Geraldton cricket round 2 wrap: Assertive performances lead to commanding wins for Sportsmans, Towns

Clint Yeates’ experience gave Sportsmans victory over Bluff Point in the Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League on Saturday.

Set a challenging 170 to win on a Muir Park pitch that was soft underneath and had surprising and at times alarming bounce at one end, Sporties stumbled to 3-48.

They lost captain Riley Barham, held by Matt Reid off Mitch McAuliffe (2-30), and were 2-22 after Ryan Dixon was leg before to James Morrison.

Then Xavier Bochat was caught by Aaron Joss off Jayden Pinto but Yeates (73 not out) added 55 with Matt Greenlees (28), who departed when caught by McAuliffe off Jeremy Boase.

Will Isbister fell soon after to McAuliffe to make it 5-108 but Yeates, in his 339th A-grade innings, added 31 with Jarrod Jupp and an unbeaten 31 with Gus Spalding.

Yeates’ 61st half-century (along with 22 centuries) was a fine effort from a player with many highlights. He batted for 99 balls with eight fours and a six.

“He batted well, didn’t give a chance in a game where both sides dropped plenty and won it for them,” McAuliffe said.

“He was the difference but we had opportunities after starting with Barham’s wicket first ball of the innings.”

A plus for the Pointers was the leg-spin of Jayden Rafferty (1-14 off five overs), a new player likely to be used more often and earlier in future.

Bluff Point’s 169 was framed around doughty innings from McAuliffe (55) and Matt Ireland (30) and late runs from Reid (21).

Jupp (2-25) opened the bowling and bowled unchanged, dismissing stand-in captain Cody Doran and Rafferty, who was caught by Ryan Ibbotson.

Spalding (2-11) also shone, Yeates (0-28 off 10 overs) slowed the run rate and Ben Ingle (4-40) had McAuliffe caught by Greenlees and ran through the tail.

At the Rec, Towns were 186-run winners over Chapman Valley-Northampton. Towns were sent in and made 7-306, with runs from Sam Crouch (91 off 73 balls) and Jai Russell (58 not out off 48 balls).

Callum Marquis (58) slapped up 118 with Crouch after Dan Brimson (23) laid a base. Brad Boyer (2-38) was best of the bowlers.

CVN replied with 120. Adam Goacher (20) was positive but only Hayden Dawson (51 off 53 balls) mastered the attack and could only watch as CVN lost 5-13.

That collapse was triggered by Tom Forsyth (4-15) after he had Boyer caught by supervet Gerard Marquis.

The elder Marquis (3-29) showed line and length works at any age while Harry Nairn claimed his maiden wicket, that of Dawson.