The 3rd Grade competition leaders went into the game against cellar dwellers Macquarie Hotel at Wood St.1 as unbackable favourites and they didn’t disappoint the punters. Batting first the Havens batsmen tore into the bowling scoring at almost 10 runs an over. Ben Dunn (15) broke his run of ducks but it was Dean King who broke the bowlers’ hearts and had the fielders scattering as the ball was consistently sent sailing over the boundary. King was the dominant partner in a stand of 113 with Bryan Yewdall until he eventually mishit one to be out for 91. Yewdall then continued the onslaught to help himself to a well deserved century and he remained 130 not out when Captain Fred Hayes took the unprecedented move to declare an end to the carnage in the 35th over with the score at 4 for 295. It didn’t take the Havens long to take the ascendency in the field with James Palmer picking up 2 early wickets and the Macquarie batsmen were continually on the back foot trying to get the run rate up. While “the warrior” took a couple of nice catches the home side put up a rear guard fight and despite the fact that they were well behind one of their batsmen (Bonser) managed to make a century of his own. The win was well in the bag when the game ended with Macquarie 7 for 204 to maintain the Havens securely at the top of the table as they take on Port Pirates at Inmon on Saturday.

The 4th Grade game was a top of the table clash with leaders Wauchope at Tuffins. Batting first, the Wauchope batsmen were under immediate pressure from some good bowling by Zac Hussein (1 for 24) and Keegan Raccani ( 1 for 33). Rod Duncan also kept the scoring in check with the run rate barely above 3 runs an over. Once again Darren “the destroyer” Hudson chimed in with 3 wickets but it was the old boy Wayne Smith, back on the field after several seasons in retirement, who did the damage with 4 for 12 off his 6 overs. Young Jake Otto also bowled an excellent over and although Wauchope did manage to bat out 38 overs they were restricted to a score of just 9 for 129. The Havens batsmen set about the chase and never let the opposition bowlers settle on a length. Col Harris dominated with 61 and he was well supported by Jayden Hudson (14) as the pair put the game beyond doubt with a partnership of 84. An unbeaten stand of 48 between Raccani and Smith then saw the Havens cruise to victory in the 22nd over and with the Havens firmly holding on to equal second position they take on Macquarie Hotel at Kendall on Saturday.

Australia Day Beach Cricket - Once again Beach Cricket will be a feature of the Camden Haven’s Australia Day celebrations at the Inmon Fields in Laurieton. Nominations for teams are now being taken and there will be a maximum of 6 teams competing for the many great prizes on the day. Teams consist of 6 players with everyone batting and bowling in the 12 overs-a-side games. The fun begins at 8am on Australia Day and team nominations can be made to Pat Kerr on 65594495 or 0428494495.