EASTS and Ex-Services have massive fights on their hands to stave off outright defeats in their Armidale first grade matches when they resume at Lambert Park and Armidale Sportsground on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ex-Services started brilliantly with the ball last Saturday, dismissing Armidale City for 86 after having them 9-38 at one stage.
Dan Hogan (23) and Mark Conway (10) then added 48 for the 10th wicket before Hogan helped destroy the Ex-Services first innings.
Hogan spun his way to 5-19 and Karl Triebe took 4-22 to rout Servies for just 48.
Batting a second time, City lost two more wickets and will resume at 2-26.
Brayden Graham (4-20) and Peter Collins (4-32) were the first innings destroyers for Services and they will have to be on target again on Saturday to retrieve their position.
Hillgrove Colts will resume their first innings at 3-144 at Armidale Sportsground on Saturday with in-form allrounder Scott Brennan and South African wicketkeeper Michael Cursons the not out batsmen.
Hillgrove routed Easts for just 108 last Saturday, with only Todd Francis’s 55 a credible figure, Easts skipper Sam Uphill said.
“There was a bit in the deck early,” Uphill said.
“But it was flat as a tack later in the day, as it showed when they batted.
“They did bat well,” he said of Michael Dawson and Matt Baillie in particular, “but we didn’t show any discipline.”
“All we had to do was get through a tricky period but didn’t show any discipline.
“We have to work hard now to avoid outright defeat.
“If we can knock them over for another 50 or 60 and keep them to 200 that might be a small win for us.”
Brennan continued his good start to the season by claiming 3-23 and Matt Schaefer might have missed out with the bat but claimed 2-20.
Michael Dawson, away this week in Gunnedah with the Central North Zone side, took 2-25 and Sean Skinner snared 1-31 on debut.
“Sean’s a young kid, 17 I think, who played third grade for us last season,” Hillgrove skipper Brad King said.
“I watched him in the nets earlier this season and was quite impressed.
“So we picked him in second grade.
“He’d never played on turf wickets before this season and did well when we had everyone away last week.
“He got Dean Moore.”
That Dawson also bowled for the first time in 18 months was also impressive and the opening bat generated some good pace.
“He was a good little strike weapon,” King said.
“All in all it was a great result for us last week.
“We have a bit of batting to come yet too and hopefully we can post a good score and put them back in.”
The return of Lochlan Elks after missing last week is a big bonus with the bat and then with the ball.
Ben Laurie is also back to open the bowling with Elks.