Valley/JPC fourth grade batsman Brennan Whittington provided the individual highlight of the Coalfields Cup round with an unbeaten century at Albion Park at the weekend.

Coming to the crease against Greta-Branxton at the fall of the first wicket, the 31-year-old blasted 15 boundaries and cleared the rope on five occasions to bring up his maiden milestone in a fine innings in which he faced just the 72 deliveries.

Valley/JPC continues to lead the way in the unpredictable first grade competition after it overcame PCH/Glendon by six scalps at Howe Park.

Chasing a modest 135 for victory, the frontrunners achieved the modest target in the 28th over after losing four wickets.

After a lean trot in recent times, Shane Givney returned to form with 46, Brandon Carman remained unbeaten on 34, as did Dave Moorcroft with 18.

Ross Parker was the other batsman to make amends with 17.

Anthony Bailey was the pick of the PCH/Glendon attack with 2-40 off eight.

Earlier in the day after being sent in, Gleights managed 134 from the 36 overs they occupied the middle.

Jack Turner was their best with 29, with Brad Cox (24) and Kyle Bailey (22) offering support.

Carman completed a fine all-round game for Valley/JPC with 5-29 off eight, with Luke Dempster (2-8 off 8) and Liam Storey (2-34 off 8) picking up a brace of wickets each.

Greta-Branxton remains just one win in arrears in second place after it annihilated an out-of-sorts Piranhas/Bellbird by 142 runs at Miller Park.

The hosts batted first and recovered from 8-140 to post 261 on the back of a fine display of stroke play from in-form Will Regan.

He resurrected the innings at number nine with an unbeaten 85 from just 42 deliveries.

Most other batsmen made starts without pushing on, including Reuben Andrews (32), Chris Murray (21), Connor Thomson (19), Brent Watson (19), Ben Regan (17) and Jace Lawson (14).

Zane White (3-38 off 5.3), skipper Luke Sweeney (2-35 off 8) and Matt Hopley (2-64 off 8) shared the poles for the visitors.

The Bellfish were skittled inside 23 overs in reply for 119, leaving the defending premiers lingering at the bottom of the ladder.

Joey Barber was their best willowman with 39.

Hopley (24), Sweeney (15) and Mark White (13) made starts, but the afternoon belonged to Blues new-baller Patrick Andrews.

He took 6-26 off seven overs, with Andrew Bercini (2-28 off 5) chipping in with a couple. 

In the final match of the round, Creeks held down third place on the ladder after overcoming Wine Country by six wickets at Cook Park No. 1.

The Wood Ducks won the toss and elected to bat first but managed just 121 after being bowled out in the 36th over.

Englishman Dave Hornby continued his solid season by leading the way with 30, Mick Mascord was next best with 29, with Lachlan O’Neill (13) and Matt Lightfoot (12) making starts.

Steve Abel (3-16 off 5.4) and Daniel Wojcikewycz (2-13 off 5) were the pick of the Creeks attack.

In response, the home side didn’t encounter too many hurdles, achieving the target in the 25th over with plenty of ammunition left in the sheds.

Nathan Stapleford (33), Chad Solman (26no), Jake Gordon (20) and Abel (18) did enough to ensure they remain in contention for a top-two finish with just five rounds remaining.  

The scheduled final round two clash of the Coalfields Cup Tier One T20 on the Friday night between Creeks and Piranhas/Bellbird was abandoned due to rain.

This specific competition resumes on 10 January along with the start of the Tier Two and Three formats.

