Kingston Crows Cricket Club

The 2011/12 HCCA season got under way on Saturday 22nd and despite heavy rain on Thursday afternoon and most of Friday the games were played in ideal weather conditions. Naturally all grounds were damp and had slow outfields but it was great to play with the sun on you back.

B Grade were at home and took on Snug who have been promoted back up to B grade after a couple of seasons in the former B2 competition. Snug batted first but were soon in trouble against the bowling of Zac Scriber 2/25 and newcomer Tom Kink 2/21. With Leg Spinner Malcolm Scriber weaving a web they were teetering at 7/71. The next partnership added 65 for the 8th wicket with 5 shots going over the fence. Malcolm finished with 3/49 and Andrew Henley snared 2/18 as Snug were bowled out in the 44th over for 164.

In reply the Crows early batters looked to have the game in control and when acting captain Nick Townsend 58 with 3 4s and 4 6s and Mal Godfrey 20 added 58 for the 4th wicket victory looked assured. We then lost 4 wickets in quick succession including both of those batsmen and at 7/151 there were some anxious people on the hill. However Malcolm Scriber and Andrew Henley were equal to the task and victory was achieved in the 34th over.

A grade took on Longley at Sandfly and had to wait an extra 30 minutes for the ground to dry before play could commence. Longley opted to bat first and were soon in real spot of bother with the French brothers both dismissed with only 8 runs on the board. A 3rd wicket partnership of 91 resurrected their innings but the Crows were able to keep the pressure on and eventually dismiss them in the 49th over for 161. Trent Rollins in his first game for the Club took 2/15 while Jamie Knott 2/19, Dale Punshon 2/22, Dan Elliott 2/29 and Ash Woodhead 2/32 were the other wicket takers.

We lost Dan Elliott with only 5 runs on the board but Trent Rollins and skipper, Brett Stevenson combined to add 70 in good style for the second wicket before Stevenson was dismissed and the new batsmen fell 2 balls later to leave us 3/75. Trent and Jamie Knott then added 73 for the 4th wicket before Rollins fell for a very well compiled 78 with 4 4s and 1 6.

Knotty 36no and Stuart Conway then scored the required runs to give us a 6 wicket victory with 16 overs to spare.

Our C1 team travelled to Glen Huon on Sunday to take on North Huon. Although I haven't been presented with a great amount of detail I can advise that the Warriors batted first and made 185. We assisted that total by bowling 30 wides and dropping 8 catches. Gareth Percey took 4/15, Jason Jones 2/30 and Trent Riseley 2/33.

In reply Ritchie McInnes made an excellent contribution of 87 and recruit Baden Livingston 29 and at 4/148 we looked to be heading to victory. We then lost 6 wickets for only 27 runs to be dismissed for 175 and go down by 10 runs. 4 batsmen scored ducks.

Last week we acknowledged the retirement of some players yet it was great to see Marc Owen, Andrew Henley and Jason Jones don the new Club trousers over the weekend and allow us to field 3 full teams. As what seems to have become a common occurrence we had approx 10 players unavailable for Round 1.

A big thank you to Jason Jones on coordinating the bar and canteen with an extra special thanks to Gab Lefleur who worked behind the counter virtually all day. Thanks to everyone else who contributed to getting the season off the ground with our new Thursday night chef Brett Rollins doing a fantastic job.

On a sad note all at the Club offer our condolences to Club stalwart, Tony Bowden and his sons Adam and Jay on the passing of Tony's mother.

We also take this opportunity to acknowledge those that have lost loved ones during the winter period.