Corowa’s bid for a second-successive A Grade cricket premiership is well within reach after the side defeated Mount Beauty at Ball Park on the weekend.
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The Roos, who finished second on the District First Grade ladder, will come up against Yackandandah in a grand final rematch to determine which of the two sides will face the winner of Baranduda and Kiewa in the final game of the year.
Saturday’s contest saw the beginning of this season’s finals series and it was always going to be tough against an always-dangerous Mount Beauty team.
Federation Council also deserves a pat on the back for presenting the ground in pristine condition. Winning the toss and bowling, Mark Athanitis made the initial breakthrough and then also captured gun batsman Ranaweera to have the Power 2/48.
Opener Saville was in fine touch however, as some short bowling was dispatched by the compact left hander.
At 3/153 Corowa was staring down the barrel of a big chase. The Power were collecting runs with ease and 200-plus was on the cards.
The dismissal of Saville for a well-made 79 saw a collapse as the Corowa boys fought back hard.
Mt Beauty lost their last wicket on the last ball of their 45 overs and Corowa was chasing 185 for victory.
Mark Athanitis again proved his class with 6/30 from his nine overs, while brother Dan collected 3/30 from nine as the Roos dodged a bullet.
Matt Wilson showed how long a week is in cricket, departing for five runs after his century last week. When gun batter Matt Gratham also departed for an uncharacteristic four, things were looking shaky at 2/13.
Jordan Eyers was batting with determination as he and Jared Lane started to look comfortable.
Both departed in quick time as the game took another turn, leaving Corowa 4/60 and their backs against the wall.
In a sign of the growing maturity of the playing group, Nathan Rhodes and Kade Wilson didn’t panic. They re-established control slowly but with 12 overs left, 75 was still needed to win.
The large crowd gathered were on the edge of their seats as the boys upped the tempo.
Rhodes was starting to hit the ball crisply until he departed caught in the deep in the 39th over for a vital 41.
Kodee Lowe then proceeded to make the most important 10 he will ever make before both he and Kade Wilson were dismissed at 169 with three overs remaining.
Wilson (51) batted with great elegance and never looked like being dismissed as he again showed his class.
Corowa’s depth stepped forward as captain Athanitis came in at eight and he was joined by capable youngster Kaelan Bradtke.
The boys iced the win with an over left to the relief of all in what was a terrific game of cricket.
The side now takes on Yackandandah at Ball Park for a spot in the grand final from 12.30pm on Saturday.
Scores: Corowa 7/185 (44 overs) – N Iaria 2/43, A Ranaweera 2/33, A Randell 1/28 def Mount Beauty 184 (45 overs) – M Athanitis 6/30, D Athanitis 3/30, L Backhouse 1/29.
B Grade
A good bowling performance has helped B Grade to a four-wicket victory over Mount Beauty at Howlong.
After being asked to bowl first, Aaron Phibbs made the perfect start with a wicket on the second ball and when Greg Burgess collected danger man McLennan in his first over Corowa had the Power at 2/6 after two overs.
Phibbs collected his second as the Power fell to 3/22 before Mount Beauty steadied to reach 3/62 before Gabby Sutcliffe changed the game.
Sutcliffe collected three quick wickets and when Doug Lavis chimed in Mount Beauty had fallen to 7/66.
Mount Beauty batted out the rest of their overs before being bowled out on the last ball for 124. Sutcliffe took 3/19 off her 8 overs, while Burgess took 2/16 off eight and Phibbs 2/20 off eight overs in a very effective bowling display.
In the chase Corowa lost Shane Norman early, but Ryan Beveridge was looking good before he went for 15 with the score at 25.
Ryan Gale and Doug Lavis pushed the score along to 68 before Lavis went for 17. Gale went shortly later for an innings high for 31 and then on drinks Scott Wilson went as Corowa fell to 5/78 after 20 overs.
Greg Burgess with 14 got the score to 106 before he went. Will Seymour played a very good innings as he hit the bad balls for four, finishing on 28 not out and with Luke Heagney making eight not out the team passed the score with 10 overs to spare.