• Mark Bercini

Second grade 

• Greta-Branxton 6/102 (Adam Kerry 43, James Allerton 30, Brock Hamson 3-19 off 4, Matt Pearce 2-42 off 8) defeated PCH 98 (Evan Moss 41, Ryan Thomas 17, Jamie Moore 4-20 off 8, Jason Varley 3-30 off 8, Kenny Gorton 2-19 off 8) at Civic Park
• Denman 6/194 (Cameron Saunders 50, Mason Solly 45, Tim Hewitt 25no, Allan Murphy 21, Mac Burgess 2-18 off 8) defeated Bellbird 124 (Cameron Martin 57no, Will Burgess 15, Cody Parker 2-13 off 3, Kyle Eriksson 2-22 off 3, Chris Sowter 2-33 off 6) at Alan Mills Oval
• Piranhas 7/157 (Hayden Farrell 48no, Gavin Knipe 19, Adam Sable 19, Josh Westwood 16, Macauley Johnsson 3-36 off 8, Mark Unicomb 2-35 off 6.2) defeated Creeks 154 (Ash Borg 53, Troy Bowditch 27, Josh Westwood 5-23 off 8, Muhammad Abullah Rafique 2-6 off 2.1) at East End
• Washed out: Wine Country v Valley/JPC at Allandale

Third grade 

• Glendon 135 (Ryan Jurkans 26, Ethan Newman 22, Oliver Gunn 15, Luke Dunn 14, Mal Hedger 4-37 off 6, Henry Beverley 3-9 off 6) defeated Greta-Branxton 130 (Harry McNamara 38, Jamie McNamara 33, Brett Stewart 16, Jack Land 5-34 off 7, Ethan Newman 2-27 off 7, Tom Pearce 2-16 off 8) at Miller 2
• Valley/JPC 6/201 (Dave Newman 72, Lachlan Anderson 32, Adam Morris 26no, Cody Rowe 23, Daniel Andrews 14, Dylan Knipe 2-36 off 5) defeated Piranhas Blue 179 (72no, Jamie Perrin 43, Matthew Kemp 16, Fraser Anderson 3-14 off 2.3, Adam Morris 2-25 off 7, Daniel Andrews 2-41 off 6) at Turner Park
• Washed out: Hotel Cessnock v Piranhas White at Baddeley 1
• Washed out: Bellbird v Wine Country at Carmichael 1

Fourth grade 

• Supporters 2/129 (Kane Jordan 51no, Isaac Minter 36no, Scott Minter 24, Max Wild 1-18 off 4, Matt Murphy 1-22 off 4) defeated Bellbird 5/108 (Shane Sheridan 41no, Zaviar Fullbrook 29, Scott Minter 1-19 off 4, Glenn McHugh 1-25 off 4, Ben Hughes 1-13 off 4) at Carmichael 2
• Wine Country 199 (Jason McMichael 72, Jonathan Holt 35, Jason Gregory 25, Dominic Peacock 20, Jason Archer 18, Jasper Wright 3-37 off 8, Scott Duncan 3-19 off 5, Logan Heald 2-35 off 7) defeated Greta-Branxton White 8/164 (Logan Heald 51, Jasper Wright 32, Michael Shipley 28, Brady Wells 16, Jason Gregory 4-41 off 6, Jonathan Holt 2-17 off 6, Jason McMichael 2-37 off 8) at St. Philip’s
• Valley/JPC 3/163 (Brennan Whittington 112no, Jake Street 32, Declan Pearce 1-20 off 5, Maison Pearce 1-28 off 3, Lewis Chard 1-3 off 1) defeated Greta-Branxton Blue 161 (Sean Wright 48no, David Pearce 35, James Halpin 22, Lewis Chard 18, Charlie Soper 18, Alison Dempster 3-12 off 6, Jack Richardson 3-6 off 5) at Albion Park
• Hotel Cessnock 0/58 (Karl Capararo 38no, Sam Russell 19no) defeated Piranhas 52 (Craig Beer 11, Dean Campbell 11, Ben Smith 4-31 off 5, Matt Blake 3-7 off 4.5, Ryan Levin 2-6 off 5) at Drain Oval
• Bye: Denman

Points tables

• First grade: Valley/JPC 50, Greta-Branxton 46, Creeks 38, PCH/Glendon 31, Wine Country 31, Piranhas/Bellbird 30
• 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 43*, Valley/JPC 38*, Supporters 38*, Denman 34**, Piranhas 33*, Bellbird 32*, Greta-Branxton Blue 27*, Greta-Branxton White 27*, Wine Country 26*

* bye received, no points awarded

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