points in grades where clubs have more than one team will contribute to the club championship
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