Cudgen and Marist Brothers lead the way in cricket competition

CUDGEN and Marist Brothers have been the top performing teams during the first half of the Far North Coast LJ Hooker League cricket competition.

The pair played in the two-day final last season with Brothers taking the win and breaking an 27-year premiership drought.

Cudgen are looking to take the title back to Tweed having won six premierships in the two-day competition since 2012-13.

They have played in the final every season since 2014-15 with multiple one-day and Twenty20 titles as well.

Matches are being played as one-dayers and in the two-day format this season with 10 teams in the competition.

Far North Coast LJ Hooker League president Phil Melville said the competition is in a healthy place across the region.

“We’re very happy with how the season has started,” Melville said.

“Once again, there are some talented players right across the competition

“Most clubs are in a good position; we probably just need a bit of luck with the weather moving forward.

“Reg Dalton is a really good facility at Tweed and we’ve had finals at Oakes Oval over the past few seasons.”

Cudgen is the only unbeaten team in the competition while the top eight teams are all in the mix for semi-finals at this stage.

Tweed Banora Colts has a strong side while a young Casino team is a chance at making finals for a second straight year.

Goonellabah Workers Sport won its first premiership as a joint venture club two years ago and will be aiming for a top four finish.

Teenage wicket-keeper batsmen Joe Parsons is leading the way for Marist Brothers as the highest run-scorer in the competition.

Cudgen captain Alec Williams is just behind him while Hornets all-rounder Pat Rosser and new recruit John Ainsworth are taking plenty of wickets.

Elsewhere, Brothers duo Harry Donelan and Brendan Mitchell have taken more than 30 wickets between them.

Tintenbar-East Ballina quick Steve Leahy, teammate Will Elphick and Goonellabah’s Ryan Kernaghan are among the hightest wicket takers this season.

There was another game scheduled for December 21 before the competition resumes with a round of one-dayers on January 4.

The is scheduled to be played over two days on March 22-23.