Atherton strengthen grip on cricket crown
ONE Cricket Far North club has long reigned supreme in the longer format of the game, but could one of their rivals be in the process of starting their own dynasty?
Atherton are celebrating a second premiership in three years after hanging on for victory against Rovers in the weekend’s first-grade decider at Griffiths Park.
The Tablelanders rolled the competition’s form side for a season-low 68 on Saturday, on their way to claiming a victory on first innings and possibly laying the foundations for a new CFN dynasty.
While Mulgrave has had a stranglehold on the competition in recent times, claiming five premierships in eight consecutive grand final appearances prior to this season, Atherton’s win on the weekend was the club’s second premiership in three years.
Despite a valiant second-innings fightback from Rovers on day two yesterday, Atherton’s cool under pressure sealed victory.
Skipper Tommy Boorman said it was a “cracking” game.
“Bowling them out for 68 was a massive effort from our bowlers, I can’t credit them enough,” he said.
“But Rovers having us six down for 100 at the end of the day was a good effort from them. We would’ve liked to finish the game there and then and put on a big score, but it wasn’t like that.
“Rovers fought really hard, so it was good for us to get the win in the end.”
Atherton’s Paul Nasser (4-18) and Michael Salerno (3-11) got the party started with the ball to retire Rovers for 68, before Atherton, buoyed by Salerno (31) and skipper Tom Boorman (27) at the crease, took a 32-run lead at stumps on day one.
Rovers had to come out firing on day two yesterday, and they did, taking 4-35 in the early session to put themselves back in to bat trailing by 67.
The Rovers bats went to work, with Brenton Edwards laying on 83 runs in a fighting knock that featured five sixes.
His side’s hopes, however, took a huge blow when Atherton took Tom Van Den Berg, Tom Lever and Liam Devietti’s wickets for just one run, the scoreboard ticking over from 2/106 to 5/107 in a matter of minutes.
However, led by enforcer Edwards, Rovers made 164 to go ahead by 97 runs.
It all came down to the final session, with Atherton chasing 98 runs for an outright victory.
Despite Rovers’ pressure with the ball, Atherton finished the day 4/80 to earn a victory on first innings.
Boorman praised the efforts of Dylan Pettingill (27) and
“old head” Fred Pittorino (31*).
“There was a bit of pressure there – we knew Eddy (Edwards) and Tommy (Tom Lever) were gonna do a job with the ball.
“Those two characters are never gonna give up, so we knew it was going to be the hardest two hours of our cricketing careers.”
Rovers’ Edwards said it was a tough game, but Atherton were deserved winners.
“Winning the toss was important, there was a bit of moisture around, outfield was slow, but full credit to Atherton,” he said. “They grinded it out and everyone left everything on the park.”
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost