Mavs suffer first defeat as Cobo take control

COBO remain the only unbeaten team in the Carey Olsen GCA Championship. Stuart Le Prevost's side inflicted a comprehensive 107-run defeat on Mavericks at the KGV yesterday to end their opponents impressive start to the season.

It was a clash dominated by the ball as only a few batsmen made an impression.

As has been the case so often, Le Prevost and Jeremy Frith put together what proved to be a match-winning partnership of 113 with both hitting a patient half-century after their side had lost two early wickets.

At the end of the innings, Kris Moherndl added the impetus to get Cobo past 200 with a brisk 42 not out from 35 balls.

Mavericks captain, Justin Meades, picked up three wickets, but all his attack did a good job and they were backed up with some outstanding catches.

In reply, GH Smit again proved the class act of the Mavs line-up and his 38 from 44 balls was the only double-figure score as his side were skittled out for 96.

Mark Renouf enjoyed the ideal conditions for his swing bowling, ripping through the middle order after Moherndl had dismissed the openers.

Gary Rich claimed the vital wicket of Smit and later mopped up the tail.

'We played very well in the first half of the game, but were outplayed in the second,' said Meades.

On Saturday, Ryan Bishop cracked an impressive half-century to lead Rovers to a first home Championship success of the season over basement boys Wanderers. The talented wicketkeeper cracked 54 as the hosts set their opponents a gettable victory target of 167 in the sunshine at Port Soif.

And Bishop's efforts were backed up by a fine bowling and fielding display, which saw Rovers dismiss their visitors for just 148.

'It was an excellent team performance,' said Rovers skipper Stuart Bisson.

'We were under-strength with three under-16s in the team, but everyone worked hard and we deserved the victory. I thought 167 was a bit shy of what we really wanted, but all the bowlers bowled really well and I'm delighted with the win.'

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the hosts got off to a fine start thanks to Bishop and Jody Bisson.

Together they put on 68 for the first wicket before Bisson fell for a useful 35.

Bishop continued his good work until finally succumbing to Dave Piesing, having faced 79 balls and cracked four boundaries.

Aaron Scoones (17) kept the scoreboard ticking over, as did Jon Baker, who finished unbeaten on 25 as the home team ended their innings on 168 for six.

Wanderers' hopes of a maiden league victory depended much on their openers, Matt Thornton and Ross Kneller.

A solid stand was what the visitors required but when Kneller departed with the score on 13, things looked ominous for the bottom of the table outfit.

Wickets fell at regular intervals after that with Stuart Bisson, 15-year-old Robert Le Corre, Jody Bisson and Scoones all returning tidy figures.

Only Richard Vellard (24) and Pierre Moody (21) offered any meaningful resistance with the bat, although Wanderers' total of 148 all out would have looked a lot worse had they not been gifted a massive 35 runs in extras by their opponents.

Stuart Bisson added: 'Ryan and Jody got us off to a good start with the bat and Jon Baker also chipped in with an important 25.

'To bowl Wanderers out for only 148 was then a great effort and I was really impressed with young Robbie Le Corre who took two wickets with his accurate left arm medium pace.'

At the College Field, Optimists were indebted to Andy Biggins for getting them past the finishing line against Elizabeth College.

The visitors seemed to be cruising to victory after openers Mark Clapham and Tim de Putron put on 100 for the first wicket.

But the innings floundered and the champions still needed five from the final over.

The left-hander guided them home, hitting the necessary two runs off Tim Ravenscroft's last delivery.

The result was some consolation for Optimists' previous night defeat to Cobo in Barclays Evening League Division One.

Blane Queripel, who along with Renouf claimed three wickets, and Moherndl bowled superbly early on as Optis were restricted to just 101 in their 20 overs at the KGV.

In reply, captain Le Prevost saw his side home with an unbeaten 31 after Jonny Warr and TJ Ozanne had given Cobo a decent start.