Rockingham-Mandurah moved to second spot on the Western Australian Premier Cricket ladder with a methodical 78-run victory against Gosnells at Sutherlands Park.
The Mariners executed a perfect weekend against the Hawks, winning all four senior grades to now sit on top of the club championship one third of the way through the season.
First grade were defending 267 and didn’t allow the home team a realistic peek at climbing the mountain. Twin strikes by Leon Coombs (3/37) and Adam France (2/21) had Gosnells battling at 5/59.
Rockingham-Mandurah’s bowlers used disciplined line and length bowling through 80 overs at the crease with Gosnells digging in. Eventually, the pressure told as Craig Simmons (2/49) and Joel Marion (2/34) joined in the spoils to knock the Hawks over for 189.
Second grade’s Ashley North made a backs-to-the-wall 94 to get the Mariners past Gosnells’ tricky 164 at Lark Hill. Wickets tumbled after Callum Austen’s 38 and at 8/90 things looked dire.
North combined with Ryan Done (40) to pull the match out of the fire and finish on 222, a score that never looked possible halfway through the day. The team has rocketed up to second spot after three wins and two draws, without a loss to start 2018/19.
Third grade also made hard work of Gosnells’ meagre 118 but eventually took a valuable 10 points at Sutherlands Park. William McLeod held the Mariners together with 58 from 108 balls, including five boundaries and Anthony Brokate (18 off 18) pushed the visitors over the line when they nearly stalled at 8/111.
Gosnells played out the day at 3/109 from 29 overs with Nathan Howell claiming 2/26.
Fourth grade’s bowlers used a team-first ethos to dismantle Gosnells in a 122 run rout at Lark Hill.
Rockingham-Mandurah scored 220 and the visitors were skittled for just 88 as James Bakota started the rot with 2/7 from 10 overs, five of which were maidens.
The opener was the spearhead in an attack that saw all six bowlers used claim a reward. Trying for an outright result, Rockingham-Mandurah shredded Gosnells to 3/17 in their second dig before they found a way out to 5/199.
The male Under 14s were the club’s other winners, accounting for Claremont-Nedlands by 104 runs in the first round of the McKenzie Shield. The Tigers were wrapped up for 76 at Cresswell Park and the Mariners overhauled the score three wickets down.
Nicholas Wilson had a day out with 2/17 and 63 not out, featuring 11 fours. Reece Torrent struck 50 and Rockingham-Mandurah got a solid hit out for their main batters to make 5/180 from 50 overs.
University piled on 6/256 in the B grade match at UWA Sports Park, a score that the Mariners couldn’t match.
Brooke Gardner was the pick of the bowlers with 3/52 and Eleanor Britton got the chase off the right way with 27 but the visitors were dismissed for 63.
Jack Richards claimed 4/29 in a lion-hearted effort as Gosnells made 179 on day two of the Under 17s match, with the Mariners battling after being bowled out for 71.
The Under 15s made a promising start in pursuit of the Hawks’ 187 at Lark Hill. An opening partnership of 77 by Mitchell Zadow (36) and Teague Wyllie (26) was just what the doctor ordered but the Mariners couldn’t find another big contributor to fall by 40 runs for 147.
The Under 13s started their season with a 57 run loss at Melvista Oval. Claremont-Nedlands batted first and made 4/155 from their 40 overs. The top three batters made starts, lead by Jonah Lincoln’s 21 before the innings sputtered to finish at 9/98.
Midland-Guildford await for the Rockingham-Mandurah’s teams this weekend, as first grade take on the Swans at Lark Hill this Saturday from 11:40am.
On Sunday at Lilac Hill sees the youth league girls begin their season before the senior females do battle at noon.
