Paul Johnston

In the final round of cricket before the Christmas break Paul Johnston and Ben Sheat combined for a 127 run partnership to help Union to a 167 run victory over second placed Albion in the Dick Hunt competition. The win is Union Seniors biggest ever one innings victory over Albion Seniors, with the first game between the two sides in 1919.

After losing the toss Union was forced to bat on what looked to be a difficult batting wicket after heavy overnight rain. Openers Antony Cromwell and Duncan Drew scored their runs freely before the loss of Cromwell for 18 with the Union total on 45. Union started wobbling a bit with the loss of three further wickets for the addition of only 20 runs before Jeremiah Shields and Glynn Cameron steadied their team and combined for a 56 run partnership before the loss of Shields for 21. The further loss of Cameron for 36 left Union 126-6, bringing Paul Johnston to the crease with Ben Sheat, in the 32nd over. It was 15 over's later before the partnership was broken, with 127 runs scored 10 runs short of breaking a 49 year partnership record, and Sheat bringing up his first senior half century and Johnston's first half century in 10 years. Johnston's wicket was eventually taken, out leg before wicket of the bowling of Gareth Duncan for 52, while Sheat was out in the following over for 74. Union finishing its innings at 259-8, batting out all 50 over's.

Chasing Albion where always under pressure, struggling to score runs from some tight bowling from Phil Crossan and Dan Conlan. This pressure soon told with Albion being 4-35 before Brad Kernahan and Paul Odell looked to be putting the Albion innings back on track. The two combined for a 37 run partnership before Odell was caught by Drew of the bowling of Cameron. Albion then folded and lost their final five wickets for 9 runs. Glynn Cameron backing up his 36 with the bat was the best of Union bowlers taking 4-23 of his 5.1 over's while Neil Louw took 3-20. Phil Crossan was economical with 1-14 of his ten including 4 maidens and Dan Conlan was the other bowler used with 1-24 of his seven.

The Union Senior team remains top of the Dick Hunt competition undefeated and needs one victory in the last two games to guarantee entry into the final in the new year.

Player Pages:
Glynn Cameron | Daniel Conlan | Antony Cromwell | Philip Crossan | Duncan Drew | Paul Johnston | Neil Louw | Ben Sheat | Jeremiah Shields |

Union 271-8 ( B Sheat 74, P Johnston 52, G Cameron 36, D Drew 26, J Shields 21, A Cromwell 18, Welsh 3-48, Odell 2-33, Kernahan 2-56 )
Albion 92 ( B Kernahan 27, P Odell 15, Cameron 4-23, Louw 3-20 )
Union won by 179 runs
Full scorecard for the match