COLLINGWOOD Park had a good start to their Albany Cricket Association title defence with a hard-fought win over Denmark on Saturday.
Round One of the A-Grade competition also saw big wins to North County and Railways on the hard wickets at North Road.
Russell Hare (26), Craig Doncon (20) and captain Chad Hitchcock (25) got Collingwood off to an ideal start against Denmark, before 51 from Nathan Dovey steered them to a total of 176.
The damage could have been worse if not for Geoff Parnell cleaning out the tail and finishing with 4/16.
Denmark were sitting in a good position at 2/77 at the half-way point of their innings before Grant Freebrough snared the wicket of Peter Ross for 31.
Wickets then fell steadily, with only an unbeaten 39 from Parnell pushing Denmark to a competitive score of 154 all out.
Doncon and Freeborough each picked up three wickets as Collingwood Park won by 22 runs.
Manypeaks batted first and were skittled for just 86 in their clash with Railways at hard Central.
New Peaks’ recruit Don Munley was run out for 33 and was the only batsman to make an impression on the scorecard as spin duo Terry Eaton (2/9) and Simon Harvey (3/10) did the damage.
Tigers’ opener Matt Clothier made 26, but it was Julian Crudelli who guided his side home, passing the target in the 32nd over with four wickets in hand.
A superb bowling effort from Brad Beech, who finished with 5/18 for Manypeaks, was not enough to give his side a victory.
Crudelli finished unbeaten on 56, while Daniel Macomish scored 27 not out as the pair added 67 runs to see Railways finish on 7/159.
Railways’ skipper Sam Newbury was delighted with his team’s first-up performance.
“We still have a bit to work on, but I was happy with the way our bowlers went,” Newbury said.
“They put them (Manypeaks) under pressure which generated a lot of chances for us.
“If we can beat Collingwood Park this week we go two-zip which would be great.”
New Royals’ skipper Andrew Hagnhofer amazingly sent North County into bat on the hard North wicket.
The move backfired as Royals’ opening bowlers failed to find their radar, with Craig Tonkin and Nick Parry adding 97 for the first wicket.
Parry (46) and Graham Weinert (15) fell to Hagnhofer as Tonkin (five sixes) appeared to be coasting to another century before holing out in the deep on 96.
Things weren’t looking good for Royals at 3/231, but five wickets fell for 16 runs, including three to Gavin Morgan as North County finished on 8/247.
Tonkin took the new ball and any hopes Royals had of winning the game were dashed as the Australian Country XI all-rounder cut a swathe through the top order.
He claimed 4/13 in six devastating overs to leave Royals unable to recover.
Morgan added 24 while Hagnhofer hit eight boundaries in his 63, but their efforts were in vain as Royals were all out for 150 in the 40th over.
While North County front up to Denmark at McLean Park this week, Royals take on Manypeaks in what shapes as an important early-season clash.
The match of the round sees Railways, who seem to have a rejuvenated side, front up to the powerful Collingwood Park in what is set to be a high-scoring affair.
While the Park will start as favourites, Railways boast talent such as Julian Crudelli, Ben Saunders and Paul Cousins, who will look to cause an upset against the reigning premiers.
In the B-Grade on the weekend, the new Warriors side was too good for Denmark while Veterans thumped Narrikup in their first game.
Collingwood Park defeated Railways while North County won their game against a young Royals outfit. The two Manypeaks sides also battled it out with Manypeaks2 getting the points.
- Daniel Wiseman.