BOTH Harwood and Sawtell have gained a jump on the rest of the North Coast Cricket Council Premier League after both recorded wins on Saturday.

Harwood defended its total of 214 comfortably, taking a steady stream of Northern Districts wickets throughout the afternoon that left the home team always behind the eight ball.

Ben McMahon was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5-39 to move Harwood into second position on the table.
At Richardson Park, Sawtell resumed at 4-48 against Valleys requiring a further 116 runs to win.

When Tyh Murphy, Trent Dierick and Trent Mitchell all fell quickly to leave Sawtell 7-71, there were some nervous moments in the Sawtell sheds.

Captain Richie Gallichan (53 not out) and Charlie Howard (41 not out) steadied the ship though and their unbeaten 94-run stand earned Sawtell the victory to keep them at the top of the table.

Gallichan is proving hard to remove for opposition bowling attacks.

The captain has batted six times this season but only been out once.

Sawtell’s only loss so far this season came on the one occasion Gallichan was dismissed.

In the Coffs Harbour District Cricket Association first grade competition Northern Districts has joined Diggers at the top of the table.

Northern Districts easily beat bottom placed Valleys while Diggers fell to a second consecutive loss, this time to Coffs Colts.

The Colts’ total of 4-197 was built on an unbeaten 66 by opener Troy Britnell and a hard hitting 43 off only 20 balls by Shayde Perham.

Sawtell made a formidable total of 193 but Nana Glen chased it down thanks to Perry Gordon (57 not out) and Hayden Cekanauskas (41) in the middle order.

Gordon’s effort has seen him become the leader in the first grade batting averages.

 

By Brad GREENSHIELDS