City United v Norths, 5/2/11 - 4th Grade v Wests

1st Grade v Norths at No.1 Oval
Norths 9-172 (Cale Penrith 3-21, Peter Mead 2-47) defeated City United 111 (Daniel Lawrence 27, Cale Penrith 25, Michael Bellamy 17)
Beaten but not disgraced was the story of the day-nighter at No1 Oval. Meady pulled off a master stroke in opening the bowling with leg spinner Richie O'Halloran and his nine overs were a rather tidy 1-34. In fact the bowling was so good, Norths were restricted to 3-68 in the 22nd over. From there things started to get away from the City boys but they came again ten overs later led by the skipper and Hamish Batley, who after conceding 13 from his first over gave up only another 13 from his next five and captured his first 1st grade wicket, caught by debutant Bellamy. Wickets fell regularly and Penrith took three in his second spell. Facing 172, the old problems with the bat surfaced again but it was the youngsters who dug deep. Bellamy batted well, continuing his lower grade form. Lawrence and Penrith combined for 43 runs for the 7th wicket. Another spirited performance by our firsts and a good night to celebrate their continued gutsy efforts. Praise for Peter Mead who nurtures young men by offering them trust and encouraging their efforts.
2nd Grade v Norths at Riverside 3
Norths 3-226 (Robbie Gregg 1-39, Leo Steyn 1-40, Isaac Kensell 1-56) defeated City United 89 (Leo Steyn 41, Robbie Gregg 15)
Hammered in every sense of the word. Jack McVey was easily the best of the bowlers and on a day when all the senior bowlers were bled dry, he only gave up 26 runs from 8 overs. Chasing a motza, Leo Steyn dominated at the start of the innings, taking only 33 balls over his innings . Paul Fisher was the only other City batsman to spend any time at the crease, his 10 taking 33 balls. Sean Hancock run a ball 11 was the next best as the batsmen crumbled to Tim Constable yet again. A bad Day at Black Rock.
3rd Grade v Norths at TREC
Norths 146 (Adam Burgess 3-16, Tim Hunt 2-19, Adam Balantine 2-44) lost to City United 9-147 (Andrew McDonald 27, Claude Orenstein 24x, Terry Skewes 21)
A fantastic win by the 3rds, making three on the trot after a lean start to the season. After having Norths 4-17 with Burgess and Hunt scything through the top order, Norths recovered to post a challenging total in the heat of a TREC afternoon. At 6-67, City didn't look like winners but new man McDonald turned the innings around and then three club stalwarts - Skewes, Orenstein and Rod Prior - took the team to victory. The last unbeaten partnership of 25 between Orenstein and Prior guided the Third Grade ship to a safe harbour with ten balls to spare. Lets send a card to Claude's optometrist who supplied his new glasses!
4th Grade v Wests at Minor League 2
City United 142 (Mick Cullen 42, Neil Cooke 41, Mark Chew 17) & 3-68 (Nick Stacey 39, Neil Cooke 17x, Tait Jordan 15x, Mark Chew 12) lost to Wests 9 dec for 290 (Paul Hagley 3-23, T Painter 3-42, Mick Cullen 2-25, Tait Jordan 2-38)
A long way behind after the first Saturday in this two day game, the City boys fought hard and avoided the outright loss. Painter and Hagley bowled really well after the City first innings collapsed, restricting Norths from further damaging the side. The rest of the afternoon was an act of great survival led by Stacey's best score of the season but everyone contributed in the 38 overs and can hold their heads high.

It was great to see so many players from the lower grades at No 1 to celebrate our club along with our sponsors and life members. On a slightly sour note, captains and scorers are reminded to make sure newsletters are distributed to players. In two of the four scorebooks more than half of the newsletters were returned.

News From The Club Meeting 2/2/11

The following points of interest should be noted from the club meeting held this week:

• President Terry Skewes praised the efforts of those who made themselves available for the the roster during Country Music. Feedback was that we were one of the best clubs in executing the tasks set. Thanks to those who participated.
• Training will now be held only on Wednesdays at McCarthy High School and will commence from 5:00pm. Players should note these changes. This decision does not effect anything which the first grade side have organised for Friday afternoons.
• Our Annual Presentation Night will be held at Tamworth City Bowling Club on Saturday 9th April from 6:30pm. Cost will be $20 a head. Bookings are essential and tickets paid for in advance. Guest speaker will be former Australian leg spinner, John Gleeson. More information shortly. An official invitation will be presented on the website and email to club members. Perpetual trophies must be handed back to a member of the Executive or team captains by 26th March at the latest.
• A selection of ladies who work hard for the club will be receiving club shirts
• All club members are asked to come and watch the 1st Grade defeat Norths in a day/night game at No 1 Oval on Saturday night. Pizza & a drink for $5 ahead or $10 a family. City will be entertaining sponsors and life members upstairs at No.1 Oval from 6:30pm

If you require any other deatils, contact Deb Batley on 0438 024567

Club Meeting

A reminder that the monthly meeting of City United is to be held at Tamworth City Bowling Club on Tuesday 1st February from 6:30pm. Apologies to Deb Batley.

City United v Wests, 29th January, 2011.

