Kurri Weston have moved within striking distance of the top four at the midway point of the 2015-2016 season.
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Kurri Weston accounted for Thornton Park by 27 runs at home on Saturday and jumped to fifth on the Maitland and District Cricket Association first grade competition ladder.
After seven rounds Kurri Weston have 17 points, which puts them one behind opponents Thornton (18) on the overall standings.
Just above and below them on the charts are Raymond Terrace (21) and Northern Suburbs (16), who were both defeated by top two teams City United (36) and Western Suburbs (27) respectively on the weekend.
Kurri Weston’s victory was set up by in-form opening batsman Josh Tuckwell, who scored 93 after making an unbeaten 80 a week earlier in the preliminary rounds of the Hunter Valley Cup Twenty20 competition.
Tuckwell combined with Casey Capper (33) for a 103 first wicket partnership and after being dismissed at 3-148 it was Michael Heinrich (32) and skipper Tyler Power (43 not out) that guided the hosts to 8-264 from their 50 overs at Kurri Central.
In reply half-centuries to Jolyan May (66), Matt Clark (59) and Matt Gabriel (50) had the visitors in good shape at 3-171 but they lost their final seven wickets for 66.
Thornton captain Ricky Dent was forced to bat down the order after splitting the webbing in his hand while fielding.
Most impressive with the ball was Kurri Weston off spinner Jack Bennett (3-51), while for Thornton, two wickets each were taken by Dent (2-44), Clark (2-47) and Jono Momson (2-25)
Over at Robins Oval and all-round displays from Nick Savage and Will Maher weren’t enough to get Raymond Terrace across the line against runaway competition leaders City United.
Savage (42) and Maher (50) combined for a 72-run sixth-wicket stand and pushed the Lions to 172 from their 50 overs.
Savage then took 2-22 with the ball, but the hosts reached the target five wickets down with 16.1 overs to spare after Kerry Ball smashed 93, which featured 10 fours and five sixes.
City skipper Matthew Trappel was the most effective bowler, finishing with 3-11 from nine overs including four maidens.
Finally to Coronation Oval and six wickets shared evenly between Wests bowlers Luke Kealy and Josh Fisher set up a crushing win over two-time defending champions Norths.
The visitors were bundled out for just 121 with Kealy (3-6 off eight overs) and Fisher (3-15 off 6.1 overs) doing most of the damage for the Plovers.
Tom Irwin (35) and Michael Rees (28) then had the hosts off to a flyer at 0-68 in the seventh but a spell of 5-18 in the space of six overs gave Norths a slight glimpse.
But the joy provided by Ben Sayers (3-21) and Rigby Vane-Wood (2-25) was short lived with Rob Wheildon and Mark Curran producing an unbeaten stand of 36 in 16 overs to get the job done.
Eastern Suburbs (6) had the bye.
In other news, the Hunter Valley Cup semi-finals have been announced for January 24 with top-ranked City to play Wests at Lorn and Kurri Weston meeting Raymond Terrace at Robins Oval. Matches start at 10am.
The winner will face-off in the final at 2pm the same afternoon at Robins Oval.
City United 36
Western Suburbs 27
Raymond Terrace 21
Thornton Park 18
Kurri Weston 17
Northern Suburbs 16
Eastern Suburbs 6