Reed Park North - NDCC 4th Grade has, for the second year in a row, been unable to progress past the Semi Final stage of the Illawarra One Day Competition on Saturday. The fact that they have made successive Playoffs is testament to the leadership and the talent the side possesses.
The teams had met three times previously this year and despite Dapto's higher finish, the Butchers had the wood on them to the tune of 2-1. The first two games were completely one-sided; nine and eight wicket victories going to either side. The third game was a much closer affair, a three wicket win that broke a string of losses and ending a torrid month and a half for the Northerners.
Geoff Burton had picked up nine of his nineteen wickets against the Canaries alone while Matt Craig was on the cusp of wrapping up District averages for his amazing year with the ball. Greg Martin was nearing 350 runs and would be needed at the top; a cameo from him would almost guarantee passage to the next round.
Northern Districts did peg Dapto back with regular wickets after Hardy (31) and Sulcs (33) had threatened to take the game away. That Dapto finished with 144 was slightly worrying, no game of the previous three had registered a team score this high. These are two teams that fight each other predominantly with ball. And with ball Craig (2/16) took his season tally to 32 wickets, Dan Bond (3/17) took his to 23 and today's star Bryce Hilliard (4/47) a stellar 29 wicket season. All three can look back on brilliant years and look forward to October.
A strong bowling attack they are but with bat can be likened to Pakistan; able to destroy anyone on their day or have you pulling out your hair the next. Today would prove to be the frustrating type as four of the top five weren't able to pass double figures. At 4/39 Bond (25) joined Rob Potter (18) and as the two struck three boundaries each the Butchers clung on to a thin veil of hope. Burton (11) and Alex Tobin (11*) each got starts but the one big score was lacking as Northern Districts were eventually dismissed for 97.
Last year it was a 9-9 record and squeezing into the Top 4, this year 11-8 and sowing up a solid 3rd Place finish. That is improvement and the team can look forward to bigger things in 2010/11.
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