If it wasn’t already, the race for the Maitland and District Cricket Association first-grade minor premiership is down to three teams after the frontrunners all sealed wins over the weekend.
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Competition leaders City United maintained their buffer at the top by routing Raymond Terrace by seven wickets at Jack Collins Oval.
The chasing pair survived scares to both get home in the end, with Northern Suburbs surviving a late collapse while Kurri Weston were pushed by a resurgent Thornton Park.
Thornton Park v Kurri Weston
After last weekend’s loss to City United, Kurri Weston were looking to get back to winning ways against a side that had upset them back in round three.
Thornton Park returned to Thornton 1 for the first time for the season, and elected to send their opposition in after winning the toss.
And, after Chris Archer removed Joshua Tuckwell for eight, the decision appeared a wise one before Tuckwell’s fellow opener Daniel Chapple took over.
Chapple posted 65 and combined with Michael Heinrich and Simon Marshall for successive 50-run partnerships before being removed by Matthew Thompson, who finished with four wickets.
The visitors’ middle order took the total to 9/228 from 50 overs, guided by 30 from Casey Capper and 22 from Steve Abel.
In response, Thornton Park overcame the loss of two early wickets with Matthew Gabriel (56) and Jayden Muddle (49) combined for a 78-run partnership.
But steady wickets stunted the chase, and the home side finished 14 runs short of claiming the third win of their campaign.
Kurri Weston skipper Tyler Power said his side were well aware of the threat posed by Thornton Park.
“They’ve been a bit of a bogey side for us – we knew we were going to be in for a tough game,” he said.
“We thought 228 was about par, and we knew we were never certainties.
“But credit to our guys, they did well in what were very tough, hot conditions.”
Raymond Terrace v City United
After last weekend’s win at Kurri Weston, City United wasted no time in affirming their advantage at the top of the ladder.
Led by skipper Matt Trappel’s four wickets and a pair each to Paul Brownlee, Ben Davies, and Ed Hodges, the visitors ripped through the Lions’ order.
Raymond Terrace were eventually dismissed for 63 off 29.3 overs, with opener Joe Harden top-scoring with 15 as only two other teammates reached double figures.
City United reached the total three wickets down in under 20 overs, with Trappel adding to his four wickets with a top score of 20.
For Trappel, it was pleasing to see his side continue on from last weekend’s crucial win over Kurri Weston.
“I said last week that (the win over Kurri Weston) was probably the best we’ve played all season,” he said.
“As I said to the boys, it shows that we’re playing top of the table cricket – now we’ve just got to go on with it.”
They sit 10 points clear ahead of second place with four rounds remaining, and host Thornton Park next weekend.
Eastern Suburbs v Northern Suburbs
Defending premiers Northern Suburbs recorded their third consecutive win – a narrow one-wicket defeat of Eastern Suburbs at East Maitland Park.
Norths appeared as if they’d have no trouble picking up maximum points after skittling the home side for 135, as Tim Field’s five-wicket haul was supported by three from Lincoln Mills.
The chase, however, was anything but straightforward.
Before the visitors had scored a run, Dallas Crane bowled Mitchell Abela and trapped Michael Wilson in front leg-before-wicket with the first two balls of the innings.
When skipper Josh Callinan was removed Norths were reeling at 3/8.
Having taken three wickets in the field, Lincoln Mills was the called upon to steady Norths’ innings and a hard-hitting 60, which included 10 fours and two sixes, did exactly that.
But that wasn’t the end of the story, and after Mills was dismissed Crane returned with another three quick wickets as a teetering Norths went from 6/127 to 9/127.
It was their own five-wicket hero, Tim Field, and brother Mitchell who steered Norths home with the final nine runs.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Daniel Chapple (Kurri Weston)
2. Matthew Gabriel (Thornton Park)
3. Matthew Trappel (City United)
4. Jayden Muddle (Thornton Park)
5. Lincoln Mills (Northern Suburbs)
6. Casey Capper (Kurri Weston)
7. Matthew Thompson (Thornton Park)
8. Dallas Crane (Eastern Suburbs)
9. Paul Brownlee (City United)
10. Tim Field (Northern Suburbs)
11. Mathew Zechel (Kurri Weston)
LADDER
City United 53
Northern Suburbs 43
Kurri Weston 43
Western Suburbs 28
Eastern Suburbs 22
Thornton Park 19
Raymond Terrace 8
