PEGS FLY IN THE STICKS:
A ball from Homers all-rounder Jarred Combe slips through the defences of West Wimmera batsman Mitch Dahlenburg and sends stumps flying during a Horsham Cricket Association A Grade clash. Nhill’s grain silo at Davis Park provided a quintessential rural backdrop as West Wimmera made its Horsham A Grade debut against the Pigeons.
Laharum will attempt to consolidate a strong start in Horsham Cricket Association’s A Grade season when it takes on newcomer West Wimmera in round two on Saturday.
The Mountain Men had a confidence-boosting start to the competition against Rupanyup-minyip and are now eyeing off the Warriors and a 2-0 start.
Laharum won its opening oneday game against the Blue Panthers at Laharum with two overs to spare, Daniel Griffiths the star with the bat with 81.
Griffiths shared in a 110-run partnership with Josh Mahoney as Laharum chased down a target of 187.
Damien Bunworth, 28, and Mal Adams, 12, were unbeaten and the home side was only four wickets down at the game’s conclusion.
Rupanyup-minyip’s Bailey Young managed to capture three of the wickets after earlier providing an unbeaten rear-guard 30 for his team.
Dan Clark, 53, Jake Leith, 26, and Brent Hudson, also made runs.
West Wimmera will find Laharum hard to beat, especially in the shadows of the Grampians.
The Warriors were competitive against contemporary competition yardsticks Homers last week, but their 6-134 in 40 overs was never going to be enough – especially against an attack led by Jarred Combe, 4-18, and including Craig Britten, Chris and Simon Hopper and Jason Kannar. Opener Brodie Cramer, however, managed 51 and Michael Preston 47.
Homers passed the score with five wickets down and eight overs to spare, opener Adam Atwood leading with the way with 56 and Chris and Simon Hopper and Darren Paul contributing.
Liam Preston returned the best figures for the Warriors with 3-29 off six overs.
Homers will turn their attention to Jung Tigers who came up short against Horsham Saints in a thrilling season opener at Horsham Community Oval.
Veterans take lead
Horsham Saints, with important runs to veterans Gary Davidson, 41, Mark Crafter, 45, and Josh Hedt, 34, managed to defend 152 against the Tigers.
The game went to the wire with eye-in knocks from Brent Jensz, 31, skipper Angus Adams, 43, and Simon Mock, 26 not out.
But the Tigers found themselves short of the mark by two runs at the end of their 40 overs.
The Tigers can ill-afford too many early losses and face tough opposition from the Pigeons in another clash at the Dimboola Road oval.
The Saints will attempt to consolidate after their confidence-boosting win when they meet Rupanyup-minyip at Rupanyup on Saturday.
The Saints shared spoils with the ball last week, Jono Carroll snaring three wickets and Hayden Smith and Sebastian Dalgleish also getting early scalps.