By Casey O'Connor
Stanthorpe Cricket has only one round of fixtures remaining before the finals, but the Minor Premiership sits safely in the hands of Souths following their win in last weekend’s top of the table clash with RSL at Sheehan Oval.
RSL won the toss and captain Luke Brady chose to bat first on a wicket that did not appear to hold too many gremlins.
When the RSL top order went cheaply much rested in the hands of Sam Dowie and Rohan Brady. Things were not looking too bad for RSL when Jordie Lanza claimed the Dowie’s wicket in the 27th over. The Score 3/83. Lanza clean bowled Brady four deliveries later and RSL were suddenly 4/84. From that point RSL crumbled like a house of cards. No other batsman making it to double figures. At the end of the innings, they were looking at defending a miserly 104 runs. South’s captain Jordie Lanza the main destroyer taking four wickets. Lachie Pill and Will Sheather each taking a pair.
The RSL bowlers were looking for something out of the wicket when they took the field.
Souths wobbled early and were 2/23 when the captain came to the wicket. Lanza scored a much needed 41no as partners came and went. When Tom Bonner (18) came to the wicket the score was 5/55 giving RSL and their supporters a glimmer of hope.
The partnership between Bonner and Lanza quickly took the score to 6/89 and in sight of victory. There were a few nervous moments when South’s eight and nine fell for ducks, but Souths got home in the 31st over. Young Noah Mackenzie and Anthony Di Bella did their best to conjure an RSL win each taking three wickets. The youngest Mackenzie, Ethan finished with a pair.
With the Minor premiership now decided and one more round of fixtures to be played, the Stanthorpe teams now have two weekends off. This weekend the Mitchell Shield team travels to Toowoomba in an effort to defend the Mitchell Shield against Toowoomba and the following weekend cricket is on hold due to the Apple and Grape Festival.
