The unusual tactic of opening the bowling with legspinner Jason Frost paid dividends as he demolished the Country Club top order with three for 26. Later on Jarrod Pike came on and cleaned up the tail in typical ‘Warnie’ fashion, taking three for 13.

The match had started with the Hotel amassing 225 for eight. Dean Welsh

top-scoring with 89.

Spinners did well with Paul Townsend taking two for 40 and Phil Smith finishing with three for 49, although he was harshly dealt with by Jason Ahearn in his last over.

Country Club’s run chase was

dominated by youngster Mark Bryen who scored an excellent 93, with veteran Rick DeRuiter (67-years young) lending good support in a partnership of 80. As

mentioned before, the spinners did the damage and Country Club were all out for 170.

In other matches, Bowraville went down to Macksvllle Ex-Services by six wickets at Donnelly-Welsh oval. Bowra batted first and scored nine for 111, Josh Fleming top-scored with 23. The Collisons did well, with Grant taking two for 32 and Josh two for four.

Ex-Services lost four wickets in their run chase. Jesse O’Grady and Grant Collison top-scored with 36 not out apiece. Craig Millen bowled well for Bowraville, taking three for 15 including three wickets in four balls.

Warrell Creek travelled to Taylors Arm, which is proving to be a graveyard for visiting teams. Warrell Creek, batting first, were all out for 50. Their batsmen were unable to come to grips with the very slow outfield, resulting in three

run-outs.

Not so Taylors Arm, who passed that total with ease and adjourned to the pub for an early drink.

The match at Biffin Field between Talarm and Nambucca Heads proved to be a much closer contest.

Talarm showed that their previous win against Hotel was no fluke with another strong performance, although Nambucca Heads prevailed in the end.

Talarm totalled a modest 82 in the first innings. Brian Cowan top-scored with 16. But it was nearly enough as the Heads lost eight wickets in their run chase. Aaron Clarke top-scored for Nambucca with 26 not out. Justin Saker was the pick of the bowlers with three for 40.

Unfortunately I have no scores to hand for the Colts matches.

We have a break for three weeks over Christmas with the competition starting up again on January 7.