An invaluable 53 by Dan Christian and Ben Mitchell’s 3/29 helped Corowa topple reigning premiers Lavington by 17 runs last Saturday at Ball Park.
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Chasing Corowa’s 142, the Roos needed wickets with Lavington 3/84. Tight and smart bowling, and fielding, meant the Panthers lost 7 for 41 to be all out for 125.
Under clear skies, the home side was determined to put in a strong display following a disappointing loss the previous weekend. With the added motivation of a healthy crowd in attendance for the club’s Sportsman’s Evening with star recruit Dan Christian, Corowa was keen to perform.
Lavington sent Corowa into bat on a pitch that threatened to offer something for their skilful opening bowlers. Corowa’s openers Ben Mitchell and Dan Christian batted patiently, putting away their characteristic aggressive style to counter the tricky pitch, along with accurate bowling and tight fielding from Lavington.
Mitchell was the first to go for 14. The in-form Matt Grantham followed soon after, and when Jarred Lane was run out for only 8 the hosts were on the ropes. Paddy Lavis joined Christian, with the pair moving the game along nicely, and Lavis feeding off the experience of Christian.
However, when Christian was dismissed by a sharp caught and bowled for a gritty 53, and Lavis departed for 19, the Corowa tail floundered, with Kade “Spud” Wilson the only batsman in the bottom 6 to pass single figures. Wilson was left stranded on 11 not out, and Corowa’s total of 142 seemed competitive, but perhaps 30 runs short of a par score.
Christian and Nick Grant took the new ball for Corowa, finding some movement off the pitch. Christian struck early, skittling the stumps of the dangerous Nathan Brown, before Lavington’s Oscar Lyons and Chris Galvin combined for a solid partnership that threatened to take the game away from Corowa.
With the game slipping away, enter Mark “Derek” Athanitis. On a pitch that was staying low, Athanitis utilised his cutters and slower balls to make life difficult for Lavington. He and Mitchell shifted the momentum with incredibly accurate, economical bowling which was well supported in the field.
Athanitis took the key breakthrough, removing Lyons, and the sustained pressure saw Mitchell strike at the other end for a well-deserved wicket. Athanitis bowled 10 overs straight to take an absurd 1-8 with four maidens. However, as they were only chasing a low total, Lavington remained in the game. Jay Lavis came into the attack and took an important wicket, as Corowa’s senior players kept the side calm under pressure. With strong support from the crowd, Christian, Mitchell, Grant and Hatton took the final wickets to see Lavington all out for 125 in the 46th over.
B Grade
After losing the toss Corowa were sent in to bowl on rock hard deck at Lavington.
Lavington got off to a flyer with the opening bowling combination of Melksham and Williams not getting it quite right.
Lane and Phibbs then took up the attack, Lane taking the first wicket in the 5th over with score on 36.
Eales, Abley and Bradtke bowled admirably through the middle overs, but the Lavington batsmen pounced on any loose deliveries.
But it was Bradtke who put some pressure back on the batsmen taking two wickets, which easily could have been five if not for some grassed catches.
Lavington finished their 45 overs on 5 for 253. Lane and Keenes got us off to a dream start, batting beautifully to have Lavington looking for answers.
The running between wickets was first class until Lane ran himself out pushing for two, with the score on 89.
From 1-89, Corowa then had a mini collapse, to be 4-129 with Massey, Carr and Bradtke all going cheaply. The game quickly swung back in the home team’s favour.
Keenes fell shortly after for a very well-made 52, continuing his good form at the top of the order.
Some tight bowling put the brakes on the scoring. A steady flow of wickets on 144, 166, 183, 195 and then finally 209 ensured Lavington secured the win.
C Grade
C Grade (Division 1) has moved to top after knocking off undefeated Lavington.
Matt Shipard (60*) was again the hero with his fourth – and best – 50 from as many innings this season as the side advanced to 5-1 after six matches.
The No.3 carried his bat as Corowa chased down 123 with three wickets to spare, hitting nine boundaries and taking his season average to the mid-80s.
After a mix-up claimed opener Matt Goodall, who was looking good, Shipard found a partner in Cody Kuschert (21) and the pair got the side within sight of home.
A few more wickets fell but Shipard and Karvan Silva (partnership of 23) brought home a big win.
Shipard has become to this side what Dean Jones was to the green-and-gold in the 1980s, a dominator at first-drop who accelerates his innings and is nearly unstoppable once set – on Saturday latching onto anything a millimetre short and whipping over mid-wicket or through square-leg.
He boasts a selection of drives and with his full-brim hat and larger-than-life personality, the “Deano” comparison is complete.
Corowa served up a mixed effort in the field with a good first 20 overs followed by a scrappy second half.
