Round nine of Coalfields Cup cricket action continued at the weekend in sweltering conditions across the districts of Singleton and Cessnock.

And, with the mercury peaking at 40 degrees in some parts, it became a real battle of attrition for players in all divisions.

Piranhas White third grade all-rounder TJ Roe provided the individual highlight of the week by scoring a century for his team in the match against Valley/JPC played at Cook 5.

In pursuit of 174, the 21-year-old took on the new ball and carried his bat and his side to victory in an important win that keeps them in the top four on the ladder.

He walked off the field unbroken on 106 from just 95 balls, an innings that included 18 boundaries and one maximum.

Roe went agonisingly close to picking up the all-rounder’s holy grail of a century and five-fa, as he took 4-29 off eight overs with the new cherry earlier in the afternoon.

Piranhas fourth grade opener Craig Beer picked up his first ton over the season in the showdown against Greta-Branxton Blue at Miller Park No. 3.

He faced just 86 balls, smashing 23 boundaries and clearing the rope three times to remain unbeaten on 120.

Meanwhile, the topsy-turvy first grade competition continues, with Valley/JPC remaining in the outright lead with six rounds left to play.

They proved too good for Wine Country by six wickets at Allandale.

Chasing 180 for victory, they lost just four scalps in reaching the target inside 34 overs.

Cult hero Englishman Ross Parker carried the bat for 85 and may be pressing for a position in the Mother Country’s Test team after some sub-par performances with the bat in the opening two Ashes fixtures.

All other batsmen chipped in with contributions, with skipper Alex Stafa (22), Brandon Carman (19), Josh Barden (16) and Daniel Storey cutting the ribbon with 13no.

Dave Hornby was the pick of the home side’s attack with 2-32 off eight.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Wood Ducks batted their 40 overs to total 7-179.

Drew Olsen returned to form in his team’s high score of 73.

Hornby may also be looking for a call-up into the English Test side as he led the way with a fine half century (50) in an excellent all-round performance.

Sixteen-year-old opener Lachlan O’Neill continued to improve in his debut first grade season with 23.

Isaac Barry was the best of the Valley/JPC attack with 3-29 off eight.

Greta-Branxton got out of jail for the second time in as many weeks by overcoming PCH/Glendon by two wickets at Miller Park.

Gleights batted first and posted a healthy 9-217 from their 40 overs, with competition leading run-scorer Karl Bowd unlucky not to notch his second century of the season.

A slight lapse in concentration saw him chip one to cover for 92 in what was, otherwise, a flawless performance.

Lachlan Watts remained unbeaten on 48, with skipper Jackson Cox making 22.

Jace Lawson was the best of the home side’s attack with 3-46 off 8, with Patrick Andrews (2-42 off 8) picking up a brace of wickets.

The Blues looked to be in a spot of bother in reply needing 7.5 an over in the final stages.

But, entering the arena was in-form all-rounder Andrews, who blasted 56 from just 27 balls in an entertaining innings that included half a dozen maximums.

Mark Bercini made a scratchy 48 at the top of the list, with Connor Thomson (36), Lawson (17), Chris Murray (16) and Will Regan (15no) hitting the winning blow.

Wickets for PCH/Glendon were fairly evenly-distributed, with Hayden Moorcroft (2-52 off 7) and Bowd (2-44 off 8) picking up a couple each.

Defending premiers Piranhas/Bellbird slipped to the bottom of the table after the ever-improving Creeks proved too good for them by five wickets at Howe Park.

The Bellfish were skittled for a modest 146 batting first, with Matt Hopley returning after a three-week lay-off with injury to top their charts with 32.

Joey Barber (28), Matt Fairlie (22) and Jack Turner (18no) all made starts.

However, the Creeks’ tweakers in Nathan Hudson (3-16 off 8) and Owen Daley (3-8 off 8) proved hard to handle on the low skidding deck.

The home team surpassed the target just shy of the second drinks interval after losing five wickets.

Steve Abel was there for the victory spoils with 68no, with Chad Solman (21) and Daley (16) doing enough to catapult them into the top four for the first time this season after a slow start. 

After no Coalfields Cup T20 action last Friday night, due to the Newcastle Summer Bash, the Tier One competition returns on 12 December at Howe Park when Creeks take on Piranhas/Bellbird to complete round two of the competition.

