From 6/12, Corowa won!

Whilst not a big score, Baranduda crumbled against the pace and line of Corowa’s dynamic captain Jarryd Hatton who claimed 5 for 8 in the host’s meagre total of 53.

Having finally won a toss, captain Jarryd Hatton received a warm round of applause before proclaiming “boys it’s an absolute road and we’re batting”.

Turns out it was no road. Nonetheless young opening pair Paddy Lavis and Blake Keenes strode to the wicket with the skipper’s words inciting ambitions of a big day out.

After a watchful first over things started to unravel for the visitors.

Keenes was first to go caught at cover attempting an early drive to a delivery that held up off the surface, next over Lavis found the first boundary straight down the ground however next ball he was also caught, driving through the offside as well, leaving Corowa 2 for 6.

Then Matt Grantham was caught behind off a climbing delivery for 0 and Ben Mitchell became the off-drive’s third victim.

A grade were reeling at 4 for 9, with the team discovering captain Hatton is fluent in French in times of crisis.

The crisis escalated when Jarred Lane and Luke Heagney were removed in the same over.

At 6 for 12 the A grade record of 16 all out looked in every possibility of being broken.

Baranduda opening bowler Zac Leach had figures of 5 for 8 from only five overs with Hatts joining Mattress at the crease on a mission to first overcome the dreaded 16 all out and secondly salvage some possibility of putting together a winning score (which was accurately estimated to be around 70).

Hatts took the bat between the teeth, with assistance from Wilson and a couple of loose deliveries the pair moved the score past 16, and onto 53 before a remarkable catch removed Hatton for 17.

Jay Lavis partnered Mattress who was rediscovering last season form assessing the conditions with his off-driving a feature on a pitch nobody else could play the shot on. The pair moved the score along at a good clip before Mattress holed out too long on for a well-made 45 an important innings in the context of the season.

Joe Hansen and Lavis added a further 17 before Hansen was the fourth batsman caught driving on the off side with the score 115 and when Nick Grant was removed first ball Corowa had 115 to defend. Skipper Hatton provided the perfect start removing opening bat Mckenna in the first over bowled for 0.

Despite some close calls and worrying body blows batsmen Mitch Ryan and Nick Bowles withstood the rest of the opening spell of Hatton and Grant however the introduction of spin brought immediate effect with Ben Mitchell picking up wickets in consecutive deliveries leaving the home side 3 for 15.

A 24 run partnership kept the home side in the game before a brutal short ball from Jay Lavis opened the floodgates.

Mark Athanitis grabbed his first wicket having the inventive Jayden Barter caught by Blake Keenes for 25.

With blood in the water captain Hatton decided Jay Lavis figures of 1 for 2 from three overs warranted removing from the attack and as all good captains do took it upon himself to mop up the lower order proving a class above the Baranduda lower order peppering the stumps to great effect blasting the lower order with a shard run out from Grantham mixed in to knock the hosts over for 54.

Hatts claiming the remarkable figures of 5 for 8 from 4.4 overs returning his side to the winners list.

All attention must now turn to this week’s top of the table clash with Belvoir at Ball Park, Belvoir have swept all before them since a round one loss to Corowa with fine weather predicted the side will need all its supporters on deck as the match is shaping up to be an exceptionally entertaining contest.

B Grade

Hosting Baranduda for the second time in a month, the boys were keen to atone for last week’s shock loss to cellar dwellers Wodonga.

Losing the toss Baranduda chose to bat, effectively a win for captain Phibbs who was going to bowl on a wicket that he thought would produce some swing and seam early due to some steamy conditions.

Opening the bowling, Fuge and Phibbs bowled tight with Fuge swinging the ball all over the shop proving difficult to get away taking the first wicket 1-10

Phibbs chimed in soon after, then Fuge taking another two to have Baranduda in trouble at 4-30, Fuge finishing his opening spell with 3-19 off six overs.

Baranduda then steadied the ship with some slow and steady batting with Eales and Abley not giving much away, the score moving from 4-30 to 94 before some absolute brilliance in the field from Banger Lane with a direct hit from half way to the boundary, the batsman trying for a second was not to be.

It was the spark the boys needed, from 5-94 to be all out for 124 in what would prove to be the best collective bowling all year from the group, with Melksham bowling superbly in his comeback game taking 1-24 from his 7 overs.

Looking to chase down the runs with minimal damage Minogue and Lane got us off to a steady start before Lane chopped on with the score on 24.

Athanitis and Minogue then took the score to 52 before Athanitis fell to a contentious catch, disappointed Pump trudged off.

From 2-54 to 4-71 the game was still in the balance, but Spud Wilson and Nugent put the game away with some clean hitting, before Nugent fell. Melksham and Wilson then got us over line with no more wickets fall, Spud finishing on 42 not out

Article sponsored by Corowa Curtains and Décor. Go see Kaz and Brad for all your curtains and blinds.

C Grade

Corowa C-Grade (Division 1) faces a season-defining game at Morris Park this Saturday, after the side dropped its third game in a row on the weekend.

Needing to arrest a slump, Corowa allowed New City to pile on 184, the home side benefitting from a strong opening partnership aided by missed catches in slips and elsewhere.

Corowa edged its way back into the game, Danny Osborne getting the first with a clean-bowled before Caleb Kuschert and Baxter Macfarlane found their range to secure two wickets apiece.

But runs continued to come easy for New City although Corowa started to hold onto some of their chances – Matt Shipard coming forward nicely at deep mid-wicket and Macfarlane backtracking at mid-on.

But sweltering conditions took their toll and Corowa botched the chase.

Promoted to opener, Kuschert knew quick runs were needed and with some VIPs in the gallery was motivated to put on a show, but holed out to the first ball at mid-off.

Corowa No.3 Matt Shipard (averaging more than 40 for the season) was quickly brought undone by a full-toss slower ball.

New City’s opening left-armer (six wickets) continued his decimation of Corowa’s top order, claiming Cody and Luke Kuschert.

Max Barraclough came in and temporarily reversed the momentum with two barnstorming fours, but a knee injury put him on the back foot and he went for an equal-top score of nine.

John Conroy managed to survive the opening quicks but was brought undone via the second ball of spin.

The carnage continued and Corowa were all out for 38, surpassing last season’s round one debacle of 39.

Last season Corowa was able to turn it around and make a ‘prelim’ and the side will need to do so again, starting this week against third-placed East Albury.

Juniors don’t start back until the start of February.

The Club would like to acknowledge our sponsors for this season, Corowa Curtains and Décor, A & A Auto, Davidson White Accountants, John Rhodes Bricklaying, Waldrons Fresh on River, Kilara Group, Rivalea, Pharmasave Corowa, O’Connors, Balldale Hotel, Federation Steel, Collins Transport, BJ Hanrahan Family Trust, Moloney Real Estate, Corowa Furnishing and Floors & Corowa RSL Club.

Junior Country Week

Under 14s

Eli Lavis has been the star for CAW Hume in their two wins on Sunday and Monday. He took 6 for 17 off 5.5 overs (including 4 wickets in 4 balls) while the day before he made 51 and took 3 for 16 off 7 overs. He has been well supported by Austin Ross-Anderson, Franklin Murray-Wright, Will Massey and Rhylee Barber in the wins)

Under 13s

Harry Norman had a day out in CAW Hume’s win today, top scoring with 41 and then taking 3 for 11. Along with Charlie Hall the side was able to have two wins on Sunday and Monday.

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The Under 12s lost both of their games on Sunday and Monday but the Corowa kids have all performed well with Callan Corcoran, Abe Spencer, Archie Rhodes and Jagger Doody shining at different times.