Defending first grade premiers Wingello Tigers have launched their title defence with a win over Hill Top.
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The first round of the Highlands District Cricket Association (HDCA) senior competition kicked off on Saturday with the Tigers and Robertson-Burrawang both recording victories.
Both first grade matches were moved to synthetic pitches following the rain late last week and the Hill Top v Wingello match was played at Taylor Avenue.
Batting first the Tigers scored 208.
Wingello captain Grant Pike said they were in trouble after losing three early wickets for not many runs.
But a 120 run partnership between Matthew Pike (100) and Bob Lewis (34) got the Tigers back on track.
Cameron Arlington was Hill Top’s best bowler and finished with 4-45 from nine overs.
Hill Top then struggled with the bat.
Wingello needed just two more wickets with the Kookaburras total just under 100 before Dean Webb came to the crease and put on 59.
A couple of lower order partnerships took Hill Top to 152 before they were dismissed.
Cameron Pike finished with five wickets for the Tigers.
“”It got closer than it probably should have,” Grant Pike said.
With a fairly similar side to last year, he said they had lost Scott Woods but welcomed Dale Wellington who was “pretty hand with the bat and ball”.
“[The side’s] a little bit more mature after winning [the comp] last year. There’s a much more positive attitude in the team. We know if we play our best we can beat any team in the comp.”
Hill Top captain Alex Debs said it was a frustrating loss in which his team didn’t play to its potential.
He said Wingello’s bowlers dominated their top and middle order batsmen but was pleased they still came within 50 runs of the reigning premiers’ total.
“There was a lot of positives, especially as we haven’t played together for three years.
“It was good to get the first round out of the way. We saw we’ve got the team to match it with the best of them. We gave it a really good crack.”
Debs said the contribution from Pike brothers Matt (bat) and Cameron (bowling) had gone a long way towards the Tigers’ victory.
He said a partnership higher up the order might have got them the result but was still pleased with how they had played in the opening round.
Next weekend first grade will have a bye with the Burns Cup being contested.
Pike said he was pleased to start the season with a win and hoped his side could get some more time out in the middle before the next round.
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In the other first grade match, a strong batting performance from Robertson at the end of their innings at Tourist Road sealed the win.
Robertson won the toss and elected to bat.
After 10 overs captain Nathan Wright said they had scored just over 20 runs.
Opener Matt Cupitt stuck around at the crease for close to 30 overs for his 79 runs and the rest of the order contributed to finish with a total of 6-239.
Cameron Malcom took 1-19 off seven overs, Zac Dehosson got 1-34 off nine and 17-year-old Darcy Dietz finished with 2-37 off seven for Bowral.
Not sure what to expect for the first game of the season, Wright said he wanted his team to bat the overs out and thought 240 runs would be enough.
Bowral was dismissed for 119 runs in the 40th over.
Wright finished with three wickets, Dean Roxburgh took 2-30 and in his first grade debut Mason King took 1-20.
Nathan Ring, Jack Whitfield and Mitchell Wright all claimed a wicket each.
“I was really happy with our bowling. There were a few sundries like leg side wides but it’s early in the season,” Wright said.
There were also a few dropped catches from Robertson which Wright said he hoped would improve throughout the season.
Bowral captain Conor Murray said there was plenty of potential in his young team but the loss in round one came down to a poor batting performance.
“Our young bowling attack did quite well. Our batting just didn’t stand up,” he said.
“Robertson are the benchmark and have been for many years. In the end they got too many runs and we didn’t value our wicket. With a young bowling attack there is a lot of promise for the season ahead.
“Our fielding was also very good.”
Bowral was also without a few of its senior players who are expected to return when the competition resumes in two week’s time.
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