Toronto Work Up Momentum As Semis Loom

Newcastle Herald

Monday February 25, 2008

By NEIL GOFFET

TORONTO Workers emerged as the form team heading into the Newcastle district cricket semi-finals after a crushing win over Hamilton-Wickham at Ron Hill Oval on Saturday.

Barring an outright result, Toronto ended Hamwicks' finals aspirations in emphatic style.

Defending 259, Toronto all-rounders Matthew Hancock and Joseph Price destroyed the Pumas batting line-up to have them all out for 95. Hancock claimed a hat-trick in his sensational 6-26, and Price took the rest to finish with 4-61.

Hamwicks were 2-147 when play ended.

Toronto join Merewether on 30 points in equal third place, three ahead of fifth-placed Charlestown.

An unbeaten 101 by Merewether batsman Troy Goodwin denied Stockton any chance of an outright win at Townson Oval, but first-innings points gave them a share of the lead.

Stockton were all out for 110 in reply to Merewether's first innings of 90, and the Lions crawled to 4-161 before play ended on day two.

Wallsend share the lead with Stockton, but they also showed vulnerability with the bat when they collapsed to be all out for 67 in their second innings to share the points with Charlestown.

Charlestown were all out for 101 in their first innings at Kahibah Oval, and Wallsend declared at their overnight score of 5-106.

Charlestown scored 146 in their second innings, and then a stunning performance from Jarred Forbes bundled the Tigers out for an incredible 67.

Forbes, a right-arm quick, took 4-24 and was supported by Erik Croese (2-12) and Jwalit Shah (2-3).

Three points were enough to keep Charlestown's finals hopes alive as they jumped ahead of Hamwicks and Western Suburbs.

Steve Morgan took 5-58 off 32 overs as Wests (203) defeated University (164) at Harker Oval.

Joesph Wenta top-scored with 71 as Waratah-Mayfield added 196 to their first-innings total of 80 against Cardiff-Boolaroo at Waratah Oval.

Cardiff took first-innings points when they declared at 2-102 but only made 7-112 in their second innings and had to settle for four points.

Joe Curk (89) and skipper Damien Jones (56) were Newcastle City's best, but City were all out for 272 in reply to Belmont's 316 at No.1 Sportsground.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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