Valley/JPC sits atop the Coalfields Cup ladder as the Cessnock-Singleton cricket season heads into the Christmas/New Year break.

That outcome followed week 11 of the competition, which featured first and fourth grade only.

Valley/JPC opened up a two-win lead on the table after its comfortable 121-run caning of Piranhas/Bellbird at Cook 1.

The frontrunners posted a healthy 9-238 batting first, with their middle order rallying in the good batting conditions.

Skipper Alex Stafa continued his great season with a high score of 68, Dan Storey was next best with 46, with Chris Howard (32), Alex Thrift (30), Archit Bele (27) and Shane Givney (16) all scoring freely.

Zac Kronholm was easily the pick of the Bellfish attack with 3-29 off eight, with captain Luke Sweeney chipping in with 2-42.

The defending premiers’ batting woes continued in reply, bundled out for under 120 for the second consecutive week.

The loss of regular wickets saw them dismissed for 117 inside 30 overs.

Shaun Burgess and Matt Hopley made 31 and 30 respectively, Jack Turner chipped in 14, but someone really needed to push on to a big score to pose any real threat.

The home side’s attack all kept a lid on things, with Matt Wilkinson having a fine afternoon with the four-piece by bagging 4-23 off eight.

Bele (2-41 off 8) and Ross Parker (2-2 off 1.4) picked up a brace of wickets each.

Piranhas/Bellbird remains at the bottom of the ladder and, with four rounds remaining, is now in real danger of missing the semi-finals.

Creeks continued to improve by overcoming Greta-Branxton in a hard fought four-wicket win at Miller Park.

The Blues recovered from 3-15 to post a competitive 189 batting first, with Chris Murray returning to form with a well-made 70.

Nathan Holz (42) and Patrick Andrews (42) were next best in an otherwise fairly disappointing batting card.

Rhys Bratfield (3-22 off 3), skipper Chad Solman (2-13 off 4) and Owen Daley (2-33 off 8) shared the wickets for Creeks.

The visitors looked to be doing it easy at 1-111 in reply at a decent clip.

But, they then went on to lose six scalps for the next 44 runs.

They recovered on the back of Daley’s unbeaten 25 to complete a fine all-round game, and Hayden Bourke (18no) who also played a vital role.

Earlier in the run chase, the top order laid the platform with Jack Morris (50), Steve Abel (43) and Jake Gordon (26).

Patrick Andrews (2-30 off 8) and Ben Regan (2-24 off 5.2) were the pick of the Greta-Branxton attack.

In the final outing, PCH/Glendon grabbed outright fourth on the ladder after a convincing eight-wicket victory over Wine Country at Allandale.

On what is widely-regarded as the best cricket wicket in the district, Wine Country only managed a modest 132 after being bowled out in the 38th over.

Most batsmen made starts without pushing on, via Matt Lightfoot (35), Mick Mascord (32), Drew Olsen (27) and Lachlan O’Neill (17).

Cooper Bailey (2-11 off 7), Luke Meyn (2-29 off 8), Anthony Bailey (2-36 off 8) and Karl Bowd (2-24 off 5.2) picked up a brace of wickets each for PCH/Glendon.

Gleights cruised to victory inside 30 overs in reply, with competition leading runscorer Karl Bowd extending his lead in that department with 69 at the top of the order, with Brad Cox making 45.

Hudson Smith (2-32 off 6.1) took both wickets for the Wood Ducks.

The three tier T20 competition resumes for Tier One and starts for Tier Two and Three on Saturday 10 January.

• Mark Bercini

Fourth grade 

• Piranhas 4/195 (Dean Campbell 66, Adam Campbell 52, Craig Beer 50no, Jack Richardson 1-26 off 6, Damien Wagstaff 1-25 off 5, Dave Newman 1-37 off 8, Matt Maher 1-34 off 6) defeated Valley/JPC 9/193 (Michael Cole 96no, Jack Simpson 28no, Dave Newman 20, Brennan Whittington 20, Steve Burgess 4-28 off 8, Logan Marino 3-41 off 8, Adam Williams 2-36 off 8) at Cook 5
• Hotel Cessnock 6/75 (Ryan Levin 24no, Jasper Wright 3-34 off 6, Liam Wright 2-16 off 2.3) defeated Greta-Branxton White 74 (Alistair Leslie 21no, Michael Shipley 13, Ryan Levin 3-7 off 4, Dan Field 3-15 off 5, Tyler Clark 2-18 off 5) at Drain Oval
• Denman defeated Bellbird by forfeit
• Washed out: Supporters v Wine Country at Baddeley 1
• Bye: Greta-Branxton Blue

