Mariners in the hunt

For the third year running, Perth’s Matt Spiegal was a thorn in Rockingham-Mandurah Mariners’ side, during round nine of WACA A-Grade fixtures at the weekend.

In previous years, Spriegal had scored 196 and 106, and this season was to prove no different.

His 126 kept Perth in the hunt as wickets fell around him.

However, Craig Simmons (5-59) and Chris Loveridge (3-40) destroyed the visitors as they lost their last wickets for 38 runs.

In the four overs before stumps, Rockingham-Mandurah lost opener Dan Whiting to a controversial catch in the slips to leave the home side 1-8

The Second Grade bowling attack showed what a formidable unit they are.

Liam Meads (four wickets) and Joel Marions (three) saw Perth dismissed for 154.

The bowling attack may be firing on all cylinders, but the batsmen once again struggled to come to grips with the task in hand.

At close of play, the Mariners were struggling at 5-58.

With a number of players unavailable, the Third Grade side had to rely on some of the clubs talented juniors to fill the gaps.

Brad Ranford (38), Alex Whiteman (20) and Lachlan Pratt (18) were the only batsmen to trouble the Perth bowlers as the Mariners slumped from 3-57 to 101 all out.

Perth had no trouble surpassing it, finishing day one at 2-150 Fourth Grade found the going tough as Perth amassed 277.

Beau Bremner took three wickets and with Zac White and Lachlan Harris (two apiece) were the pick of the bowlers.

In the remaining overs, Mariners were 1-20.

For the second week in-a-row, it was heartache for the Mariners as the one day side fell at the semi-final stage just like its Twenty20 side.

Before a big crowd at Lark Hill, the Mariners looked to be containing the strong Melville batting line-up but fell to a brutal assault.

The visitors took 58 off the last six overs to close at 8-262.

The Mariners were never in the hunt as they lost wickets at regular intervals to be all out for 138 in the 37th over.

In the U16s, a great bowling effort, backed up by the fielders, made it hard for Perth to score runs with the openers tied down leaving the score at 40 after 25 overs. Jordan Brokate (4-19) and Jake Eardley-Wilmott (3-33) came to the crease with immediate effect seeing regular wickets falling, Matt Edwards finished with 2-16 to leave Perth all out for 116.

Despite losing a couple of wickets late in the session, the young Mariners will still feel confident of maintaining their quest for a finals berth.