Willetton wins at crease

Willetton flattened Rockingham-Mandurah in the last round of WACA cricket before the Christmas break.

In sweltering conditions, the first grade made hard work of batting first at Burrendah Reserve, while the lower grades succumbed to the Dragons in a poor first day.

Before the match, Brayden Sutton took the captaincy for the first time after Brendon Diamanti’s injured a calf last week.

It is hoped he will return in early January, and only miss one match.

First grade batted first and could only cobble together 170 before Willetton finished stumps at 2-45.

There were brief partnerships as Craig Simmons (36) combined with Josh Smith (25), then Tony Coulson (18), but just when the Mariners were about to get on an even keel, they lost a wicket.

Chris Loveridge flourished late with a quick-fire 29, including two sixes.

Meanwhile, Joel Marion (2-10) fired up for two immediate breakthroughs to set the Dragons on their heels.

The Mariners will need regular incisions with just 125 more runs in the bank when play resumes on Saturday.

Seconds have coughed up first innings points when making just 84 as the visitors cruised to 1-132 at Lark Hill.

Another of the promising crop of under-17s Aaron Burrage, on debut, second top scored and was the player to take the only Willetton wicket.

Thirds will chase Willetton’s 254 at Burrendah as Adeel Ejaz continued his wicket-taking form with 3-76.

The Mariners are 0-5, and with a day’s solid batting will maintain a top six spot as well as jump the Dragons after recent successive losses.

Fourths only made 84, but have Willetton at 6-106 to show some grit with the ball in hand.

Steven Cairns claimed 2-26 to keep the Mariners afloat with the prospect of making the second day a dash for outright points.

From a precarious 3-15, the under-15s showed the rest of the club the way to soak up pressure and then take charge as Patrick Italiano’s 72 led a middle order fight back.

He paired firstly, with Joel Humble (38) and then Adam France (54) as the Mariners used up their 60 overs to eventually take the honours at 8-224.

The under-17s will need to bat with application and vigour to successfully overhaul Willetton’s 5-242 in a match that has top-six ramifications as Rockingham-Mandurah are currently third with the Dragons breathing down their necks two points away in fourth.