Points tables

• First grade: Valley/JPC 56, Greta-Branxton 48, Creeks 44, PCH/Glendon 37, Wine Country 33, Piranhas/Bellbird 32
• Second grade: Creeks 49, Bellbird 46, Greta-Branxton 45, Wine Country 41, Piranhas 38, Denman 34, Valley/JPC 29, PCH 28
• Third grade: Hotel Cessnock 50, Greta-Branxton 42, Piranhas White 42, Valley/JPC 36, Glendon 35, Wine Country 35, Bellbird 34, Piranhas Blue 30
• Fourth grade: Hotel Cessnock 49*, Supporters 41*, Valley/JPC 40*, Denman 40**, Piranhas 39*, Bellbird 32*, Wine Country 29*, Greta-Branxton White 29*, Greta-Branxton Blue 27**

* bye received, no points awarded

LEADING PERFORMANCES

FIRST GRADE

Batting

• 1. Karl Bowd (PCH/G) 461 runs at 65.86
• 2. Matt Hopley (Pir/Bel) 298 runs at 49.67
• 3. Patrick Andrews (G/B) 298 runs at 42.57
• 4. Alex Stafa (V/JPC) 292 runs at 41.71
• 5. Jack Morris (Creeks) 260 runs at 37.14

Bowling

• 1. Patrick Andrews (G/B) 18 wickets at 14.44
• 2. Anthony Bailey (PCH/G) 16 wickets at 15.25
• 3. Archit Bele (V/JPC) 15 wickets at 15.80
• 4. Zac Kronholm (PIR/BEL) 15 wickets at 17.67
• 5. David Hornby (WC) 15 wickets at 20.47

SECOND GRADE

Batting

• 1. Hunter Ball (DEN) 315 runs at 78.75
• 2. Evan Moss (PCH) 265 runs at 26.50
• 3. Gavin Knipe (PIR) 255 runs at 28.33
• 4. Jamie Moore (G/B) 247 runs at 61.75
• 5. Steve Unicomb (Creeks) 235 runs at 39.17

Bowling

• 1. Jamie Moore (G/B) 24 wickets at 8.67
• 2. Matt Pearce (PCH) 20 wickets at 16.15
• 3. Mathew Zechel (PIR) 14 wickets at 14.79
• 4. Ben Read (PIR) 12 wickets at 9.75
• 5. Mark Unicomb (Creeks) 12 wickets at 13.17

THIRD GRADE

Batting

• 1. Liam Beckett (HC) 328 runs at 82.00
• 2. Cody Rowe (V/JPC) 266 runs at 29.56
• 3. Jordan Field (HC) 263 runs at 37.57
• 4. Ty Cowley (BEL) 254 runs at 50.80
• 5. TJ Roe (PIR) 253 runs at 63.25

Bowling

• 1. Henry Beverley (G/B) 20 wickets at 6.70
• 2. Noah Cooper (HC) 14 wickets at 6.07
• 3. Ethan Newman (GLN) 13 wickets at 6.77
• 4. TJ Roe (PIR) 13 wickets at 17.15
• 5. Heath Cameron (HC) 13 wickets at 18.38

FOURTH GRADE

Batting

• 1. David Newman (V/JPC) 311 runs at 103.67
• 2. Allan Murphy (DEN) 284 runs at 142.00
• 3. Michael Cole (V/JPC) 233 runs yet to be dismissed
• 4. Kane Jordan (SUPP) 217 runs at 108.50
• 5. Craig Beer (PIR) 206 runs at 68.67

Bowling

• 1. Adam Williams (PIR) 19 wickets at 12.37
• 2. Jasper Wright (G/B) 17 wickets at 15.00
• 3. Glenn McHugh (SUPP) 16 wickets at 8.13
• 4. Trenton Mascord (HC) 16 wickets at 10.63
• 5. Ryan Levin (HC) 11 wickets at 12.45

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