MARGARET River Hawks are looming as the team to beat after the opening two rounds of A-grade cricket in the Busselton-Margaret River competition. Hawks were big winners over last year's premiers St Marys in their clash on Saturday at Barnard Park, while YOBS also got the job done comfortably when they accounted for an undermanned Dunsborough at Bovell Park.
Pace bowler Leigh Westcott emerged as the surprise packet for Hawks when he took 5-25 against Saints - his first five-wicket haul for the club. Saints looked to be on top early when the experienced opening duo of Marc Ford (13) and Jono Lloyd (23) added 29 for the first wicket after winning the toss and taking first use of the strip. Hawks suffered a major blow in only the second over when Aaron Thomas broke down after bowling two balls and limped from the field. But after Westcott grabbed the first four wickets to fall, Saints plunged downhill, with only the openers reaching double figures. Skipper Mat Kent (2-8) and left-arm spinner Rumesh Silva (2-4) enhanced their averages as Saints were skittled for 77. Shane Joyce (36 not out) and Chris McLean (21) helped Hawks race to a seven-wicket victory in just the 18th over of their chase.
At Bovell Park, John Evans joined an elite club when he took 5-25 on his debut for YOBS against Dunsborough. Dunsborough, batting first, owed their total of 130 to a fine knock of 37 by Jack Omodei opening the batting with support from Ricky Small-Boyce (21). Tight bowling from Small-Boyce and skipper Ian Purcell had YOBS uncertainly placed at 2-15 in reply before Tait Spowart (a defiant 17) and Troyden Thorp (67no from 64 balls) guided YOBS to a five-wicket win in the 26th over. Omodei (2-28) took two wickets in two balls to complete a solid all-round performance for Dunsborough.
In B-grade cricket, Hawks opener Maurice Shinnick (79no) achieved a rare feat when he carried his bat in his team's narrow loss to St Marys at Barnard Park. But the man of the match was Justin Gower for Saints, with a great double of 42 runs and 6-24 with the ball. YOBS beat Cowaramup while Vasse accounted for Dunsborough in the other games.
In C-grade cricket, the last pair of Joel Lawrance and Angus Currell added 19 runs to get Hawks up to a thrilling win over St Marys at Churchill Park. In the other matches YOBS comfortably beat Dunsborough while Nannup got up to beat Cowaramup.
B-GRADE: St Marys 216 (44 overs) (D. La Motte 75, J. Gower 42, P. Grygorcewicz 38, T. Matthews 4-54, B. Gillam 2-18, J. Stanbury 2-41) b MR Hawks 204 (M. Shinnick 79no, P. Tognolini 50, J. Gower 6-24, B. Crain 2-40). YOBS 8-134 (45 overs) (A. Logan 30, L. Wedderburn 27, R. Coates 4-40, R. Bramston 2-14, T. Coulson 2-34) b Cowaramup 124 (43.5 overs) (T. Coulson 43, D. Santich 29, J. Taylor 3-18, J. Whiteford 2-35). Vasse 5-159 (37 overs) (J. Albury 73no, C. Cook 29, R. Norrish 3-45) b Dunsborough 7-157 (45 overs) (W. Perna 44no, T. Begley 41, M. Cooper 26, S. Young 3-5, S. Madhusudan 2-51).
C-GRADE: MR Hawks 9-157 (37 overs) (B. Kelly 51, M. Sorensen 30, A. La Mancusa 4-27, C. Towers 2-19) b St Marys 8-156 (40 overs) (C. Towers 48, J. La Motte 39, G. Sly 20, J. Gannaway 4-19). YOBS 3-92 (18.5ov) (J. O'Malley 28no, S. Maitland 27) b Dunsborough 91 (35.4ov) (D. Begley 23, D. Cameron 3-9, C. Jones 3-17). Nannup 7-136 (34.1ov) (B. Lullfitz 82) b Cowaramup 134 (L. Smith 2-18, E. Bresser 2-31).
