Corowa B Grade claimed the CAW premiership on Saturday after defeating Howlong with a solid all-round display of good batting and bowling.
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The Colts entered the most important game of the year with ageing stars Aaron Phibbs and Greg Burgess under injury clouds. But captain Wilson took the chance on them both as he won the toss and batted.
Burgess wasn’t in the mood for quick singles as he and young gun Ryan Beveridge put on a vital 44 for the first wicket. Burge made a tidy 29.
Wickets came in clumps as Carr and Beveridge went to leave Corowa 3-61.
Doug Lavis and Matt Hince then put on 20 before both departed. At 5-99 things could have gone either way as yoga devotee Wilson started to wind back the years.
He lost Seymour and Haegney though, leaving the boat listing at 7-118 and staring at the abyss.
Joe Hansen and then Patrick Lavis joined Wilson as they started to get Corowa closer to a competitive total. Some great running between wickets saw Wilson almost lapped but the popular captain made 39 of his most important runs under great pressure.
After 40 overs the Roos had set Howlong 169 for victory. The knocks of Hince, Seymour and Lavis gave a glimpse of the club’s bright future.
Hansen and a hobbled Burgess then gave Corowa the start they were after with some great tight bowling.
2-12 after 10 overs it was always going to be tough. 3 maidens from youngster Patrick Lavis (7 maidens between the 3) really set the Spiders back before Phibbs started to make inroads.
With his listing calf holding up he rocked through the upper order after Burgess’ 2 early wickets.
Doug Lavis and Jed Longmire then iced the win with some great bowling.
Howlong were all out for 75 as the Corowa boys started the back slapping. Well done to the boys.
7 players under 17 and only 1 loss for the year was a great return for perhaps the strongest B grade team for many years.
C Grade Div 2
C2 travelled to Albury to take on Tallangatta in the grand final.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl first, ‘Mustard’ Mills and Marc Playford both bowled well with no luck.
There were plenty of chances early and throughout the duration of the innings due to a number of dropped catches.
Tallangatta took advantage going to drinks 0/92. Enter the young superstar in the making - Ned Harvey, who would take the first wicket for the day.
Ned wasn’t done then, he put the boys on his back bowling a consistent line and length which teared through Tallangatta’s top order in a masterclass of a 6 over spell taking 5/17 finishing with figures of 5/26 from 7 overs.
The spell turned the game on its head, swinging momentum back in Corowa’s favour.
Unfortunately, the boys couldn’t finish off the opposition, only able to take a further 3 wickets to after 40 overs, chasing a total of 8/191.
Liam Carter and Jake Burdon were sent to the crease, unfortunately Liam first to go for 1.
Burdon was next to go for 10, leaving Corowa in early trouble being 2/14 after 5 overs.
Carter brothers Callum and Jacob partnered up, which was also short lived with a mix up between wickets resulting in Jacob ran out.
Cal teamed with Johnny Conroy; both gave Corowa a chance before Cal was dismissed on a well fought 31; Johnny for 21 after batting for majority of the overs.
The next Carter, Riley came and went first ball, followed by Matt Shipard the very next one with the opposition bowler taking a hattrick in one over to leave Corowa on shaky legs only being 6/49.
Last week’s hero Tom Moloney was once again to be the saviour for Corowa.
He wouldn’t disappoint as he batted the best innings of the year, as Tom looked to carry the boys home once again, unfortunately it had to come to an end on 40.
Brydon Robins adding 14 giving which put Corowa in a respectable position, although all good things come to an end, the boys unable to make up for the rest being all out for 137.Still a terrific effort by the boys to finish runners up, for a side having a totally different line up most weeks to get this far.
The boys will be looking forward to hopefully going one better next year.
Thanks to everyone who has helped this season be a success, every single player who played during the season, without you the team wouldn’t have been able to be lucky enough to play in a grand final.
Also, a big thank you to the supporters who have come and watched, scored and even umpires or fill in when necessary.
Todd ‘cordial specialist’, young gun Stirling and Sharon Letchford for proving the cordial most weeks for the boys.
Under 12’s
Corowa ventured to Howlong to try to complete a nearly unbeaten season.
Bowling first, the Corowa youngsters made early inroads, but Howlong continued to put pressure on the bowling with good running and placement.
A clump of wickets in the middle overs left Howlong 5-43 and in danger of a low total however the lower order fought hard to get 81 before their innings closed.
Joe Lavis best of the bowlers with 3-9.
Corowa’s chase started brightly with Benji Hanrahan and Levi Phibbs putting on 26.
Wickets then tumbled in the fading light to leave the innings in tatters at 5-39.
With wet weather on the way Rustyn Collins and Joe Lavis survived some testing bowling before the game was called to a halt with 7 overs left and 28 to get.
After a couple of opposing rules being thrown about it was decided that neither team deserved to lose.
Both teams were declared joint premiers. Well done to all on a great season.
The club would like to acknowledge sponsors for this season: A & A Auto, Davidson White Accountants, Waldrons Fresh on River, TH Kitchens & Joinery, Hotel Australia, Dunn’s Twin City Cranes, Kilara Group, Nutrimax, Royal Hotel, BJ Hanrahan Family Trust, Corowa Truck & Trailer, Hethington Plumbing, David Lane Builder, GenTech Seeds, Landmark, O’Connors, Corowa Tree Care, Goode Electrical, Sauders Spraying, Federation Steel, Collins Transport, Beechworth Honey, B & A Eales Painting & Decorating, D’Amicos Restaurant, IK Cardwell, Campbell’s Wines, McLardy McShane, Corowa Travel Link, Pharmasacve, Bartletts Gas, Federation Council and Corowa RSL Club.