Clarence coach takes charge against tyros

CLARENCE coach Dan Salpietro has rescued his side from potential disaster to victory over the state under-19 side as the Roos consolidated top place on the Kookaburra Cup table yesterday.

After restricting the under-19 outfit to 141 at Kangaroo Bay, the hosts found themselves in strife at 3-14 and then 4-42 in reply.

Shaun Redman bowled Jayden Harris for 12 in the third over of the chase, before Jarrod Freeman struck twice in three balls to remove Liam Devlin (one) and Saturday’s century maker, Ben Rohrer, for a second-ball duck.

And when Fletcher Keeling sent Harry Allanby packing soon after the Roos had the wobbles as Salpietro walked to the crease to join keeper Michael Jones.

However, rather than sit back, Salpietro went on the attack to rip all the momentum away.

He smacked a whirlwind 77 not out from 50 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and a six in the process and with Jones (39 not out from 65 balls) playing the perfect foil, Clarence eventually cruised to victory with exactly half the overs remaining.

It leaves the Roos with a perfect three from three in the Kookaburra Cup competition after the side started the season with consecutive Twenty20 losses.

At Pontville, a starring double from allrounder James Faulkner guided University across the line against North Hobart.

Faulkner snared 3-20 with the ball — receiving apt assistance from Ben Hilfenhaus (2-16) and Muhammad Shinwari (2-23) as the Demons were skittled for 122 with only Luke Williams and Jack White passing 20.

The Lions lost Tim Paine and Noah van de Werken before Faulkner and Carter Hansen combined for a matchdefining 84-run partnership.

Hansen was trapped lbw by Alex Pyecroft one run short of a well-deserved half century with 20 runs required, and although Uni lost three wickets for no run with the scores level, Faulkner finished the contest in style by hitting the winnings run and bringing up his half century (52, 116 balls) at the same time.