Luke Kuschert got proceedings underway with a neat catch at second slip off the bowling of Danny Osborne (2/10) before the catcher turned wicket-taker on his way to 2/17.
Offspinner Blayre Smith (3/30) combined well with outfielder Cody Kuschert, the latter producing a good catch at cow corner before producing a second absolute stunner moments later sprinting around the fence.
Silva made no mistake when he held onto a powerful drive at mid-on, using his chest and both hands to give Smith the scalp of Lavington’s dangerous opener Booth.
Shipard showed his catching ability, holding onto a hard-hit ball at cover (but proved he was human when he butchered an outfield chance later).
“It’s been a great start. We haven’t even locked down the team yet, we’ve used about 15-20 players and every single person has contributed,” first-year coach Smith said.
“The most important thing, everyone is enjoying themselves. Obviously, there’s some things we need to work on but we’re getting better and better.”
Under 16s
The Under 16s had an awesome win Friday night against St Pats. Defending their total of 137, Jack Torney was in on the action early, taking two early scalps. St Pats then built some momentum, Tyler Abley then came into the attack to take the prized wicket of Ed Tyler and Cheddar then built momentum with the ball creating pressure. Leroy Chester then took a well earnt wicket with the game leaning both ways.
At drinks St Pats were 4/60. Austin Ross-Anderson and Levi Phibbs then joined in on the action. The two bowled awesomely, leaking no runs and giving the batsmen no chances. Levi took two wickets for the night. St Pats edged closer as the scores were 7/95 with less than 10 overs to go. A terrific direct hit all the way from the boundary off Archie Bedford’s lethal cannon changed the game. Brodie Eyers then joined in on the action taking a wicket after taking the keeping gloves off.
Young Austin, who is still currently playing under 14s, finished off a great game taking a well-deserved wicket by ripping middle stump out of the ground. Everyone played their role in a great win for the boys. St Pats were dismissed for 103 with 4 overs to spare.
Under 14s Div 1
Day 2 of Belvoir U14 div 1 clash had Corowa in the field. After a solid start from Belvoir opening batsmen putting a 32 run partnership before the introduction of the premier fast man Eli Lavis ripping the game open figures of 3 for 2 off three overs. Belvoir was bowled out for 55 with Rylee Barber and Harry Norman both claiming two wickets each.
Corowa returned to the batting crease making 9 for 105 with Blake Collins making his highest score in under 14s of 31. Harry Norman continued his good work making 18 no.
Under 14s Div 2
Day 2 saw the young Roos take to the field after posting 171 last week. The warmup showed some warning signs which became prominent during the game with some dropped catches.
Abe Spencer and Oliver McLellan opened the bowling with Abe producing a tidy spell and a dropped chance and Oliver creating a few chances. Kiewa amassed 41 runs before Abe got the breakthrough in his second spell and followed that up with another wicket before he took over keeping.
Archie broke through for the 3rd wicket to have Kiewa 3/53 after 16 overs. Archie would end the game with two wickets. Jake Witherden bowled a cracker of a ball to remove the Kiewa opener still at the crease and have Kiewa 4/64. Billy Barlow picked up his first wicket of the season to have Kiewa at 5/68 after 22 overs with Corowa on top even after a few dropped chances.
Something clicked for Kiewa and over the next 15 overs they progressed to 7/154 needing 18 off the last three overs for the win. Kiewa closed out their innings at 9/168 with the boys holding their nerve to win a close one.
Under 12s Div 1 White
Corowa White headed to Balldale to take on Barunduda this week. Captain Jake Rhodes lost the toss and White were sent in.
A top order master class from Callan Corcoran, Archie Rhodes and George Smith, all unbeaten, set the foundations against a very tidy Barunduda bowling line up.
Callan the pick this week with the bat with a fantastic knock of 49 to get the team to a total of 5/117.
Defending a sizeable target, the boys had the upper hand from the get-go with some early breakthroughs and when Albie Wood sent the Rangers’ best bat packing it made for some smooth sailing for the remainder of the innings restricting the opposition to 4/64 off their 20 overs. Albie Wood, Callan Corcoran, Jaxon Collins the pick of the bowlers.
It was the best performance for the season so far by the lads with consistency throughout the whole match. Next week they head to Noreuil to take on Albury.
Under 12s Div 1 Blue
Corowa Blue won by forfeit over St Patricks who couldn’t get a side.
The club would like to acknowledge our sponsors for this season, A & A Auto, Davidson White Accountants, John Rhodes Bricklaying, Waldrons Fresh on River, Kilara Group, Rivalea, Pharmasave Corowa, O’Connors, Balldale Hotel, Federation Steel, Collins Transport, BJ Hanrahan Family Trust, Moloney Real Estate, Corowa Furnishing and Floors & Corowa RSL Club.
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