Corowa A grade welcomed Belvoir to Ball Park for their first home game of the season but were outplayed with both bat and ball.
Winning the toss, Corowa elected to bat first with Arthur Godsal and Mitch Wagstaff looking to continue their solid opening partnerships.
Mitch was looking particularly settled early with his off side driving a real feature, Arthur was then undone by Perkins bowled for 4 from a delivery that seamed in sharply off the surface, then with the score on 25 Jarred Lane fell in identical fashion bowled for 2 with the full length of Perkins causing trouble from one end.
Mitch was undeterred showing his class against the pacey attack losing Paddy Lavis and Matthew Wilson as partners before he was undone by Jaensch for a well compiled 39 with Corowa in trouble at 5 for 70 with all batsmen bowled.
Kade Wilson, playing his first A grade game for the year, looked in great touch, and a counter attacking partnership with Jarryd Hatton was digging Corowa out of trouble. This was until Kade was run out in almost unbelievable fashion at the non-strikers end with the bowler unintentionally deflecting the ball onto the stumps from 3 metres to the side of the stumps finding Kade out of his crease backing up, when Jeremy Carr soon followed for 1 Corowa was back in trouble.
Hatton kept attacking striking some lusty blows but one too many swings cost him his wicket for 32. Nick Grant was trapped in front next ball with Mark Athanitis and Jack Eales getting the score to 126 before Mark was the last wicket to fall.
In reply Belvoir came out positively taking on the bowling to race to 40 before Nick Grant got the first breakthrough, a strong LBW shout next ball would have given Corowa some momentum however it was turned down.
Corowa's bowling is lacking the consistency we have come accustomed to with too many loose balls and free runs making defending scores near impossible. Jarryd Hatton was able to pick up another wicket with the score 55 however an unbeaten partnership of 72 between Cameron and Green delivered the visitors an 8 wicket victory.
Many thanks to the social committee for organising our first social event for the year with players and supporters enjoying being able to finally spend some at the clubrooms after a frustrating start to the season.
B Grade
B Grade went down after they failed to chase down 113 for victory against Belvoir at Kelly Park.
Bowling first, Corowa bowlers were on top with Nathan Rhodes taking 3 wickets and with Jacob Fuge taking 2 wickets, Corowa bowled out Belvoir for 113 in 32 overs.
But in reply only two batsmen made it to double figures in Riley Allan (23) and Nathan Rhodes (11) as Corowa was bowled out for 93.
C Grade
Corowa C Grade (Division 1) moved up to third on the ladder with a strong all-round performance at Morris Park on Saturday.
Sent in to bat, the home side posted 226 with opener John Conroy (55) and skipper Greg Burgess (81) enjoying a 100-run partnership.
Given the role to anchor the innings, Conroy was patient against the Belvoir attack while his batting partners such as Billy Raggett (17 ) and Mat Shipard (7) played their more attacking games.
Coming together with the score at 2-58, Burgess and Conroy kept the momentum going with some hard-running between wickets and the occasional boundary.
Conroy fell trying to accelerate after 50 but Burgess was able to kick-on, opening the shoulders and connecting consistently to post nine fours in his innings.
He was ably supported in the latter overs by Caleb Kuschert, who smashed two consecutive straight sixes in his quickfire 23 while Blayre Smith struck a boundary and ran hard as the team notched its best total for the season.
The defence started perfectly with a Shipard catch at short-cover claiming the Belvoir captain for a duck, bowler Burgess and the fielder indulging in beautiful platonic hug amid the celebrations.
The wickets fell regularly from there. Young wicketkeeper Jaxson Bolger was a standout, claiming two catches – one a sharp take – off quick Danny Osborne (3/21) while Bolger also kept his side’s extras to a minimum with plenty of saves down leg-side.
Emerging paceman Ben Black came on and hit the spot with ball one, knocking over his Belvoir opponent's off-stump while Kuschert took his time to find his mark but eventually did on his way to 3/14 off his six overs.
Spinners Smith (2/29) and Shipard (0/3) didn’t give much away.
The latter stages of the afternoon saw some half chances go down but skipper Burgess stopped the rot to hold onto the final catch, a hard-hit ball at mid-on and cap a solid outing.
Under 16s
The Under 16s made it two wins in a row with a win over Baranduda at Baranduda.
Bowling first, Corowa did well to restrict Baranduda to 6 for 119 after they got away to a fast start. Brodie Eyers bowled well taking 2 for 20 off 4 overs, Ethan Lane, Ashton Wynne and Leroy Chester all took a wicket as well.
In reply Lane and Eyers led the way with Lane making 52 retired and Eyers 30 retired as Angus Williams hitting the winning runs in the 18th over as Corowa didn’t lose a wicket finishing at 0 for 123 when the game was called off.
Under 14s
The Under 14s just got over the line against Lavington at Morris Park.
Batting first, Corowa was able to make 6 for 92 off their 20 overs with Joe Lavis leading the way with 30 retired. He had support from Levi Phibbs (14), Lachlan Ireland (11) and Austin Ross-Anderson (10*).
In reply they were able to restrict Lavington to 3 for 90 in their 20 overs. Levi Phibbs bowled well to take 1 for 2 off 2 overs. He was support by Eli Lavis and Franklin Murray-Wright who took a wicket each.
Under 12s
White - Div 1
Corowa White suffered a big loss to Baranduda on Friday night, with the game moved to Albury. Corowa batted first and just couldn’t get going. Abe Spencer top scored with 7 while Fin Douglas with 6* and Charlie Hall 5 as Corowa could only muster 32.
In reply Baranduda made 4 for 159 off their 20 overs. Lachlan Douglas bowled well to take 2 for 10 off 2 overs while Jake Witherden and Abe Spencer took a wicket each.
Blue – Div 1
Blue had the bye.
Div 2
Corowa had their second win beating North Albury Green. Bowling first, Corowa was able to restrict North Albury to 87 with Patrick Colman taking 2 for 10 off 3 overs while George Smith and Luke Chandler grabbed a wicket each.
In the chase George Smith led the way smashing 30 as all the batsmen got amongst the runs with Franco Moolman making 7, Darcy Upton 7, Nate Kuschert 6, Charlie Kay 6 and Patrick Colman 6 as Corowa finished on 136.
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, Pharmasave Corowa, O’Connors, Balldale Hotel, Federation Steel, Collins Transport, Gentech Seeds, Poolwerx, Corowa Furnishings and Floors, McLardy McShane, Australia Grain Technologies, Moloney Real Estate, Dunns Twin City Cranes & Corowa Distilling.