Captain's Knock Guides Newcastle Into Semis

Newcastle Herald

Saturday February 2, 2008

By NEIL GOFFET

NEWCASTLE captain Nathan Price led his side into the semi-finals of the NSW Country Colts competition with a superb all-round performance in yesterday's win over Western at No.2 Sportsground.

A member of the NSW Country senior side that won the Australian championships in Mackay last month, Price dominated with bat and ball as the hosts scored a four-wicket win.

The Wallsend all-rounder took 4-44 off 16 overs, and Belmont's Dan Magin snared 4-37 off 12 overs as Newcastle dismissed Western for 232 in 55 of their allocated 60 overs.

Magin, who was also selected in the NSW Country senior side this year but was forced to withdraw because of stress fractures in his left ankle, bowled off spin instead of his usual pace.

Rain delayed the start of Newcastle's run chase, and when they finally took the field they required 216 to win off 46 overs.

Price anchored the innings with 63 off 71 deliveries as he and Belmont's Jono Laverick (40 off 54) took the score from 4-94 to 5-140.

Laverick and Stockton's Andrew Williams added 59 for the sixth wicket, and Williams finished 33 not out as Newcastle reached 6-217.

Newcastle play North Coast at No.1 Sportsground in today's semi-final, so colts players will be unavailable for the first day of round-nine matches in Newcastle district cricket today.

The match of the round is between competition leaders Stockton and Toronto Workers at Lynn Oval.

Toronto are fourth on 24 points, but Hamilton-Wickham (23) and Charlestown (20) are chasing them.

Stockton are still undefeated and lead the way on 30 points, but a loss could drop them back to third if second-placed Wallsend (29) and third-placed Merewether (28) both record wins.

Wallsend play last-placed Waratah-Mayfield at Waratah Oval, and Merewether are at home to Western Suburbs at Townson Oval.

Stockton and Merewether play each other next round, so both teams will be desperate to win this game to ensure they will still be in the top four if they lose the head-to-head clash.

The fifth-placed Pumas will be ready to pounce on any mistake made by one of the top four teams, and they face an under-strength Belmont team today at Passmore Oval.

Belmont are without skipper Matthew Frith, Magin, who bowled them to victory over Waratah last game, and Laverick, who are playing in the Newcastle colts team.

Charlestown need six points from an outright win to rocket them back into top-four contention, and they play University today at University Oval followed by Wallsend and Belmont.

Teams chasing outright points will be hoping the rain stays away because the round will be reduced to one-day matches if no play is possible today.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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