IN Hastings cricket, the form of the Port City Leagues Magpies first-grade side continues to run hot and cold during the second half of the season with a disappointing six-wicket loss to Macquarie at Oxley Oval last Saturday.
The ‘Pies were dismissed for just 80 runs.
Jesse Schmidt knocked up 30 and with 22 from Phil McVicar they scored two-thirds of the team’s total. Although Craig McElroy picked up 2/15 with the ball, nothing short of a miracle was going to stop the opposition from reaching the target.
The top-of-the-table second-grade Port City side continues to dominate their competition with another comfortable win after beating Camden Haven by five wickets in Laurieton.
The Redbacks were dismissed for 95 with B.J. Schneider 2/11 and Peter Kew 2/13 the pick of the bowlers, while Schneider’s 37 with the bat and 28 runs from Luke Hutchins made it an early afternoon for the Magpies.
The third-grade Swoopers won ugly against Camden Haven Black at Stuarts Park with a tight three-wicket win with only a few balls to spare.
The Havens were dismissed for 104 with Brett Wasson (3/8) and Nik James (3/13) doing most of the damage – but the Port City batsmen struggled to contend with the lack of the pace from the opposition bowlers and runs came at an agonisingly slow rate.
Ray Atkins (25), Sam Connelly (19) and Mal Callaway (18 runs) led the way but captain Greg Hall will be hoping for a much improved performance over the weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, next door on the Wood Street field, the ninth-placed Strikers caused a major upset, defeating the high-flying Bonny Hills by eight runs. The result allowed their Swoopers club-mates to leap frog Bonny Hills into first place on the third-grade table. Strikers captain Rob Mooney smashed 59 not out while the experienced bowling pair of Dave Moore (4/28) and Adam Power (3/39) contained the Hills’ dangerous top order.
The fourth-grade Leagues Magpies suffered a five wicket loss to the Pirates Rum Runners in another game that went down to the wire. Batting first the ‘Pies scored 161 with John Stace (58 runs) and Ian Dickson (31) leading the way, while recent addition to the line-up Kaleb Crowhurst picked up a brace of wickets.
On Sunday, first-grade Magpie Scott Dickson picked up 1/29 off seven overs as part of the three-time premiership winning Hastings under-19s rep team that defeated Macleay by 114 runs in the final at Wayne Richards Oval.
The club would also like to congratulate Kade Fens, Sam Frecklington and Kyle Blanch for their role in the Port Macquarie under-16s side that competed in the state final of the Twenty20 competition at the SCG recently.