1sts at Riverside 1
City United 9-149 (Ross Steyn 30, Bill North 29, Nathan Whale 25x, Richie O'Halloran 23) lost to Wests 3-151 (Peter Mead 2-25)
Another improving performance by the 1sts and their highest innings tally for the season. Lots of contributors with the bat and another enthusiastic performance in the field. Nathan Whale was outstanding with the ball, his 1-17 from nine overs opening the bowling and Meady re-lit the hope candle with his mid innings wickets. Congratulations 1sts for showing the rest of the club that you are prepared to continue to fight. Sticks and stones to certain columnists in the media. What our first grade is doing against the odds is bigger and better than any of the detractors. Well done boys!
2nds at Riverside 2
City United 9-170 (Michael Bellamy 28, Sean Hancock 25, Anthony Cashman 21, Leo Steyn 20, Paul Fisher 20, Ryan Hansen 17) defeated Wests 115 (Chris Langston 3-33, Leo Steyn 2-20, Steve Ballantine 2-27)
A fabulous win by the seconds with contributions right across the team, including another three catches by Sean Hancock behind the stumps. Chris Langston returned to cricket, taking three of the top six and bowling really well in the conditions. Six of the top seven City batsmen made runs and a steady stream of partnerships gave the side a good total to bowl at. This was an excellent effort against such a good side.
3rds at Riverside 5
City United 96 (Cory Callcott 28, M Johnson 15, Trent Balderston 11, Tim Hunt 10) defeated Wests 92 (Terry Skewes 5-11, Tim Hunt 3-17)
The boys are back in town in a big way after toppling the competition leaders. At 4-90, City was in a strong position with the skipper holding court and only one run from a fifty partnership with Johnson. It went haywire from there with the last six wickets falling for six runs. From there, it should have been easy for Wests but a fabulous opening spell from Tim Hunt and Luke Lawrence had Wests on the back foot at 3-39. From there, Skewes took over with a devastating seven over spell but also of merit was Pat Dwyer (0-4) bowling five overs at the other end which kept the pressure on. Two wins on the Jonathon for the 3rds. Good stuff lads.
4ths at Minor League 2 - 2 day game
City United 8-140 (Mick Cullen 42, Neil Cooke 41, Mark Chew 17, G Schwenke 11 - 40 overs) v Wests 4-176 (Mick Cullen 2-19 - 40 overs)
With both first innings first halves complete, Wests are well in charge but there was a lot more to this game than the figures. City batted well with Cullen and Chew opening with a partnership of 60 and Neil Cooke and Schwenke adding 41 for the 4th wicket. Wests slumped to 2-8 with both wickets to Cullen and even after recovery were 4-112 in the 26th over. The last 14 overs got away City but there was lots of enthusiasm and effort in the field, even though the going got tough. Of particular note was a very encouraging spell of five overs from young leg spinner Lachlan Cooke, who gave the ball flight despite having to face a much older and aggressive batsmen. Some real ticker from everyone this afternoon.

Kookaburra Cup Success

No doubt by now you have heard that the Central North Zone won the Kookaburra Cup of 2011. It certainly was a great week for the boys as a team and a fabulous opportunity for Ryan to play at this level. On a personal note, Ryan didn't exactly have the best of carnivals with the bat. Ryan came in to bat at No. 4 and was not used as a bowler. Here's hoping he can hit some form for City United and his Tamworth rep team. In summary, the results are as follows:
Game 1 v North Coast
Central North 8/192 defeated North Coast 8/190
Ryan hit 13 runs off 36 balls
Game 2 v Illawarra
Central North 1/237 defeated Illawarra 9/181
Ryan did not get to bat but took 1 catch
My parents had travelled all the way from Hay to watch Ryan play cricket for the first time ever and they never got to see him bat nor bowl because the others boys performed so well.
Game 3 v Southern
Central North 7/255 defeated Southern 9/130
Ryan was out for a duck off 9 balls
The Final v Western
Central North 3/337 defeated Western 9/245
Ryan batted at No. 3 and was 10 N/O off 18 balls
In the final, the opening batsmen of Max Houlahan (Moree) and James Psarakis (Tamworth) hit a Kookaburra Cup record opening partnership of 298. The Bradman Foundation is also yet to ratify if this is a ground record for Bradman Oval at any level of cricket. Quite a remarkable feat.

Nikki Hansen

Action For Juniors

Hamish Batley played for Tamworth U/15's in Armidale on 11th January against an Armidale Invitational XI for the Walter Taylor Shield. Wally Taylor was a ledgend of Armidale cricket playing in representative sides for Armidale and the North against international teams. Playing club cricket fro Uralla, Taylor and his brothers scored masses of runs from the middle 50's to the early 70's. Taylor once scored nearly 1000 runs in a season of limited appearance because of commitments on the family farm at an average above 150.

Unfortunately for Hamish, rain ruined the carnival but not before he took 3-0.
Click to see Northern Daily Leader story

On the following weekend, Hamish represented Tamworth in the U/16's at the Stan Austin Shield at Taree. Coming in at 5-40, he made 96 not out and averaged 106 for the carnival. Leo Steyn bowled brilliantly during the carnival but with no luck. The boys lost in the final.
Click to Prime News vision of Hamish batting

Next Meeting

Please note that the next meeting of City United Cricket Club has been postponed by the President until Tuesday 1st February, from 6:30pm at the Tamworth City Bowling Club.

Espresso Addimi Loyalty Cards

Phil Hood now has a club set of loyalty cards so players can either see Phil at games or the Club or ring him on 0408662012 to arrange to get a card. Baring that, Phil will catch up with you. When you get your card, you have to sign for it but that all can be done with Phil.

So now, when you have your delicious coffee a Espresso Addimi in Peel St near Tony Windsor's office, you will be building a bonus for City United at seasons end and supporting a generous sponsor. That's got to be good!