UPPER Beaconsfield Bgrade suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of top side Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll on Saturday.
This follow the Maroons inability to accumulate sufficient runs, knocking up only 144 the previous Saturday and then failing to restrict the Marygoon bats.
Nar Nar Goon’s batting depth demonstrated it would be knocking on the door for reentry to A grade next season. Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll began its run chase brightly and scored runs freely.
Skipper Matt Lowndes and Craig Lewis managed handy knocks without really dominating, despite Scott Pitcher opening the bowling and picking up the first three wickets. It took a score of overs for the Marygoons to pass the Maroons’ total, but after the sound opening partnership it never looked in doubt, as most batsmen played handy innings.
Scott Pitcher picked up three wickets, while there was valuable contributions from Glen Kilburn and Andy Haythorpe who claimed a wicket each.
C GRADE
The Maryknoll oval was the scene of yet another nailbiting finish.
Set a target of 132 the Maroons were 2/29 from last week and needed to make the most of their advantage of a bonus 14 overs on the first day when they dismissed Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll.
The two Robs – Irving and Hansen were pitched together to anchor the innings and bat for as long as possible.
Both succeeded admirably. Rob Irving took his score from 4 to 14, but batted for nearly an hour and added 27 runs with Rob Hansen for the third wicket before being trapped lbw.
At 5/69 Rob Hansen was joined by skipper Shawn Hassall who kept urging the veteran to work hard and support his younger counterpart.
The pair added a further 19 runs to take the score to 6/88 when Hansen succumbed to a straight ball from the young leg spinner for the Combine. He had taken almost two hours to accumulate 20 runs, but it assisted his colleagues to be within striking distance of victory.
Hassall played a wonderful captain’s knock of 46 not out, but was also assisted by a resolute performance from Paul Holland who resisted the urge to smash the bowling and held out for nearly an hour.
A final important tenrun last wicket partnership from Hassall and Luke Sorati took the team past the target and created the second victory for the Maroons.
F GRADE
The Maroons clashed with Lang Lang at the Primary School and despite long grass restricting scoring, worked its way to 104 from the mandatory 36 overs. Luke Williams struck form to reach 33, while Barry Auhl added 26 and Peter Brennan emerged from retirement to score a valuable 15.
Special mention to Mark Henstock who debuted at the age of 40. In response the Maroons had Lang Lang 9/97, but were unable to hold the opposition at bay. Richard Edwards bowled well to record 3/9, while Michael Geraeds (1/16) and Jayden Joyce (1/14) also assisted the cause.
UNDER 13
White versus Red was a new experience for the club as the Upper Beaconsfield under13 teams clashed. Reds gathered 150 runs with clever batting. Matt Buntine continued his good form to score 26 retired, while Luke Duffy (14) and Jayden Joyce (17) were the main contributors.
Whites struggled to just 70. Toby Sherer top scored with 13 not out, as Lewis Bond (2/3), Tom Brown (2/4) and S. McQuinton (2/6) were the destroyers.
CLUB NOTES
More than 130 attended the club fundraising trivia night and silent auction on Saturday described as a huge success. The Berwick Secondary College team was victorious, winning in a tiebreaker.
