Meldrum took full advantage of the short boundaries at Chatham Park, smashing 10 sixes and three fours in a match defining innings. 

Taree West captain Ben Marron won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. New recruit Ben Jonas opened up with Dean Mills. They gave the innings a great platform with a partnership of 64 before Jonas gave United captain Ricky Campbell a return catch. He made 17. Marron fell soon after for four while Mills was bowled by Campbell for a polished 64 that included 13 boundaries. Wickets kept falling regularly, however, this didn’t worry Meldrum as he continued to plunder the bowling. He was eventually stumped by Laurie Weeks off Danial Stone’s bowling just three short of a century. United could only rue giving him a life at 27 when he was dropped.

Taree West made a hefty 244. Campbell, with 4/43 was the most successful bowler.

United made a flying start in the run chase and had 67 on the board after just six overs when Josh Ferris dismissed for 37. Fellow opener Matt Collier made 28 and was out with the score at 74. But United’s batting unraveled from there and they were all out for 131. Brian Levi cleaned up the tail to take 3/8, Paul Cox finished with 3/11 while Kris Ball took 2/37.

BEN Scowen scored his maiden century and Ryan Williams claimed career best figures as Wingham first grade cricket side recorded a 156 run victory over Old Bar at Cedar Party Reserve. 

Batting first, Wingham posted a formidable 6/273 in 40 overs before dismissing Old Bar for just 117 in 24 overs.

After the loss of Josh Davis’s wicket for 2, Scowen and Brock Hynes joined in a new club record second wicket stand of 175, the pair scoring at five runs per over. Scowen gave an early chance on 7, but proceeded to his 50 in even time off 46 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six. Hynes, opening in place of Ben Jonas who has now left the club after one game to play with Taree West, was more restrained, taking 83 minutes, from 51 balls and five fours for his half century. The stand was broken when Hynes was bowled for 62, with Scowen sitting on 99. This betters the previous record of 160 set in 1947/48 by Jock Witchard and J Leonard.

Scowen survived consecutive dropped chances on 78 and hit another five boundaries before finally passing the coveted century milestone from 97 balls in 98 minutes. The classy left hander was eventually bowled on 109, having now scored 410 runs at an average of 68 this season. Ryan Williams made 14 and Matt Essery 23. Ryan Morris was in excellent touch and was dismissed from the final ball for 41. The Old Bar bowling attack was under-strength due to injuries to Dave Rees and Reece Whitton, but toiled manfully, with Hugh Polson the best with 2/50. Liam O’Neill claimed 2/19 while Mark Polson and Craig Watson claimed a scalp each.

Ryan Williams has been unable to bowl for a couple of weeks due to a back complaint. The rest worked wonders as he tore into his work, 6/54 from his eight overs. He had both openers caught behind the wicket by his second over and when Mick Stinson held a screamer in the gully off Ben Cole (14) Williams had removed Old Bar’s hopes of victory. Only some strong driving from Dave Rees, who made 58, prevented a capitulation by the Seasiders as Williams rolled through the middle order. Steve Allwood proved the perfect foil at the other end and should have had a wicket first ball, but finished wicket-less with 0/27. Davis claimed the wicket of Rees for a 1/15 return and Stinson got the hook after claiming a wicket with his first ball. Under 16 bowler, Brodie Guppy was rewarded with a wicket on debut and bowled an excellent line and length before Scowen, finished the innings in his first over.