A depleted Corowa team went down by three wickets against top side North Albury at Ball Park last Saturday.
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It’s the last game of the home and away season this Saturday with the Roos sitting in seventh position as they host bottom side Baranduda.
To make the finals, the Roos must win outright and hope sixth-placed Albury, lose to ninth-placed Wodonga Raiders.
After winning the toss Corowa A Grade elected to bat first but lost the returning Shaun Smith early to be 1 for 14. And when Joe Lavis went Corowa was struggling at 2 for 23.
Jarred Lane and Matt Wilson then moved the score along to 57 but with consistent drizzle falling the pitch changed condition and the side lost Lane, Mitchell and Kade Wilson quickly to be 5 for 69.
Matt Wilson continued to bat well but couldn’t find a partner to stay with him as Corowa fell to 8 for 107.
Wilson was the ninth player out for a well-made 50 as Corowa was dismissed for a disappointing 115.
Needing early wickets to put pressure on North Albury, Corowa didn't get the start they were looking for as North Albury quickly moved to 31 in the 6th over before Luke Backhouse got the first breakthrough.
Mark Athanitis backed up in the next over to have the opposition 2 for 35.
Ben Mitchell picked up two wickets, but the score had moved along to 73.
Corowa couldn't get a run on of wickets as North Albury moved the score along to 104.
The boys continued to try hard finally getting a few quick wickets with Tyler Abley picking up two and Backhouse picking up his second as North Albury moved to 7 for 112 before passing Corowa's score.
This leaves Corowa hoping Wodonga Raiders can topple Albury and that Corowa can defeat Baranduda and collect two bonus points.
B Grade
Round 17 saw B grade travel to Bunton Park to face North Albury.
The boys were keen to get a win on the board after a few recent losses.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl Gus Williams and Paddy Lavis opened proceedings, with big Gus on the money from ball one.
Bowling as quickly as he has all year the North boys didn’t have much idea, with Gus’s pace at one end and Paddy’s crafty change up bowling at the other end North were quickly in trouble.
A bizarre run out was a highlight of the game, leaving even the batsmen scratching his head, as he thought a ball had crossed the boundary rope, stopping in the middle of the wicket only to have the bails whipped off at the non-striker’s end in one of the weirdest run outs ever seen.
Corowa eventually bowled North out for 125, with Gus and Paddy the pick of the bowlers. While Jack Eales and Ethan Lane provided good support also bowling well.
The run chase had its moments, but the Roo boys passed the score 5 down in the 27th over with Ethan Lane the mainstay making a well-made 38 at the top, with Nugent 27 also contributing.
It was left to Jack Eales (22*) and Brodie Eyers (12*) to finish the job off.
C Grade Div 1
No Report
C Grade Div 2
The Corowa C Grade Div 2 side hosted the undefeated St Patrick’s team which promised to be a good game in the last home and away game for the season.
Corowa won the toss and decided to bat first with the Ragget brothers getting the team off to a good start before Billy was out caught for 18 with the score on 33.
This would bring the in-form Mick Drew to the crease to join Lachie Raggett before Lachie was dismissed for 26 with the scoreboard reading 2/53.
After a busy morning on the golf course shooting 7 under in the Marcus Fraser event, Nathan Rhodes would make a run a ball 20 before being dismissed, much to the delight of the St Pats’ team.
Captain, Sam Burdon would join Drew at the crease and the pair would put on a match winning partnership of 153, with some elegant and smart shots being played by both players.
Mick Drew brought up his first century for the club to go along with the three half centuries he’s made throughout the season before he was dismissed for a well-made 118 off 98 balls including 15 boundaries and 2 maximums.
The Corowa team finished their innings with a massive total of 5/275 with Burdon not out on 67 from 59 balls and Doug Lavis 9* from three deliveries.
With a big total to chase the St Pats boys wasted no time in their run chase attempting to hit every ball to the boundary before Jordan Wilson got the dangerous Anthony Lethbridge out for 10. Lloyd Grantham got the next wicket with a superb caught and bowled and when Drew took a screamer off the bowling of Wilson to dismiss an aggressive Scammell with the score 3/44 the Corowa boys could smell blood.
If it wasn’t for nine dropped catches the St Pats score would’ve been much smaller as they finished 9/111 with one the St Pats players injuring his back and not being able to bat.
With a 164 run win over the previously undefeated St Pats, the Corowa team will take confidence into their finals series which will start next Saturday the 1st March along with the inclusion of opening bowlers in Eli Lavis and Marc Playford.
Under 16s
On Friday night the under 16s took on Lavington at Ball Park.
Losing the toss and bowling first Joe Lavis and Jack Torney took the new ball.
Lavis started the boys off with an LBW dismissal early.
A few overs later Austin Ross Anderson ripped the gloves off the throw down the stumps with a direct hit runout. Lavington were 2/27 after 10 overs.
The two Lavington batters then dug in and moved the score along. At the Halfway mark Lavington were 2/78.
