THE North Richmond Jets moved to the top of the Hawkesbury District Cricket Association fifth grade ladder when they outlasted the previously undefeated Wilberforce to win a thriller by six runs at McMahons Park last Saturday.
The Jets showed a lot of heart and determination down the home stretch to deny the hot premiership favourites in a contest that went down to the final over of the day.
Missing Matthew Beggs, Harry Stever and Terry Conoulty, the Jets called in the experienced Neville 'Manpower' Drury and debutant 13yo Jarrod LeFevre, and managed to come out on top in the second close game between these two previously evenly matched teams.
Having been sent in to bat, North Richmond got off to a rocky start when Rod 'Quasimodo' Bayne was out in the second over, and when Nick 'Austin' Powers went shortly after, the Jets were 2/22.
A 69-run partnership between Jebal 'Stiffy' Williams, who is apparently far better than any other player in the grade, and captain Brendan 'Jonty' Rhodes lifted the score to 2/91 at the drinks break and a score of 200 was on the cards.
Stiffy was knocked off shortly after the break for 46 and although the scoring rate slowed, it was not through lack of trying as Jonty and Ryan 'Rhyno' Johnston put on 40 for the fourth wicket before the captain's luck finally ran out and he was bowled for 46, making it 4/131 with eight overs to go.
A couple more quick wickets, including that of Peter Richardson for a golden duck, left the Jets at 6/137 with just five overs remaining, but a typically energetic partnership between Rhyno and Manpower put on 23 in just more than two overs before both were dismissed, Rhyno for a hard fought 27 and Manpower for an exciting 11.
It was left to Todd Boyle to take eight off the last over to see the Jets through to 8/172 off their 40 overs.
North Richmond's defence got off to a disappointing start, with the team's enthusiasm seeming to be slightly down, but the bowling remained tight, although unthreatening to Wilbo captain Joseph, who proceeded to carve boundaries to all parts of McMahons Park.
The runs were only trickling at the other end, and the visitors went to the drinks break behind the run rate but still in control of the chase at 2/79, needing 94 runs off 20 overs with eight wickets in hand.
North Richmond's energy lifted markedly after the break as it set about defending the score, and although Joseph continued to put the bowlers to the sword, it remained tight at the other end and the Force skipper finally edged one to keeper Quasimodo off Stiffy for 74 at 3/109 when the pressure on him to score the runs forced him to take more risks.
Still, Wilberforce needed 54 runs off 10 overs with seven wickets in hand and were clear favourites with Stiffy having made no further inroads as he finished with 1/29 off 10 overs and not showing any threat of being dangerous to his young opposition.
Enter young Jarrod and Pirate, who bowled accurately and smartly, to instigate a Wilberforce collapse.
Jarrod was rewarded for bowling at stumps with the huge wickets of former first grader Chris Brennan and dangerous allrounder John vanden Nieuwboer on his way to figures of 2/31, while Pirate's second five over spell was outstanding as he brought the Jets back into the game.
Wilberforce needed 10 runs off the final over with the ball in Pirate's hand, and he conceded just three and picked up another scalp to finish with 4/23 off 10 overs as the visitors finished at 8/166.
Pirate was the pick of the bowlers, with Jarrod being the other multiple wicket taker, while Stiffy and Blake 'Wiggles' Fraser (1/38) claimed the other scalps to seal top spot on quotient.
North Richmond has been presented with an extra challenge and motivation for the rest of the season, with the HDCA's decision that the Jets weren't allowed to have a Stiffy in their team, stealing Jebal Williams away in a grading decision that clearly showed a keenness to remove a level playing field, but may have made sense had players in other teams with similar records been also looked at.
The team thanks Willy for his efforts in the first half of the season and wishes him well for the rest of season in the higher grade.
The Jets will aim to consolidate top spot on the ladder this week with another McMahons Park clash against Freemans Reach this Saturday.
 |
Result: North Richmond WON FIRST INNINGS (OFFICIAL)  Points: North Richmond: 6.00Wilberforce: 1.00 |
| Toss won by: Wilberforce Batted first: North Richmond |
| North Richmond - 1st INNINGS |
 |
| |
BF |
Min |
4 |
6 |
|
c TW Joseph b GB Hyde
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
b GB Hyde
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
b BT Pathuis
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
|
|
b CD Brennen
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
|
|
c J Van Den Nieuwboer b TW Joseph
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
|
|
c JP Barham b TW Joseph
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
b TW Joseph
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
b J Van Den Nieuwboer
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
not out
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
not out
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
dnb
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Extras (0nb,6w,5b,7lb) |
18 |
|
| Total |
(cc)8/172 |
|
| Overs |
40 |
| |
FOW:3(R Bayne) 22(N Powers)
91(JJ Williams) 131(BM Rhodes) 137(J Lefevre)
137(P Richardson) 160(N Drury) 164(R Johnston)
|
| |
|
|
| Fielding: |
c |
ro |
st |
| TW Joseph |
1 |
|
|
| J Van Den Nieuwboer |
1 |
|
|
| JP Barham |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wilberforce - 1st INNINGS |
|
| |
BF |
Min |
4 |
6 |
|
c R Bayne b JJ Williams
|
|
74 |
|
|
|
|
|
c N Drury b B Fraser
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
c R Johnston b P Richardson
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
b P Richardson
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
|
|
b P Richardson
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
b J Lefevre
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
lbw b J Lefevre
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
not out
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
b P Richardson
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
not out
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
dnb
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Extras (0nb,6w,7b,2lb) |
15 |
|
| Total |
(cc)8/166 |
|
| Overs |
40 |
| |
FOW:21(GI Corbett) 64(BW Pattinson) 109(TW Joseph)
122(CD Brennen) 131(BT Pathuis) 151(J Pattinson)
151(J Van Den Nieuwboer) 165(JP Barham) |
| |
|
|
| Fielding: |
c |
ro |
st |
| R Bayne |
1 |
|
|
| N Drury |
1 |
|
|
| R Johnston |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last Modified on 14/12/2011 17:46
