By MATT NICHOLLS
AFTER leading the competition for most of the season, Hillgrove is in danger of missing the finals in the Armidale District Cricket Association.
The Colts were beaten by a resurgent Ex-Services side on a tough wicket at Lambert Park on Saturday.
Sent in to bat on a damp deck, Hillgrove was bundled out for 127 in the 37th over after Servies quick Jared Graham snared 7/38 from his 12 overs.
If not for the opening partnership between Matt Schaefer (30) and Matt Dawson (21), the Colts would have been defending a sub-100 score.
Middle order batsman Scott Brendan (36 not out) made a precious late contribution, but he had little support from his teammates.
In reply, Cody Graham (40) led Ex-Services to victory in a tough run chase, with Services passed Hillgrove with just two wickets to spare.
Colts skipper Brad King said with just three games before finals, his side needed to start producing the goods.
Hillgrove is now in second place, but if the Colts failed to win another match, they would miss out on a finals berth.
“We’ve got a good team but it’s just a matter of them turning up on the day,” King said.
“To be honest the toss made a big difference as it was a tough pitch to bat on and it dried out as the day went on.
“If we had of made another 30 runs we probably would have won.”
King said there were not enough players willing to dig in for the team.
“The middle order was terrible and just didn’t show enough patience,” he said.
“Jared (Graham) bowled a good line and length, but we didn’t wait for the bad balls.”
The win catapulted Ex-Services to second on the ladder, one spot behind City, which climbed to top spot after defeating Easts at the Sportsground.
In similar circumstances to the other first grade match, City chased down a low score on a tough batting wicket.
Easts were retricted to just 9/113 from their 45 overs before City chased them down with two wickets to spare.
Andrew Brownlie was the hero for the winning side, scoring a brilliant 43 after opening the innings.
His knock proved the difference, with late support coming from Karl Triebe (24) and Rodney Watson (10), who were both unbeaten.
Sam Uphill and Henry Cupitt each took three wickets for Easts, while skipper Stephen Butler was the best bowler for City, taking 3/6 from his 12 overs, producing eight overs in an economical spell.
LADDER: City 40pts, Hillgrove 37, Ex-Services 34, City 31.
