Rivals Hoping To Cash In On Red-hot Talents

Newcastle Herald

Saturday November 29, 2008

By JOSH LEESON

THE battle between in-form all-rounders Sam Webber and Joe Price could be the key to deciding who consolidates a top-four spot this weekend in Newcastle grade cricket.

Fourth-placed Hamilton-Wickham (13 points) travel to Ron Hill Oval to face a firing third-placed Toronto (15) side in week one of their two-day fixture.

Webber, 25, practically defeated Waratah-Mayfield by himself last week, scoring 60 with the bat and taking 6-42 opening the bowling.

"He [Webber] had a year over in England and he's just really maturing as a cricketer, and he batted really well [against Waratah] and then bowled really well," Hamwicks skipper Darren Herbert said.

Price, meanwhile, has been in exceptional form, highlighted by his 5-18 in Charlestown's capitulation of 49 a fortnight ago and his 3-17 against Merewether in Toronto's SCG Country Cup victory.

Toronto and Hamwicks sit within three points of competition frontrunners Merewether (16) but only have one player involved in the NSW Country Championship between them in Hamwicks fast bowler Andrew Maher.

Merewether have Simon Moore, Ben Woolmer and Troy Goodwin missing on rep duty for their match with Charlestown at Townson Oval and second-placed Stockton (15) have four missing Mark Dries, Darren Whittingham, Scott Cameron and Steve Phillips from their game with Western Suburbs at Lynn Oval.

"It's strange. We [Hamwicks and Toronto] are in the top four, but the two sides only have one player playing rep, so we're basically at full strength and it should be a really good game," Herbert said.

Toronto have played exceptional cricket in recent weeks, but Toronto captain Paul Toole said his side would have plenty of respect for Hamwicks, especially with matchwinning all-rounder Rhys Soper back at the club.

"Any side with Rhys Soper in it is going to be good and it's going to be a good test to know where we're at," Toole said.

"Soper is an outstanding cricketer, he's probably the key to the game, but they have several very good cricketers.

"Webber is an outstanding bowler and has been getting a few runs as well."

In other matches, Wallsend host Cardiff-Boolaroo at Wallsend Oval, University will be hoping to bounce back from last week's loss to Newcastle City against Belmont at Cahill Oval and cellar-dwellers Waratah-Mayfield travel to Learmonth Park to take on City.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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