LIDSDALE Lions go into the last round of the season with a 14 point lead over their nearest rivals and are hot favourites to take out the Lithgow Cricket Association first grade title.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They were grand finalists last year and are not about to be bridesmaids again this year.
They have been the best side all year and have only been beaten once.
Lidsdale v Valley: Last placed Valley could only manage seven players for their tussle with the leaders, but to their credit went down fighting.
They finished with a total of 6-144 with opener Ben Sheehan getting his team off on the right foot with a hard hitting 79.
Andrew Fawbert (17) and Chris Guigni (32) also batted well.
Bowling for Lidsdale, Chris Redding (2-12 off five) and Darren Lambert (2-9 off two overs) were their best.
Lidsdale cruised to a win with their first four batsmen doing the job.
Brett Nightingale (16), Grant Buttigieg (42), Joel Gurney (31) and Darren Lambert (37 not out) all showed good form they will be hoping to take into the play-offs.
They took the game at 4-146 with Chris Guigni (2-33) Valley’s best with the ball.
Hampton in upset loss
Hampton v Lithgow Hotel: With six points available for a win in the final round, Lithgow Hotel kept their slim chances of making the semis alive with a dominant win over third placed Hampton.
Lithgow Hotel batted first scoring 8-120 with their ‘veterans’ coming to the fore.
Darren King (17), Michael Hutchinson (26), Cameron Watson (24) and Jarath Woolsey (15) all batted strongly.
Bowling for Hampton, Dan Hart did his best taking 4-35 off seven overs while Rob Gracey (2-24 off eight) also bowled well.
It was a disappointing run chase by Hampton who have been in good form in recent weeks.
They fell for only 59 runs with the Lithgow Hotel bowlers ripping through their line-up.
Josh Kitchner (23) and John Farr (10) were the only Hampton batsmen to make it into double figures.
It was a good effort by the Lithgow Hotel bowling attack with Michael Hutchinson (3-14 off six), Cameron Watson (3-31 off eight), Neil Hutchinson (2-10 off three) and Terry Ford (2-3 off one) all bowling well.
Hornets show their sting
La Salle Hornets v Lansdowne: If reigning premiers Lansdowne had any chance at all going into the second last round of defending their title, it was taken away from them by a committed La Salle Hornets side.
It has been a season Lansdowne would like to forget and have rarely put their best side on the pitch.
With the win, second placed Stingers showed they have the artillery to go all the way and give Lidsdale a real shake as they boast some talented crickets both in the batting and bowling department.
Batting first, Lansdowne finished with 7-167 with the Van Veen brothers getting their team on the right track with Brendon (30) and Jonathan (37) batting strongly before a collapse.
Mark Northey (44 not out) and J Townsend (23) added to a competitive total.
Bowling for La Salle Hornets, Mitch Reed (2-21), Aaron Manton (2-13) and Anthony Brown (2-30) all bowled well.
The top order for the Stingers all did their job with openers Mark Dicker (61), Todd Costello (43), Tod Walsh (28), Scott Bradford (18) and Warren Stevens (11) showing good form.
Nick Milne (3-5) and Mark Northey (2-29) were best with the ball for Lansdowne.
