Atherton retains top spot Mareeba fall in close match

BARRON River travelled up the hill to take on Atherton in Saturday’s first grade 40 over match at Loder Park.

Atherton won the toss and decided to bowl with youngsters

Matt Nielsen and Ben Vikionkorpi delivering the best opening spell of Atherton's season to date, sending four Barron batsmen back with just 20 runs on the board.

Wickets fell steadily and only Andrew Phelps made any significant contribution as Barron were dismissed for just 93 runs.

Veteran Dan Parnell found appreciable turn and took three wickets, with Nielsen and father and son duo of Ben and Angus Vikionkorpi taking two each.

Atherton started steadily in pursuit and the chase never really looked in any doubt.

Skipper Tom Boorman, who is in rare touch this year, along with Caleb Constant, another batsman in fine form, upped the tempo and brought the side home with 6 wickets and plenty of overs to spare.

The win means that Atherton has regained second spot on the Cricket Far North ladder and has all but wrapped up a semi-final spot with two games remaining.

Atherton will travel to Griffiths Park this week to take on the current ladder leaders, Norths.

MAREEBA second grade has lost a close game against town rivals Atherton on Sunday at Loder Park in a hard-fought match that went right down to the wire.

After winning the toss, Mareeba decided to take the new pill and sent Atherton in to bat looking to strike early and put the visitors on the back foot.

Atherton opener Greg Misener looked solid at the crease as the first three wickets for Atherton fell cheaply under the opening bowling attack of Brendan Payne and Tyson Brown.

Mareeba’s relentless attack quickly saw Misener dispatched and fresh middle-order batsmen at the crease.

However, Atherton’s middle order continued to knock the ball around with Angus Goetze, Ken Webb, Locky Hollitt and Amy Hunter all made good runs into the double digits.

The side managed to push through and post a defendable total of 167 after their allotted 40 overs.

Kicking things off for Mareeba was openers Will Hanlon and Brendan Falvo who took their time getting settled before Hanlon was on his way back to the sheds after a handy bit of fielding from Matthew Coleman.

Mareeba danger man and captain Brendan Payne soon followed, making only one run after facing eight balls.

The rest of Mareeba’s order fell cheaply without too much trouble besides Brendan Green and Jared Dent who both knuckled down and posted totals well into the 30s.

Despite the tail wagging from the bottom order it was too little too late as Atherton managed to soak up the rest of the overs and leave Mareeba just 15 runs short of a victory.

Mareeba will now have a bottom of the table clash against last placed Cassowary Coast at Borzi Park this Sunday starting from 12:30pm.