Rockingham-Mandurah will not feature in the Western Australian Premier Cricket Twenty20 finals after losses on the weekend ruled out the seniors and colts from progressing through the group stages.
James Bracey (70) and Dane Ugle (63) put on 127 for the third wicket against Fremantle at Stevens Reserve in the first of three matches.
The Mariners made 3/147 but the hosts with Perth Scorchers Sam Whiteman (43), Ashton Turner (35*) and Mitchell Marsh (24) eclipsed the total with 3/152 from 18.1 overs.
After facing half of the Scorchers batting line up, Rockingham-Mandurah took on the Big Bash League’s bowling unit, playing for Subiaco-Floreat. Earlier on the Saturday, University took down Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile and David Willey to the tune of 3/230.
The fired up Lions took out their shock loss on the Mariners, by belting 7/193 before Willey (4/22) and Behrendorff (3/23) reduced them to 7/29.
For Rockingham-Mandurah, Adam France (2/30 & 25) and Callum Austen (2/42 & 20) could hold their heads high with solid batting and bowling contributions in the 97-run loss.
To complete the T20 education for Rockingham-Mandurah, Western Australian Warrior Will Bosisto and Australian representative Ashton Agar made life difficult with their club side University winning by eight wickets at James Oval last Sunday.
Bracey (47) and France (33) gave the Mariners a 71-run opening that was not capitalised on, as the visitors bowled out for 127 in 18 overs.
Agar backed up 3/31 with 52 from 39 at the top of the order and Bosisto’s red-hot push for a Scorchers’ spot continued with 66 as the Students powered to 2/131 in 16.1 overs.
The colts lost all three games as well to see the club missing out on the knockout stages in January.
Rockingham-Mandurah lost by 52 runs to Fremantle despite Lloyd Bennett’s 3/34. Subiaco-Floreat inflicted an 83-run defeat in the afternoon match before a more competitive effort against University resulted in a close eight-run loss the next day.
The Mariners female teams had a better time of it with victories against University at Lark Hill.
The seniors bowled first and restricted the visitors to 5/105 with a disciplined defensive performance.
Rockingham-Mandurah took advantage of this with the bat to blaze their way to 7/119 and claim the early Christmas present of their first win, which has been building with incrementally better play through the first half of the season.
The Youth League team secured a 18-run win against Wanneroo after batting first and setting the Roos a challenging total of 3/115.
Saffron Mollett’s superb innings of 47 from 44 balls, came with seven fours and was the catalyst of the triumph.
Wanneroo were bowled out for 97 in 20 overs as Zoe Ryniker (3/7 from 4 overs) and Caitlyn Helsewood (3/11) were nearly unplayable.
A well-earned two week Christmas and New Year break is in store for the club before limited overs battles against South Perth on Saturday, January 5, for the men, while the women host matches at Lark Hill on Sunday, January 6.
