By Casey O'Connor
Cricket on the Southern Downs has been one severely impacted by the recent weather and severely hampered some of the fixtures.
As a result, the Warwick Cricket Association opted to split their Round Nine games over past weekend and the coming weekend and fortunately the weather gods were on their side this week.
On Saturday, at Slade Park and undermanned Allora side played this season’s biggest improvers, Redbacks.
An undermanned Allora team took on this season biggest improvers – Redbacks. After winning the toss Allora batted first but were dismissed cheaply. Redbacks opening bowler Anthony Dwan had opener, Brad Johnson back in the clubhouse for a duck and the score 1/0. The bowlers took control of the innings as the Allora batting line up struggled. The only batsman to make it to double figures was Kris McLenann (18). McLennan was making a welcome return to the Allora line up.
Thye Clarkson and Shawn Brown each had a field day with the ball each taking four wickets. Clarkson finished with 4/11 from six overs and included two maidens. Brown’s figures almost a mirror image. He took 4/12 from six overs, bowling one maiden over. Opening bowlers Dwan and Grogan the other wicket takers.
Redbacks in reply had a wobble at the start of the innings when opener Ryan Clark was knocked over for a duck with the scores 1/9, clean bowled by Jamie Holmes 1/9.
The fall of wicket brought Steve Grogan to the crease and he opener David Drewery had little trouble knocking off the required runs as not out midway through the 19th over. Drewery remained not out 28 while Steve Grogan smacked a quick fire 38 from as many balls to wrap up another win for Redbacks.
On Sunday Warwick Hotel Colts put together back-to-back wins with an easy victory over Sovereign Animals. Colts are starting to find form and after winning the toss batted first in the game also played at Slade. With the score on just 16, opener Matt Kiernan was out for eight caught by Canning off the bowling of Marc Wagner. Wagner had his second wicket shortly after when Kiernan’s replacement Sam Bourke was dismissed for a duck. The score 1/21.
Morgan Benn was joined in the middle by Maugan Benn, and the pair took the score to 94 before Benn was caught by Canning off a Seth Esson delivery for 35.
John Cleary scored 31 from 30 deliveries before he became Wagner third scalp and the score 4/155.
Colts lost a couple of quick wickets when Costello and O’Leary went for ducks, but tailender Adam Byrne added a handy 19 taking the score to 8/189 at the close of the 40 over innings.
Bourke (57), Benn (35) and Cleary (31) were the backbone of the Colts innings while bowling honours belonged to Marc Wagner who finished with a six-wicket haul.
In reply Sovereign started poorly and never recovered. They were bundled out for 59. The only score of any note, Cahal Davis who top scored with 18they too were fortunate that “Extras” added 14 to their total.
Colts captain courageous, Al Costello was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 3/5 from 4.3 overs and included two maidens. Kiernan Cleary and Morgan Bourke each picked up two wickets.
This weekend Wheatvale will be chasing their first win of the season when they host high flying Victoria Hill on Saturday. Maryvale complete the draw with their schedule bye.
After a couple of aborted efforts, Sunday should see the start of Warwick’s Mitchell Shield representative campaign the Warwick’s Mitchell Side team commence when they meet Toowoomba Heritage Oval.
