Glynn Cameron

The Union Senior team all but qualified for the Dick Hunt final after a close encounter at King George Park yesterday.

Union won the toss of a tennis racquet (a coin could not be found) and elected to field first in an important encounter for the two teams - Union attempting to keep themselves at the top of the table and Valley looking to say an outside chance of making the final. Unions decision looked to be a good one with Valley, after a good start from openers Cameron Leckie (11) and Hayden Tisdall (16), constantly lost wickets and at drinks at 25 overs looked to be in danger of being bowled out for less 100 runs. Veterans Geoff Mavor (15 not out) and an aggressive Hamish McKenzie (50) then combined with a 65 run 9th wicket partnership to give their side a defendable 167, Valley all out for 168 in the 48th over. For Union Paul Johnston sliced through the Valley middle order taking 5-41 while Craig Robertson took 2-20 of 7 overs.

Union got of to a bat start losing opener Glynn Cameron for 5 with only 9 on the board. They looked to be in trouble at 38-3 but Duncan Drew and Sean Conlan then combined for 32 for the fourth wicket before the wicket of Drew was lost for 25 with the score at 70 - Drew bringing up 1000 runs against Valley during his innings. Conlan then took control of the game as wickets as the middle and lower order looked to bat with him and inch their team closer to victory. When the wicket of Conlan was lost for 84 off the bowling of Reuben Simpson, the game was still tethering on a knifes edge at 167-8, but number nine Matt Lilley then hit Hayden Tisdall for a four to bring up a Union victory by two wickets. For Valley Tisdall finished with 2-30, while Simpson (2-34) and Mark Broughton (2-27) finished with 2 wickets each.

Union has all but qualified for the Dick Hunt final in a fortnight, with a bye next week and are on the top of the standings. They will be looking to defend the trophy after last years exciting one wicket victory against Albion.

Player Pages:
Glynn Cameron | Sean Conlan | Duncan Drew | Paul Johnston | Craig Robertson |

Valley 168 ( H. McKenzie 50, B. Nearle 25, R. Simpson 20, H. Tisdall 16, G. Mavor 15no, C. Leckie 11, P. Johnston 5-41, C. Robertson 2-20 )
Union 171-8 ( S. Conlan 84, D. Drew 25, B. Fleming 12, M. Broughton 2-27, H. Tisdall 2-30, R. Simpson 2-34 )
Union won by 2 wickets
Full scorecard for the match