• Mark Bercini

Second grade 

• Wine Country 195 (Jeshua Ball 37, Angus Haack 30, Mark O’Hara 28, Allan Heath 21, Myles Crosdale 17, Matt Wood 17, Nigel Deacon 3-31 off 7.5) tied with Denman 8/195 (Nigel Deacon 54, Jack Mann 42, Chris Sowter 18, Hunter Ball 18, Cameron Saunders 17, Peter Davis 3-26 off 8, Matt Wood 2-32 off 8, Allan Heath 2-27 off 3) at Baddeley 1
• Creeks 5/103 (Steve Unicomb 35no, Mitch Bourke 32, Brendan Leach 21no, Matt Pearce 2-26 off 7.1, Callan Hungerford 2-25 off 5) defeated PCH 101 (Luke Meyn 35, Jed Horder 17no, Macauley Johnsson 3-10 off 6, Luke Draper 2-23 off 7, Mitch Bourke 2-27 off 8) at Cook 1
• Piranhas 3/235 (Daniel Russell 62, Aaron Zechel 60no, Matt Brodie 52, Gavin Knipe 36, Jason Lamplough 2-41 off 4) defeated Valley/JPC 7/232 (Greg Thrift 56, Jason Barry 51, Tate Edwards 33, Chris Elliott 28no, Mason Kelly 23, Andrew Beer 4-32 off 6, Scott Burgess 2-39 off 8) at East End
• Bellbird 9/192 (Steff Durie 65, Scott Miller 30no, Brett Pitkin 25, Patrick Cagney 19no, Tanveer Singh 3-35 off 8, Jamie Moore 3-23 off 5.1) defeated Greta-Branxton 191 (Nigel Charnock 53, Tony Williams 45, Jamie Moore 42, James Allerton 19, Jake Riley 3-45 off 8, Steff Durie 2-16 off 4.2, Shannon Attewell 2-22 off 6) at Carmichael 1

Third grade 

• Piranhas White 6/174 (TJ Roe 106no, Max Buller 19no, Harvey Neville 14, Rob Willoughby 3-18 off 7) defeated Valley/JPC 173 (Cody Rowe 63, Lachlan Anderson 60, Adam Morris 15, Oliver Spruce 5-38 off 8, TJ Roe 4-29 off 8) at Turner Park
• Hotel Cessnock 1/199 (Matt Cooper 91no, Jordan Field 63no, David Cooper 36, Toby Shields 1-42 off 6) defeated Wine Country 193 (Darren Sutton 98, Oliver White 15, Heath Cameron 4-33 off 8, Noah Cooper 3-19 off 8) at St. Philip’s
• Bellbird 1/93 (Ty Cowley 46no, Jack Rachel 25no, Alex Nester 1-29 off 4) defeated Glendon 89 (Oliver Gunn 38, Jack Ford 32, Shaun Burgess 6-31 off 8) at Cook 5
• Greta-Branxton 249 (Noah McNamara 83, Henry Beverley 39, Brett Stewart 37, Ashlie Waters 34, Harry McNamara 15, Asher Olsen 5-55 off 7, Asher Olsen 5-55 off 7, Sonny Olsen 2-74 off 8) defeated Piranhas Blue 118 (Daniel Olsen 59, Nicholas Wells 17, Asher Olsen 15, Noah McNamara 3-17 off 8, Brad Stewart 2-19 off 6, Brett Stewart 2-36 off 8) at Miller 2

Fourth grade 

• Supporters 8/177 (Kane Jordan 58no, Scott Minter 41, Aaron Field 21, Trenten Mascord 2-18 off 8, Ryan Levin 2-50 off 8) defeated Hotel Cessnock 129 (Phillip Vitnell 30, Graham Capararo 24no, Trenten Mascord 17, Glenn McHugh 3-37 off 7, Aaron Field 3-30 off 5, Scott Minter 2-26 off 7.5) at Drain Oval
• Denman 4/206 (Ethan Ayre 80, Tim Hewitt 43, Allan Murphy 42no, Adam Whitten 16, Riley Rees 1-31 off 6, Jonathan Holt 1-14 off 4, Stuart Matheson 1-46 off 8, Brodey Saunders 1-13 off 3) defeated Wine Country 8/203 (Brodey Saunders 62, Riley Rees 32no, Jason Gregory 23, Jonathan Holt 20, Stuart Matheson 15, Anthony Worth 4-39 off 8, Angus McLean 3-28 off 5) at Carmichael 2
• Piranhas 3/211 (Craig Beer 120no, Adam Campbell 37, Adam Williams 23no, Regan Rolfe 2-29 off 4) defeated Greta-Branxton Blue 9/208 (Riley Sundberg 48, Craig Gillings 37, Declan Pearce 34, Logan Marino 3-25 off 7, Adam Williams 2-50 off 8) at Miller 3
• Valley/JPC 1/123 (Brennan Whittington 63no, Tim Gore 33no, Jonah Andrews 18, Jasper Wright 1-19 off 3.4) defeated Greta-Branxton White 8/122 (Cameron Charnock 40no, Lachlan Yule 22, Charlie Soper 19, Chris Atkins 16, Jonah Andrews 2-12 off 7, Tim Gore 2-11 off 5) at Civic Park
• Bye: Bellbird

Points tables

• First grade: Valley/JPC 44, Greta-Branxton 40, Creeks 32, PCH/Glendon 29, Wine Country 29, Piranhas/Bellbird 28
• Second grade: Creeks 47, Bellbird 44, Greta-Branxton 39, Wine Country 38, Piranhas 32, Denman 28, Valley/JPC 26, PCH 26
• Third grade: Hotel Cessnock 47, Greta-Branxton 40, Piranhas White 39, Wine Country 32, Bellbird 31, Valley/JPC 30, Glendon 29, Piranhas Blue 28
• Fourth grade: Hotel Cessnock 37*, Denman 32*, Valley/JPC 32*, Supporters 32*, Piranhas 31*, Bellbird 30*, Greta-Branxton Blue 25*, Greta-Branxton White 25*, Wine Country 20*

* bye received, no points awarded

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