Rockingham-Mandurah’s first grade got up and running to start the 2018/19 Western Australian Premier Cricket season with victories against Subiaco-Floreat and Wanneroo last weekend.
Pleasingly, the Mariners found different means in getting home with superb bowling completing the job on Saturday against the Lions, while the batsmen underpinned Sunday’s win against the Roos.
Dane Ugle took up where he left off last season, making 73 from 100 in round one at Lark Hill.
The reigning Olly Cooley medal winner for the best player in WA Premier Cricket helped the Mariners to 181 against Subiaco-Floreat, who won the toss and sent the home side in.
Eight bowling options were used to keep the Lions unbalanced and led by Ugle’s tight 2/22 from eight overs, Rockingham-Mandurah kept the asking run-rate pressure high.
Help from Eric Botha, who took 2/7 and played a part in two run outs in the frenetic finish, saw Subiaco-Floreat dismissed for 176 for a sweet five-run win.
On Sunday the Mariners were again sent in by the opposition.
Three strong partnerships built Rockingham-Mandurah’s score of 9/234 from 50 overs.
Aaron Burrage was elevated to opener and was the rock in two of the partnerships, initially, for the first wicket with Tyler Robertson (27) for 73.
After putting together a crucial 49 on Saturday Burrage and Ugle combined again, this time for 80, before the opener fell for 82 off 128 balls.
Rockingham-Mandurah tumbled from 2/168 to 6/171 before talisman Ugle exploded into life with six boundaries and three long balls in his 80 off just 74 balls.
Robertson (2/19) played partnership-breaker twice and the support cast kept things in check as captain Craig Simmons eked out three valuable maidens and claimed the big wicket of Roos recruit Travis Birt (79).
The skipper finished with 4/41 and with his team the spoils of a vital 12-run win as Wanneroo expired at 8/222.
The start to the year is crucial for Rockingham-Mandurah as a quarter of the season is played in these first two weeks, with two more one-dayers to come this weekend against University and Claremont-Nedlands.
Second grade also made it two from two on opening weekend, courtesy of a seven-wicket victory against Subiaco-Floreat and a comfortable 54 run round-two win versus Wanneroo.
Callum Austen (3/12) and Ryan Done (3/14) put the squeeze on the Lions in their score of 7/146 at Floreat Park.
Vinnie Poller struck 61 as the Mariners cruised to 3/148 in the 35th over.
The expereinced duo were at it again, with number three Austen pacing the innings beautifully scoring 100 from 129 deliveries in Rockingham-Mandurah’s 3/224 at Lark Hill.
Left arm tweaker Done snaffled 5/61 and opening quick Joel Marion (2/18 in 10 overs) as Wanneroo were bowled over for 170.
