Another Mixed Bag For City

Some very encouraging results this weekend, especially the narrow win by 2nds and the strong showing by 4ths and without wanting to run to excuses, its damn hard to field four competitive teams with twenty five players out across the grades. We might be disappointed at losses in 1sts and 3rds as those teams were flying high on early results but lets take some pride in all grades from the fact we fielded teams this weekend and were well-in all games at stages.

Heads up City.

1st Grade v Souths at No.1 Oval
Souths 200 (Tom Wilson 5-27, Leo Steyn 2-24) defeated City United 116 (Peter Mead 35, Aaron Flaherty 23) by 84 runs.
The bowling was good enough and restricted Souths to a getable score. Tom and Leo bowled really well and Aaron bowed a long spell which kept things tight. Unfortunately we collapsed, despite being 1-44 in the 8th over. After losing 3-1 and then two more sets of wickets in pairs around 70 and 90, the innings was soon done in the 26th over.

2nd Grade v Souths at Max Sutton Oval
Souths 102 (Pay Dwyer 5-20, Josh Allen 2-35) lost to City United 9-105 (Richie O'Halloran 26, Matt Reynolds 19, Pay Dwyer 18) by 1 wicket.
A real nail biter and a great win when you consider that only three players in this City side have played 2nds this year! Souths were out in only 24 overs. Matt Reynolds and Josh Allen took the early wickets but Souths had got to 2-55 before skipper Claude Orenstein let Pat Dwyer loose on them. Wow! Richie O'Halloran bowled a long and important spell of tight bowling, conceding only 24 off eight overs whilst Pat was taking the wickets. The same pair got City off to a great start with an opening stand of 41 before that old 2nd grade rot set in and wickets fell in all directions. Matt Reynolds played a sensible hand to get us level before the last pair hit the winning runs. Go you 2nds!

3rds Grade v Souths at Belmore Park
City United 160 (Luke Lawrence 25, Robby Smith 30, Tim Hunt 28, Phil Cook 25) lost to Souths 7-162 (Tim Hunt 2-22, Ryan Hanson 2-22, Garry Whale 2-27) by 3 wickets.
A fabulous fighting performance by the thirds, who like 2nds, had many personnel changes for this game. In fact, stand in Skipper Rod Pryor was the only player left from those who played 3rds last week! Batting first, City probably never had enough runs but it wasn't for lack of trying. Tim Hunt caught the eye with another good showing with the willow and Robby Smith returned from injury with runs. The bowlers tried hard with Whale and Hunt probably the standout performers. Robbie Smith completed a good return with seven reasonably tight overs.

4ths v Souths at Minor League Park
Souths 146 (Lachlan Ng 6-16, Craig Sheaves 2-13, Grant Scarborough 2-21) lost to City United 7-150 (Stefen Van Aanholt 78x, Alex Van Aanholt 26, Nick Stacey 16) by 3 wickets.
The 4ths, soon to be sponsored by the UN, pulled off a great win. Skipper Scarborough had more new faces than Bert Newton and made good use of them. Lachlan Ng's five over burst started when Souths were 2-118 and together with the resurgent Craig Sheaves (you can't keep a Shire boy down), they ended the innings only 28 runs later. In reply, City were soon 2-0 and then 3-52, before Stephan Van Aanholt took charge of the innings and steered City home.

Welcome aboard all new players to the club this weekend and thank you!