The Harden Hornet’s A Grade Cricket team were greeted with the Yass Soldiers Club Snipers, in the Yass Triggs Shield competition at Tim Doolan Oval at Harden on Saturday. Under blue sunny skies, intermingled with spasmodic cloud and cool summer winds it was a perfect day for Cricket.

The Snipers toss win saw them bat first, with Harden’s pacemen Billy Bolger (pictured) bowling from the High School end. His partner in crime Tyler Allen charged in from the Olympic Pool side. Dave Field and Craig Irwin opened the innings for Yass, to face Harden’s attack.

Allen delivered a real jaffa of a delivery, clean bowling Irwin for 15 runs. Soon after Martin Brown was introduced into the Hornets attack, dismissing Jackson Chatfield for just 13 runs, rattling his stumps with another pearler. The Snipers stood at 2 for 46.

David Field was batting extremely well and was joined at the crease by Chris Rawlinson. The pairing hammered the Hornet’s attack who never let up.

When bustling Billy Bolger clean bowled Field for 73 (which included 7 fours), the partnership had amassed 125 great runs and the Snipers had wounded the Hawk bowlers at 3 wickets for 171 to be well in control.

When one of a pair goes, usually the other follows suit. This was the case again, when Tom Darmody had Rawlinson caught out for a solid knock of 63 runs.

Yass’ next couple of batsmen added meagre contributions, but considerable damage had been earlier done by the Snipers. At the completion of their allotment of 45 overs, they finished on 187 for the loss of 6 wickets.

Best bowler for Harden was Bill Bolger who bowled 9 overs for 30 runs, taking only one wicket. The other 5 wickets were shared, including 2 for only 7 towards the end by Tom Darmody.

Harden Hornets had the job in front of them when the unlikely pairing of Harry Sachs and Tyler Allen wandered out to begin the chase. Steve Okkonen and Josh Obrien opened the bowling for the Yass men, and delivered a Christmas Duck, second ball. Sachs fell for 6, followed by another 6 by Todd Elliott.

Harden had been left at the starting barrier floundering at 3 wickets for only a score of 21. Captain Matty Schofield steadied things momentarily, before Dave Field forced him to play and miss and have his stumps dislodged for 14.

Jason Pollard smacked a couple of boundaries, but was caught skying one for eleven. Big Ben Brady tried to do the ‘twist’, but failed miserably exiting for a Golden Duck (1st ball). One could say ‘Ben, you got 2 ,run out and run back!’

Harden’s James Cusack showed how well he can bat, particularly in defence, before he miss-judged one from Field, going LBW for a fine 17 runs. However at 7 for 65 the Hornets certainly weren’t buzzing. But a rear guard action by Tom Darmody and Chris Hocking of 13 and 17 respectively, helped, but wasn’t enough. The Harden Hornets were all out for 131 runs.

Josh Obrien who bowled with a lot of zip, and Dave Field, both finished with 3 wickets each for Yass Snipers. There is one more game prior to the Christmas break – against the Competitions leaders Yass Hotel Pirates at Yass.

Harden B-Grade Cricket Team played in the Yass Sweeney Cup against Murrumbateman on Saturday. The boys played out an exciting TIED match on Murrumbateman’s Oval. Harden batted first and scored 77 runs and their opponents did likewise. Top Score for Harden was Zac Allen with 28.

WINGS