Round 7. 5th - 12th January 2002

At Brighton High School

A Grade vs Warradale

Day One

The A grade continued to exhibit a strong batting line-up, statistically the best in the Association, amassing another competitive total. On the receiving end this time was Warradale, who defeated Coromandel by one wicket in the 1991/92 grand final - the last time Coromandel were successful in reaching the section one grand final.

Captain Mark Eglinton won the toss and once again elected to bat - a move that has proved successful, his team having batted first and won in all six matches this season.
But this was just the beginning of a profitable day for the club vice-president. Full of confidence following the achievement of his personal pre-christmas record of 178 runs, he strode to the wicket with his team in trouble at 3/52. After the dismissal of recent centurian Andrew Langmaid, a big partnership was required as he joined Darren Coulter at the crease. With support from Coults, Egg then rescued the innings, their partnership falling just three runs short of a century stand for the fourth wicket. Useful partnerships of 31 with John Beverley (4) and 49 with Stuart Campbell (35*) ensured a total of over 250 for the third time this season.
By the time he was dismissed, Egg had completed his maiden century for Coromandel, surpassing his previous highest score of 84 (for the D Grade against Norwood Union III in 1986/87). The innings included ten boundaries and when he reached 36, he had scored his 2000th run for Coromandel.

Coromandel 8/252 (Eglinton 105, Coulter 43, Campbell 35, Langmaid 21, D. Cheek 20)

Day Two

First Innings Win.

Coromandel 8/252
Warradale 175 (P. Magarey 3/19, D. Magarey 3/29, McCormick 2/46, D. Cheek 1/22) Scoreboard


At Hewett Oval

B Grade vs South Park

Day One

Neil Craig scores maiden half century for Coromandel. The innings not without drama: Neil may be the first batsman ever in the history of, and any form of cricket, to break his bat without facing a ball.

Coromandel 7/190 (A. Magarey 64, N. Craig 50, Wicks 30, Cheers 16*)

Day Two

First Innings Loss.

Coromandel 7/190
South Park 8/205 (Kaethner 3/26, Cheers 2/8, Clarke 1/33, Eames 1/53) Scoreboard


At Sheidow Park Primary School

C Grade vs Sheidow Park II

Day One

Captain Mike Maclean won the toss and with an expected maximum temperature of 33 degrees, "inserted" the opposition into the field. However when the captain was bowled by a well-directed outswinger that started from outside leg stump, the team had collapsed to 4/28. An unorthodox but effective innings by Jay Lamey, in partnership with Greg Kearsley, helped resurrect the innings until he was bowled for 21. Kerz followed soon after, caught on the deep mid wicket boundary for 23, and the score was 6 for 77.
Peter Craig, playing his first C Grade game for over six years, was out LBW for one and it was left to the next generation, Tom Craig - making his debut at C Grade level, to join Richard Hunter at the crease as the side needed a partnership. Richard "Pistons" Hunter has recently shown a liking for occupying the crease, with three "not-outs" already this season.
Tom's contribution of 14 runs from 13 balls, including three boundaries, helped to push the score past 100 but the score was still far from respectable at 8/116. Peter Zacpal, with a promotion in the batting order, strode to the crease with five minutes still left to negotiate before the tea break.
The following session proved to be a profitable one for the batsman as the veterans combined for a 43 run partnership for the ninth wicket. Zac, well renowned for his big-hitting down the lower order, having scored 39 career sixes, assessed the situation and provided support to Hunter as they saw the innings safely through to the next drinks break, the score now 8/159.
Zac's first scoring shot was registered after having faced 24 deliveries, the runs resulting from a carefully executed glide between second and third slip to the boundary, the ball passing through the slips cordon at waist height. As Zac played the perfect supporting role, Dick moved confidently to a half century from only 57 balls, in 75 minutes. The innings was a blend of well-timed boundaries and intelligent running between wickets, the pistons working hard up and down the 20 metre strip. It was his sixth half century for Coromandel and first since he played his part in the mammoth partnership with Mike Maclean against Bank SA in 1998/99.
A bowling change was made by Sheidow Park immediately after the final drinks break, and it reaped immediate rewards as a gap was found in the Zacpal defence, after nearly one hour's batting. The innings came to an abrupt end when Sam Peacock, seemingly in a hurry, danced down the wicket and unleashed an enormous heave with the bat, only to find the castle disturbed. Dick remained unbeaten on 68, the innings including 10 fours and one six. It it his second highest score, only a boundary short of his 72*, scored against North Haven II at Blackwood Hill Oval in October 1998.

