Urunga 1st grade were due to start their last regular season match against Coffs Tigers at Brelsfed Park Coffs Harbour. Before any play could get under way, the Coffs Harbour Cricket Association President contacted Urunga to inform the boys that the pitch and bowling run-ups were unsafe for play. Therefore, this weekend’s match will be a ONE-Dayer with the winner likely to cement 3rd spot and the loser may be knocked out of the competition (depending on other results in the round). Skipper Matt Riddoch has had to deal with a lot of player movements over the past month and will be looking to cement a spot in the finals series in Urunga’s first ever season in the Coffs Harbour District Cricket association’s 1st grade competition. This alone would be a mighty effort. Let’s go 1st GRADE!!!!!!!!

3rd grade travelled to Toormina to take on Sawtell. Last week Urunga batted first and compiled a score of 154 off 68 overs. Top scores for Urunga were Andrew ‘the bank’ Nestor (66) who is peaking at the right time of the year, Ben Jenks pushed around for a solid 23 runs and the next top scorer was the sundries at 18 runs. Urunga finished the day grabbing a quick wicket in the 2nd over having Sawtell 1/5 off 4 overs at the close of play. Wayne Martin was the only wicket taker on the 1st day. In the second weekend of this fixture, Urunga needed to dismiss Sawtell for under 154 for victory. Urunga bowlers had a great start with Grant Homes (3/16) bowling with great pace and accuracy to snare a couple of early wickets. Urunga had Sawtell 5/17 and were looking to finish the job early and get back to Urunga to watch 4th grade play. Sawtell had other ideas, a determined fight back by their batters put Urunga on the back foot. Urunga bowlers toiled hard but wickets became few and far between. Dez Ryan (0/26) struggled for line and length, D.K Thomas was a shining light for Urunga with figures of 2/20 and was well supported by Wayne Martin 2/30. With the Urunga bowlers getting tired, a brain snap or a master move by skipper Joey Dez Ryan saw the introduction of Dan Ryan to the bowling ranks. Readers note; Dan Ryan has never bowled an over in competition cricket and there is a good reason why!!! One over was enough and he was quickly taken out of the bowling attack. The rain came sweeping through Toormina just as Urunga started to fight back and Sawtell were 8/111. Therefore after all of the play between the two teams, a draw was the final result. This meant that Urunga finished the regular season on top of the table with only TWO losses all year. A great effort by all the team to secure the Minor Premiership. The final series starts this weekend for 3rd grade, so hopefully the boys can get a victory and seal their spot in the Grand Final. Come on Boys!!!!!!!

4th grade had a home match against the top side Diggers Ex-Services in a do or die match. A win meant that Urunga would compete in the finals and a loss meant that their season was over and Mad Monday would begin. Urunga won the Toss and sent Diggers in to bat. The Digger’s side showed why they are the benchmark in the 4th grade competition by batting with confidence and skill. The constant flow of wickets kept Urunga in the game but the constant flow of runs also meant that Diggers were on track to posting a formidable total. The Rain AGAIN came into play as the match was abandoned after the 32nd over, due to unsafe conditions. Diggers were 5/156. Urunga bowlers to grab wickets included; Allan Thomas 2/35, Thomas Mcmullen 1/30, Jared Mitton 1/32 and Andrew Trist 1/16. So with a draw recorded for this match Urunga were awaiting the result of other matches before confirming any participation in the finals. Well.. Thankfully for Urunga the results went our way and 4th grade are in the finals. Urunga finished the regular season in third spot and will play in a knockout match this weekend. With a couple of niggling injuries to key players including All Rounder Allan Thomas, Urunga will need all of their players to contribute and play well if they are going to go all the way this season. This is a major achievement due to the fact that 4th grade were given no chance of making the finals a month ago. Well done to all the team and Good Luck this weekend!!!!!

In another great achievement for our small cricket club, at the time of writing this report the Urunga Cricket Club was coming 1st on the Club Championship table. A mighty achievement considering Urunga is the newest and smallest club in the Coffs Harbour Competition. The results this weekend will confirm who the eventual winners are, with the Coffs Tigers and Sawtell only a couple of points behind. So with Urunga confirmed as finals contenders in both 3rd and 4th grades and 1st grade on the verge of a finals berth, all things at Urunga Cricket Club are looking great. Credit must be given to the hard working Committee, Officials, Captains, Managers and Players. Urunga Cricket Club would also like to acknowledge the continuous support of our sponsors.