B Grade now take on Kiewa at Kiewa for a spot in the grand final.
C Grade
C Grade has defeated Wodonga White in a thrilling final at Morris Park. After being sent in to bat, Corowa struggled early as they slipped to 3/26.
Jedd Longmire played a very good innings as he reached his first 50 and with great support from Blayre Smith who also scored his first 50 Corowa amassed 7/173 off their 40 overs. Longmire made 57 while Smith finished unbeaten on 53.
In reply Corowa struggled for wickets but they kept the runs down with Mark Wallis bowling his eight overs spell for only 12 runs as Wodonga reached 1/86 with 15 overs to go.
Jason Raggett with 2/31 kept Corowa in the game, and with two run outs wickets continued to fall as Wodonga reached the last over needing 10 runs.
Danny Osborne kept his cool as Wodonga finished their 40 overs at 8/170 and a three-run win.
The side now takes on North Albury for a spot in the grand final.
Under 16s
A brilliant innings by Ryan Beveridge has led the Under 16s into the grand final after they defeated Wodonga by three wickets.
After sending Wodonga in Corowa started well with three early wickets to have Wodonga 3/19, but Wodonga steadied and moved along to 3/75.
The players stuck to the task well and the wickets began to fall as they bowled out Wodonga for 102. Patrick Blain bowled well to take 2/10, he had great support from Jedd Longmire with 2/13 and Luke Heagney with 2/13.
In the chase on Sunday Ryan Beveridge opened up but lost three partners early as the score reached 3/34. Gabby Sutcliffe (11) helped get the score to 3/63 but the game changed as Corowa lost four quick wickets to fall to 7/77.
But Beveridge was still there and along with Blayre Smith they started to chip away at the total. Beveridge brought up his 50 as Corowa passed the total with five overs to spare. Beveridge finished on 52 not out while Smith played a very important innings with 14 not out.
The team now take on East Albury in the grand final.
Under 14s
In the Under 14s Corowa White went down in their semi final clash with Lavington. Bowling first the side struggled as Lavington amassed 7/190 off their 40 overs.
Ned Harvey was the pick of the bowlers taking 2/17 off his six overs while Jay Lavis gave good support with 1/19 off his six overs.
In reply White really struggled and could only amass 42 in reply with only Patrick Lavis with 19 making it to double figures. Well done on a very good season.
Under 12s
In the Under 12s Corowa Blue got knocked out in their semi final on Friday night. Wodonga batted first and made 2/147 off 20 overs with Tyler Abley taking 1/23.
In reply Blue gave it a good shake making 5/109 off 20 overs. Jayden Forge top scored with 31, while Tyler Abley on 19 and Leroy Chester making 17 batted well.
Well done on a very good season.
Under 15s
The Under 15s girls are through to the grand final next Wednesday night with a thrilling win against Tallangatta in Albury last Wednesday night.
Batting first the girls made 124 with Rosie Blain making 35, Isabel Bush (20), Rebecca Carroll (16) and Clodagh Blain (12).
In reply Tallangatta just fell short with the girls restricting them to 119. Rosie took 2/16 and Isabel took 2/10.
Niamh Lavis bowled well to take 1/6 off her two overs. The girls take on the undefeated Belvoir in the grand final on Wednesday night. All the best girls.
The club would like to acknowledge its sponsors for this season: Corowa RSL Club, Hotel Australia, David Lane Builder, Corowa Home Improvements, John Rhodes Bricklaying, Sportspower Corowa, Davidson White, Dunns Twin City Cranes, Kilara Group Corowa, A & A Auto, Corowa Furnishings and Floors/Corowa Betta Home Living, Rivalea, Meat on the Murray, Stockdale & Logo Corowa, Corowa Bakery, Pharmasave, Lawson Grains, BWS, Potts & Schnelle, South Mahonga Pastoral, Corowa Tree Care, GenTech Seeds, Bartletts Corowa Gas, Origin Clothing, Brian Eales Painting, Damicos & Woolworths Corowa as well as the support of the Federation Council.