Coromandel 174 (Hunter 68*, Kearsley 23, Lamey 21, Maclean 16, T. Craig 14, B. Carpenter 12, P. Zacpal 10)
Sheidow Park 0/22

Day Two

With Sheidow Park resuming their chase at 0/22, it was going to be a tough task for Coromandel defending a required run rate of 2.55 runs per over on a small ground. However this was not part of the script for opening bowlers Peter Zacpal and Peter Craig who carried a combined career total of 1205 wickets into the match.
From the first ball, the old-timers made it clear that they were not conceding any easy runs. What they may lack nowadays in pace, they made up for in line and length.
...

With the undying support of mascot "Cecil" on the side-lines, the elderly gentlemen of the C Grade collected six important premiership points that saw them move past their opponents to fourth position on the premiership table after round seven.
On the subject of elderly, the C Grade continue the recent tradition of fielding "experienced" teams: the latest with an average age of just over 33 years. The main contributors Bruce Carpenter, Peter Craig, Hunter and Zacpal have played a combined total of 1116 matches.

Coromandel 174
Sheidow Park 148 (P. Craig 7/49, P. Zacpal 2/54, Kearsley 1/24) Scoreboard
At Blackwood Hill Oval

D Grade vs Coromandel Ramblers IV

Day One

In the tie-breaker for the Magarey/Benson shield, the match is interestingly poised at the completion of the first day after captain Mark Lemmey won the toss, and with expectations of a stronger batting line-up next week, elected to field.

After Chris Garth (the new record pre-christmas wicket taker) failed in his bid to be demoted to the D Grade to play against his former club, the new ball was taken by Simon Coad and debutant Mark Laming. Simon has been absent from the side through injury for the last six weeks, and it was Laming who made the initial breakthrough, his first wicket for Coromandel captured with an LBW.
In a day of last minute selection changes, experienced player Peter Rathjen took his place in the side after declaring his availability at the 11th hour, following notification that the traditional post-christmas player shortages were being experienced at the club again this season. "Rathers" made the crucial breakthrough when he dismissed Coromandel Ramblers captain, and one-time A Grade player, Steve Davenport - caught by Coad at mid off for 74. Only minutes later, former Coromandel "fill-in" James Dyson - cleared to Ramblers earlier this season - edged a catch to keeper Adrian Rowles off the bowling of Thomas Bird.
Amongst the fielding highlights was a sharp catch at first slip by Shaun Ryder (another player to be selected at the last minute): from all accounts the ball was "past him". The wicket gave Sam Cheek his fourth for the season and it was a considerably more economical bowling performance from the Under 15 captain, conceding only 11 runs from his four overs.
With only two overs to bowl and the presence of two tailenders at the crease, captain Lemmey took advantage of the opportunity to roll the arm over and, with only this third delivery, claimed his seventh wicket for Coromandel. Described as "charity" in the captain's post-match speech, it was the result of a catch by Sam at long on.

With small boundaries, a fast outfield and the return of last season's century maker Tim Hanna, keen to maintain his D Grade average of 104 against the local enemy, Coromandel will undoubtably make a genuine attempt at the victory target of 240 and if successful, be rewarded with a place in history as the inaugural winners of the Magarey/Benson shield.

Coromandel Ramblers 9/239 (Rathjen 3/60, Coad 2/68, Lemmey 1/4, S. Cheek 1/11, Bird 1/21, Laming 1/38)

Day Two

First Innings Win.

Coromandel Ramblers 9/239
Coromandel 7/255 (Hanna 82, Rowles 38, Rathjen 36*, Laming 29, A. Rowe 25, Coad 14*) Scoreboard