Port Stephens, Paterson and Kurri Kurri big winners in opening round

Defending premiers Port Stephens crushed last year’s grand final opponent Windsor Castle passing the Stallions total of 58 in the 13^th over.

Windsor Castle had no answers to the Pythons’ attack with Allan Baldwin (3-8 from five overs),  Josh Mulligan 3-29 off eight) and Jeremy Kirk (3-16 of 4.1) the chief destroyers.

Harry King was the only Stallions batsman to pass double figures scoring 20 as four of his teammates failed to score a run.

Opener Joel Magnee fell for 17 bowled by Aaron Clack. Josh Dall and Jarrod Moxey both scored 19 as they cruised to a nine-wicket win.

Paterson v Dungog

Paterson opener Kurt Humphries got off to flying start with an unbeaten century as Paterson crushed an under-manned Dungog at Paterson Sports Ground on Saturday.

Humphries’ innings of 110 included eight fours and a six.

His opening partner Chris Merchant compiled 66 before being caught by Terry Drinkwater off the bowling of Damian Keating.

Jason Hicks made a valuable contribution of 43 before being caught by Keating off the Brady Rumbel as Paterson posted 4-251 from their 40 overs.

In reply, Dungog could only muster 122. Top scorers were David Seers (42) and Damian Keeting (26).

Russ Presland took 3-27, Dean Bridges 2-27 and Jason Hicks cleaned up the tail with 2-6.

Dungog hopes to be back to full strength next week with players returning end of season football trips and school holidays.

Kurri Kurri v Raworth

In another game dominated by the ball, Kurri Kurri dismissed Raworth for just 69 in the 19^th over.

The Rabbitohs were in trouble early with Mitchell Thompson and Ryan Threlfo both out for just four caught off the bowling of Nathan Stapleford and Bradley Hill respectively.

Hill ended up the chief destroyer taking 5-24 from his eight overs including Raworth’s top scorer Ryan Lacy who was caught by Stapleford.

Lacy and Jason Beveridge (10) offered the stiffest resistance in a dismal batting display by the Rabbitohs.

Kookaburra bowler Brooke Martin finished with figures of 3-12 off his five overs. Adam Foster ended with 1-0 from 1.2 overs after bowling No. 11 Matthew Watters. 

Kurri Kurri opener Danial Foster was in a rush to get things over smashing 57 as the Kookaburras lost wo wickets in passed the required target in the 10^th over.

Next week’s games: Dungog v Port Stephens at Bennett Park, Raworth v Windsor at Schanck Drive and  Paterson v Kurri at Paterson.