UNITED has to lift some indifferent form of late if they are going to claw back some points from Wingham in the top-of-the-table Manning first grade cricket clash at Chatham Park starting on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A loss to Taree West last week has United now trailing Wingham by 12 points going into the start of the two day games. This will also be the final match before the Christmas/New Year recess.
United skipper Ricky Campbell admits his team has hit the wobbles, with a less-than-convincing win over Old Bar followed by a heavy loss to Taree West.
“We’re not where we should be at this stage of the season,’’ Campbell said.
“We’re having a few dramas on the field – we’re not taking the catches that we should. But hopefully we’ll get over that this match.’’
Campbell said early wickets will be the key.
“Their middle order hasn’t been batting much time at the crease because their top order has been getting all the runs,’’ he said.
“So hopefully we can get some early wickets and get into the middle order.’’
However, Campbell concedes Wingham boast a strong batting side, but thinks two day matches will help United’s cause.
“Jackson Witt, Tom Burley and Danial Stone will all be able to bowl longer spells,’’ he said.
“We also won’t have to use as many bowlers.’’
Campbell is also likely to send down plenty of overs. He took four wickets against Taree West last start.
Campbell sent the opposition in on a few occasions during the one dayers. But that won’t be happening tomorrow if he gets it right at the toss.
“It’s Chatham,’’ he explained.
“Hopefully I can win the toss and we can pretty well bat all day to get a competitive score.’’
Show authority
WINGHAM has a perfect opportunity to take a stranglehold on the Manning first grade cricket minor premiership against United starting tomorrow at Chatham Park.
“We’ve been looking forward to playing United in a two dayer,’’ Wingham skipper Matt Essery said.
“We’re looking to show some authority.’’
Wingham has 45 points, well clear of United on 33. Essery and his United counterpart Ricky Campbell agree that if Wingham can secure a swag of points in the next two Saturdays they’ll be well on the way to sealing the minor premiership.
Wingham go into the game on a high after a strong all-round effort against Old Bar, where the batsmen, led by century-maker Ben Scowen fired while a six wicket haul from Ryan Williams sealed the deal. Essery said it was a particularly pleasing effort from the batsmen as conditions weren’t perfect.
Wicket keeper Dan Barber returns to the side this week after missing the clash against Old Bar.
Essery remains wary of the United spin attack led by Ricky Campbell and Danial Stone and he hopes to get the opportunity to bat first by winning the toss on Saturday.
West keep to build momentum
ONE win doesn’t make a summer, however, Taree West captain Ben Marron hopes his side’s success over United last week will provide the momentum for a rapid rise up the Manning first grade cricket competition ladder.
The West will meet Old Bar at the Johnny Martin Oval tomorrow in the opening two day round of the summer. Victory over United has now given Taree West a cushion over Old Bar in third place on the pointscore. However, Marron now has his sights set on pushing for second spot.
“There’s 16 points on offer in the two day games and if you get a few things right it doesn’t take much to leap frog the teams in front,’’ Marron said.
Taree West’s form had been patchy until last week.
“But cricket’s like that, it’s about momentum. Now we have to build on last week,’’ Marron said.
Former North Sydney batsman Ben Jonas has joined the club after playing one game for Wingham. Jonas was a first ball failure in his only time at the crease for Wingham but looked better when compiling 17 in a 64 opening run partnership with Dean Mills last week.
“Ben’s still rusty – he hasn’t played for three of four years, but it’s good to have him with our club,’’ Marron said.
Marron said before the clash with United the failure to bowl or bat in partnerships had led to his side’s early season problems. He said were some promising signs in both areas against United.
Taree West have some ground to make up on United to finish second. Under Manning Cricket’s first grade finals format, second will play third in the preliminary final, with the minor premiers going straight through to the grand final. Marron recalls last year Taree West benefited from their higher place on the ladder when rain intervened in the finals series.
“Finishing second will be our aim,’’ he said.
10 sixes not a record
TAREE West batsman Josh Meldrum’s 10 sixes in his innings of 97 in the Manning first grade cricket clash against United last week isn’t a record.
However, it’s the most number hit for a long time.
Manning Cricket historian Les Eastaway said that in November 1935 Jack Street smacked 18 sixes and 24 boundaries in his innings of 284 for Cundletown. Amazingly, this was in a losing run chase.
Meldrum returned to cricket this season. Taree West captain Ben Marron said Meldrum took full advantage of the smaller Chatham Park boundaries. He his just three boundaries in the 97, preferring to go over the fence.
Marron said a Meldrum innings can turn a match.
“It won’t be the last time he does that this season,’’ he promised.
Old Bar captain Blake Polson admitted it’s close to do or die for his side to make the playoffs.
The Seasiders have nine points. Third placed Taree West sit on 21.
Polson said he’ll have players unavailable for the first day of the clash against Taree West at Johnny Martin Oval on Saturday.
“But we’ll scrape together 11 players and see how we go from there,’’ he said.