City United skipper Matt Trappel has sung the praise of his new-look team after a sterling fightback to secure points against Northern Suburbs at Lorn Park on Saturday.
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Trappel said he could not have asked for more from the team, which have five first grade debutants in City United colours, in particular the new recruits Michael Heinrich, Ricky Dent, Tim Baker and Brad Bidner.
Norths had looked in trouble slumping to 3-27 chasing City United’s total of 7/183 but a 80-run partnership between skipper Mike Wilson (37) and teenage all-rounder Callum Gabriel (30) had swung the momentum the homeside’s way.
“The only area of criticism I could find was we probably dropped off a bit in intensity during the middle part of their innings when Mike and young Callum got on top,” Trappel said.
“But we were able to bring Heiny and Nick Bower on and they really tightened the grip on Norths. We got our lines right again and they made scoring difficult until Nick eventually got the breakthroughs getting Mike and Callum.
“Nick and Heiney bowling together in tandem was everything I hoped for and more. They are going to be great for us this season.
“Tim Baker and Ben Davies were able to come on then and tore through the Norths line-up with Heiney getting a couple of well deserved wickets at the end for his work in the middle section.
“Ben picked up from a great year last year and Tim is quick and a real handful for batsman.”
Runs were at a premium for both batting line-ups, with a wet outfield stopping normally certain fours short of the boundary.
No batsman looked comfortable even when set.
“In hindsight we did very well to get 183, Heiney (23) and Ricky Dent (56) were great at the top and gave us a solid start,” Trappel said
Matt Trappel scored 37 and Jason Morris made 22 as Jordan Callinan (2-24) and Cael Smith (2-39) finished with two wickets each for Norths with Smith claiming the prized wickets of Heinrich and No.3 Brad Bidner.
Will Fort, fresh from his selection in the Australian under-17 team, got Norths off to a flier with a quick fire 21.
But Davies had Norths on the back foot capturing Fort leg before and bowling his opening partner Luke Stewart. When Baker had Logan Smith caught behind Norths had slumped to 3-27.
When Wilson and Gabriel fell in quick succession Norths’ cause was over. Davies claimed 4-21 and Bower, Heinrich and Baker got two each.
The game between Eastern Suburbs and Western Suburbs at East Maitland Park was washed out.
Marshall secures win for Warriors
On a day when bastman struggled a well-made 69 by Kurri Weston’s Simon Marshall proved the difference as Thornton fell 12 runs short of victory chasing the Warriors total of 155.
Marshall’s innings included eight fours and two sixes and he was one of just three Kurri Weston players to make double figures.
Grant Lowbridge made an invaluable 22 coming in at No.10 and opener Casey Capper made 12.
Thornton shared the runs around but no batsman was able to bat on past the 20s. Blake Walmsley top scored with 22 and Jamie Krake and Elliott Thompson were both out for 21.
Thompson was also Thornton’s best with the ball claiming 4-25 from 10 overs.
Kurri Weston’s skipper Tim Harding finished with 3-37 including the prize wicket of opener Matthew Gabriel for a duck. He returned at the end to claim two vital wickets in the tense finish.
Teenager Jack Sylvester (2-30), Alex Seamer (2-28) and Sam Dalibozek got two wickets each.
