South Coast’s junior cricketers back on deck for the new year

SOUTH COAST JUNIOR CRICKET
JOEL RITCHIE

AFTER a wet start to 2008, the combined South Coast-Illawarra Junior cricket competition finally got under way for the new year with completed matches on Saturday.

In the under 14As, matches were reduced to 30 overs per side after day one of the scheduled two-day matches were washed out the week before.

Albion Park scored a hard-fought win over Balgownie thanks to a haul of 3/16 from Ben Morrow.

That helped the Eagles restrict the Magpies to 90 before knocking off the requisite runs with three wickets in hand.

Meanwhile, Shellharbour City (7/102) scored a handy win over Keira (8/87).

In other games, Wests (6/102) easily accounted for Warilla (9/44), Corrimal (4/136) were too good for Dapto Blue (6/90) and Kiama 8/93 lost to Dapto Gold (2/94).

In the under 16As, Kiama (5/89) scored a five-wicket win over Keira, Thirroul (7/75) edged Lake Illawarra (72) and Wests (4/90) easily defeated Balgownie (6/87).

In the under 16Bs, Shellharbour City (3/115 dec.) scored a big win over Albion Park (51 & 2/63).

Meanwhile, Oak Flats (112 & 1/76) defeated Warilla 66.

Thirroul (6/179) were too strong for Kiama (92), Port Kembla (54 & 3/33) succumbed to Dapto (8/55dec) in an all-Illawarra clash and Wests Red (4/117) defeated Balgownie (74).

Meanwhile, there have been important changes to some South Coast Junior Cricket Twenty20 games.

In the under 14s, Kiama A will play Shellharbour City A at Bonaira Street today (Thursday, January 31) while Albion Park Green will play Warilla B at Con O’Keeffe Oval. Meanwhile, Southern Zone went unbeaten through the Bradman Cup Carnival.

One day one Southern defeated Riverina 8/229 to 7/158 and Illawarra defeated Western 9/135 to 123.

One day two Southern Zone won the “local derby” with a 220 to 123 win over Illawarra.