March 9, 2013, 8 p.m.
HAMILTON-Wickham have almost certainly clinched their fourth straight Newcastle District cricket minor premiership after ending Merewether undefeated streak by one run.
In a dramatic finish at No.1 Sportsground, Merewether’s Jeremy Ford required four runs of the final ball to chase down Hamwicks’ 9-189 from 50 overs.
Ford could only manage two off the bowling of Matt Trappel to leave the Lions at 8-188 for their first loss in any competition since last season’s SCG Country Cup final.
Tardiness in the field cost Merewether as they were docked six balls for a slow over rate.
With one round remaining Hamwicks (90) have opened up a seven-point gap over the Lions (83).
Only a Hamwicks defeat to Belmont next week and double bonus-points victory for Merewether against Wallsend could allow the Lions to top the table on run rate.
Hamwicks batted first on a two-paced No.1 Sportsground wicket and struggled as Mark Cameron (3-34 off 10 overs) and Josh Geary (3-37 off 10) broke through the batting order.
A lone hand from Mark Dries (85 not out) helped Hamwicks post a competitive target.
Merewether were in trouble early at 3-32 before Pat Darwen (86) and Troy Goodwin (51) put the Lions in the ascendancy.
But Matt Trappel made the big breakthrough in the 50th over when he bowled Darwen off a full toss.
Cardiff-Boolaroo badly damaged their finals by losing to Waratah-Mayfield at Cardiff Oval.
Waratah made 216 with Nathan Hudson (50) and Luke Blackaby (49) the main contributors.
In reply 16-year-old Bayley McGill scored his maiden first grade ton with 100 off 108 balls, but he received little support as the CBs were dismissed for 185.
To make matters worse for the CBs, Western Suburbs (9-190) defeated third-placed University (170) at Harker Oval to move back into the top four.
Wests were reeling at 8-146 before Chris Young (47 not out) lifted them at the death to a defendable target.
Luke Bird (43) and Joe Curk (39) made starts for Uni, but Scott Sharma (3-26) and Anthony Hobson (2-16) guaranteed a vital win for Wests.
Charlestown record their first win since November, and only their third of the season, against Newcastle City at Learmonth Park to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Magpies fragile batting again collapsed at 6-98 with City skipper and off-spinner Jesse Major the main threat with 4-23 off 10 overs.
But Max Magann (36 not out) and Parth Shah (31 not out) united to steer Charlestown to 6-164.
Spin again proved fruitful in the second innings with teenage leg-spinner Ben Evans (3-32 off 10 overs) helping to roll City for 116 in 46 overs.
At Cahill Oval, Wallsend (8-168) defeated Belmont (155), who lost skipper Mark Littlewood only an hour before play started due to a suspected appendicitis.
Tigers captain Brett Jackson (59) was the standout with the bat for Wallsend, while teammate Tim Harding (4-12 off 10 overs) dominated with the ball.
Stockton-Raymond Terrace kept their finals hopes alive with a 12-run victory over Toronto Workers at Ron Hill Oval.
Wicketkeeper batsman Jeff Goninan made a half century in Stockton’s 205 before his skipper Nick Foster claimed five late wickets to restrict Toronto to 193 in the 49th over.
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