After Drinks Cal Corcoran took two wickets in row to break the partnership. Cal changed the momentum of the game.
Rustyn Collins also claimed two wickets as the spin pair worked very hard.
After 30 overs Lavington were 6/125.
With 10 overs left the boys had to restrict Lavington from stretching the score out. Austin Ross-Anderson, Archie Bedford and Jack Torney all claimed a wicket each restricting the tail end for scoring fluently.
Lavington were bowled out for 158 with 3 balls remaining. Callan Corcoran was the pick of the bowlers with 2/11 after 6 overs.
The Corowa boys will look to chase down the target next Friday night to take some momentum into finals.
Under 14s Div 1
Winning the toss the Roo boys elected to bowl against an understrength Lavington side.
Openers, Jake Witherden and Jagger Doody, started well with a good line and length to have Lavington scratching around for runs early, however it wasn’t until the 14th over when the first wicket fell to Cal Corcoran with a great ball that deflected off the batsman onto his stumps to have Lavington 1/41.
Harry Norman struck next over removing the other opener without Lavington adding to the score with a great catch by Billy Witherden at fine leg.
At the half-way mark Lavington were 2/65 and the battle was pretty hard fought with the team only conceding 24 runs in the second 10 over period.
The next wicket would go to Oliver McLellan with the batsman going for the tonk and spooning a catch to Jagger.
Oliver struck again next over removing their danger batsman when he chopped a ball back onto his stumps with the score 4/87 at the end of 25 overs.
Lavington were batting well albeit our line and length was erratic, and we were leaking runs.
Jake Rhodes and Jagger Doody partnered the bowling and in five overs conceded just five runs to tighten the screws back down on the Lavington batters.
In the last 10 overs it was mainly a spin bowling affair with Cal picking up a nice caught and bowled and Lavington finishing their 40 overs on 5/125.
Under 14s Div 2
In the team’s last two-day match of the season, Corowa travelled to Kiewa and decided to bowl first after winning the toss.
The dewy conditions made for a slippery ball, posing a challenge for the bowlers. Despite this, Corowa's fielding and bowling brilliance shone through.
Ollie Bedford executed a spectacular run-out, setting the tone for the rest of the match. He was also involved in a wicket off Bailey Hicks' bowling, adding to his impressive performance. Franco Moolman bowled exceptionally well, taking two key wickets.
Bedford continued his stellar form by claiming two more wickets, further solidifying Corowa's dominance.
Oli Matthews contributed to the team's success with a great run-out, while Nathias Price and Will Torney each added a wicket to the tally. Torney's caught and bowled was particularly noteworthy.
Corowa’s bowling innings concluded with Kiewa on 181.
Under 12s Div 1
The Roo boys hosted Lavington Friday afternoon at Balldale. The team lost the toss and were sent out to field.
Things got underway in style with George Smith taking the league’s biggest scalp second ball with some direct bowling.
Up and about the Corowa boys kept Lavi to just 21 at the 10 over break.
The team remained in control for the remainder of the innings with some great bowling and fielding to leave Lavington with a final score of 6/61. Best bowling Jack Timms 2/1, Bill Smith 2/5, George Smith 1/3 and Hugh Hicks 1/6.
With the target short the Roos were on song early with the bat George and Jack making a great start with both retiring.
This set the scene as Benji, Jake and Ollie all retired as well passing the score with ease. Batting was fantastic throughout with the boys at the end having a crack as well.
Great win and hopefully one more to come.
Batting Jake very solid 25, George a chance less 19, Benji a cracking 15, and Bill a PB 9 all batters not out.
Under 12s Div 2
This week the Div 2 boys were at home to new city. A big game for the boys to stay intact with the top four.
New City won the toss and sent the Roos into bat with Jack Nixon and Oscar Amor getting the innings off to a flyer with a partnership of 22.
The ever-improving Harry Closter come in at three and made a solid 11.
Then come the stars of the show Jobe Ollington and Billy Hunter both making 21 each and Jobe hitting his first six. The first of many to come.
The Roos finished their innings on 113, a solid total to defend.
With the ball it was a great all-round performance as was the fielding.
Oscar Amor picked up 2/4 off his two overs. Jobe 2/8 off his two overs and five others taking a wicket.
New City fell just short finishing on 87 off their 20 overs.
With the win the boys stay in the top four but have a must win game against North Albury at Balldale to ensure a top four finish.
Thanks very much to Ed Nixon and Josh Closter for helping with scoring and umpiring.
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, Terry White Chemist, O’Connors, Balldale Hotel, Federation Steel, Collins Transport, BJ Hanrahan Family Trust, Thrifty, Corowa Furnishing and Floors, Wiesners, VK Logic, Wodonga Pneumatics, Back on Track Physiotherapy, Corowa Curtain & Decor, Corowa Meats, TH Kitchens Joinery, KB Wilson Seeds & Corowa RSL Club.
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