THE inaugural season of the CAW Hume Division One cricket competition is wide open with half-a-dozen teams having legitimate flag hopes.
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The merging of the former Brocklesby DCA and Holbrook DCA has been a huge success with feedback from the clubs being very positive.
The cricket itself has been outstanding with close finishes (including two ties) being the highlight of what is shaping up as great finish leading into finals.
Holbrook, who have not tasted premiership success since the 1999/2000 season, have been the pace-setters in the first nine rounds.
The Brookers, despite not having a batsman in the top 20 leading run scorers, have won all nine matches to lead the ladder.
William Heriot, with 21 wickets, is the leading wicket taker.
Heriot is part of a very strong Holbrook attack that has plenty of variety.
Osborne, who have lost only one game and a tie, sit in second place on the ladder with the Perryman boys and Billy Glanvill with the ball leading their charge.
Ed and Nick Perryman both sit in the top ten run scorers with 252 and 228 runs respectively.
Luke Richardson and Darren Howard have also had good seasons with the willow.
Walbundrie (third place) are the real smoky of the competition with its recruitment of several quality players making them a genuine threat.
Alex McMaster and Jarrod Miller have both scored over 200 runs, while Nick Morris and Jarred Miller have also produced good innings.
Damian Wardius, with 15 wickets, and Roy Elliot (10) have been the mainstays of its impressive bowling attack, along with McMaster.
Walla have been a real surprise packet with skipper and all rounder Tommy Simmons leading from the front in a season where the Hoppers have had two tied results.
Sitting in fourth place just ahead of Rand on percentage it has been Simmons with 17 wickets and 272 runs that has been the dominant force.
Mark Taylor with 188 runs and 10 wickets has been a great support to Simmons, while Chris Hutchison has been a match winner on several occasions.
Rand who won the last six premierships in the Brocklesby DCA are in fifth place with five wins and three losses, but are still a genuine threat for the flag.
Nathan I’Anson with 13 wickets, Brayden Ralston (10) and Bryce Swift (9) have led a disciplined attack to back up its aggressive batting line up.
Veteran Mark Kreutzberger with 260 runs and Will Swift (253) have led the batting, with Bryce Swift and Chris Kreutzberger also showing good form.
Culcairn are the sixth placed side just one game ahead of the chasing pack for a finals’ birth.
Steve Brand not surprisingly leads the Lions batting with 373 runs.
The Lions’ weakness this year has been bowling sides out with its leading wicket taker Vince Chaffey on seven wickets and Dai Jenkins six.
Culcairn’s season could well be decided in the first month of cricket in the new year, with crucial games against TRYC, Lockhart and Henty looming large.
TRYC, Henty and Lockhart all sit one game behind sixth placed Culcairn.
All three of these teams will need to win at least 50 per cent of remaining matches to play finals.
Todd Hannam has not only been a star for the Holbrook DCA rep side but has been superb for TRYC, leading the competition runs with 391.
Oscar Willis and Jack Driscoll have both scored over 200 runs, while Ryan Kirkwood leads the wickets for the Two Blues with 10.
Henty opening bowlers Braeden Pantling (13) and Chris Spicer (11) have been excellent, while crafty left arm tweaker Paddy Murray has seven wickets.
Pantling has also been good with the bat making (208), with veteran Mark White consistent as ever with (189) runs and Greg Schuller (161).
Lockhart in its return to Division One cricket has impressed with two wins and the recruitment of Brad McMillian averaging 130 with the bat has been a huge boost.
McMillian has only been dismissed once and along with Clint Renner (213) and nine wickets, will be huge contributors for Lockhart to play finals.
Burrumbuttock after losing its first eight matches lifted its spirits dramatically in the final round with a win over Henty.
Mitch Sivell has led the attack manfully with eight wickets, while Trent I’Anson (164) runs and dynamo Davey Williams (186) have been best with the bat.
Holbrook lead the way in Division Two with an unbeaten season, with Oaklands in second place just ahead of Osborne.
ROUND TEN: January 12
- Walbundrie v Burrumbuttock
- Henty v TRYC
- Culcairn v Lockhart
- Rand v Walla
- Osborne v Holbrook