IN Hastings River District Cricket, all five of the Port City Leagues Magpies teams put on dominant displays in their respective games to now lead the club championship.
The first-grade Port City side are on top after the first day of their two-day game against Macquarie at Wayne Richards Oval in the grand final re-match.
Batting first the ‘Pies recovered from losing their first three wickets with just three runs on board to score a respectable 190 courtesy of Luke Jephcott with 61 on debut, Tim Harris with 41 and Jesse Schmidt with 30 runs. In response Macquarie at stumps were two for 10.
The second-grade Magpies disposed of Comboyne by 10 wickets at Stuarts Park. The Tigers were rolled for 77 runs with Ben Hutchins (3/13), Chris Bosshardt (2/12) and Sean Mooney (2/22) the main wicket takers. Port City’s openers Kade Fens 36 and Luke Hutchins 33 then steered the home side to victory.
The third-grade Swoopers remain undefeated after five rounds with an eight-wicket victory over Beechwood. The Shamrocks were sent into bat but Nik James (4/19), Darren Hall (3/17) and Gareth Cairns (2/14) had them all out for 86 in next to no time. Ray Atkins then top scored with 46 not out and along with Dylan Lewis (28) sealed the win within 20 overs.
The third-grade Strikers made it back-to-back wins following their 73-run demolition of Wauchope Blue. Clinton Cocking came out swinging for Port City with 93 not out to take the team total to 7/203. Luke Morrison (3/14) and Rob Mooney (3/18) then did the damage with the ball to have the opposition dismissed for 130.
The fourth-grade Magpies also scored a comprehensive 99-run victory over Wauchope after smashing their way to 4/312 courtesy of Ian Dickson’s 96 runs, Mick Kennedy’s 87 and Rohan Kew’s 64 not out. In a man-of-the-match performance Dickson then snapped up three wickets in two overs to complete the shut out.
