In direct contrast to last weekend the Magpies won all three lower grade games and crashed to defeat under a not uncommon Webber assault in 1st Grade. The highlights of the weekend were a season first win for 4th Grade and resounding T20 wins for the U/15’s and U/21’s.

At Kahibah Oval on Saturday a top order collapse saw our 1sts reeling early at 5-19. Rearguard action from Benchy (32), Jake Richo (25) and Payney (25no) saw us limp to a reasonable 116 in 37 overs. Needing early wickets to have any hope of defending such a small total Maddo complied removing the dangerous Balcomb and Hartigan. With Harry (1-23) and Payney (1-26) offering support they put the ‘Pies in a strong position to have H-W 5-50 then enter stage right the BBQ twins. Sam’s 46 off 28 effectively taking the game away from us and they achieved their target in 28.2 overs. Maddo continues to impress and he finished with figures of 7.2-0-3-36.

The 2nds played host to Ham-Wicks at Charlestown Oval with H-W winning the toss and batting. The visitors were soon in trouble with promoted Pom, ‘Don’t Call Me Miley’ Cyrus, creating havoc in the middle order taking 4 wickets in two overs which left them in tatters at 6-40. Some lower order defiance got them into the 90’s before Nick Chapman performed his usual mop up of the tail finishing with 3-22 and Nate completing his day’s work with the good figures of 8-2-4-20. The top order then set about the chase with some urgency and achieved the target in 22.4 overs to pick up a bonus point. Lee D continued his good form with 20 and the UK duo of Jacob (31no) and Michael Tyrer (19no) brought the ‘Pies home finishing at 2-95.

Despite a collapse of 5-11 at one stage the 3rds top order got runs with Shapey (56), Aiden (62) and Red Hot Ellison finishing not out on 46 and the boys had posted a formidable 8-211 off their 40. H-W never really got out of the blocks and the return of Zac Mace to the playing field with a strong all round performance never helped them. Zac finished with 16 runs and 2-17 off 6 overs on his return. The remaining wickets were shared by Joah (2-24) and Thready returning the excellent figures of 8-7-2-4. Another bonus point win !

The 4’s were able to celebrate their first win of the season thanks to good all round performances and a couple of outstanding individual efforts. Marty Matthews heralded his return to the fold with a neat half century and with good support from Chilli Jnr with 42 we posted a strong 7-166 off our 40. With Ham-Wicks posting a solid opening p’ship something special was required and the old Captain, Major that is, pulled one out of the bag finishing with the remarkable figures of 5-4-6-1!!. Thus restricting H-W to 8-118 off their 40 and securing our third bonus point win of the day.

Sunday saw the first round of the T20 competitions with the U/15’s kicking off early and recording a decisive win over Wallsend. Captain Jessie won the toss and batted with Connor Steele (9) and Kel Wilson (41) posting an opening p’ship of 66 with Kel hitting strongly to all parts of the ground. Kade Sutton (25no) continued his good early form to allow the boys to post a strong 5-123 off their 20. Their incisive bowling attack soon had Wallsend in trouble at 5-26 with young Cessnock quick Kaiden Howson bowling accurate innies to finish with 3.2-1-2-3, Blake Hardy (2-11) and Nathan Hunton (2-16). While the Wallsend middle order were defiant, they were eventually dismissed in the penultimate over for 85.

A big thank you to Dan Arms who was out at George Farley Oval bright and early on Sunday morning to look after the U/15’s. The boys appreciate a 1st Grader taking the time to encourage them and direct them in T20 skills and strategies. Thanks Armsy !

At Kahibah Oval the U/21’s opened their campaign with a decisive win under the leadership of newly appointed captain Maddo’. And he led the way finishing with 4-1-3-5 and with Dan Stando taking 2-8 off his 4 they had Stocko struggling all the way to finish with 8-48 off their 20. Hitchy with 22no off 18 and Harry 21no off 19 they soon had the game wrapped up with an unbeaten opening p’ship of 49 off 6 overs.

The D.B.’s game proved a much tougher one despite the Magpies posting a strong 2-145 off their 20. Josh Hardy finished with 56no off 44 and Dan Standing started another good all round game with 61 no. Stockton made a game of it and took it down to the wire finishing just 5 runs short on 6-141. Dan finished with 3-26 and had strong support from Joah with 2-26.