Both grades had strong wins in differing ways on the weekend.

The second grade result is subject to an official query by the opposition.

The club was informed after the match that a protest or dispute would be raised concerning the involvement of a player.

The matter will obviously be dealt with as soon as possible so both teams can know where they stand heading into the break.

The cricket on the field at Old Bar was played in good spirit on a deck that it can be assumed had some sort of venom in what was a very low scoring affair.

Great Lakes took the field first and looked in trouble early at 1/11.

The opening partnership would have been a seasonal blessing, given the following six wickets disappeared like the Christmas Advent calendar choccies.

The top order was send packing one after the other by the accuracy and guile of all of the Old Bar locals.

They did a superb job as they dismantled the Great Lakes batting list, even with in-form Liam Simpson (16) going quickly at 3/24.

Whatever their plan was, or whatever was ‘in the deck’, was helping the home side do everything they could to avenge their first round nail-biting loss by just one wicket.

The visitors were soon lamenting their toss win and choosing to bat with the scoreboard at 7/42.

The much needed fightback came in the form of an unlikely partnership by newly announced club president and valued all-rounder Dave Balaam and one of the club’s up and comers in Ashton Drinkwater

The youngster hung in with his senior guide as they battled their way to 71 before Old Bar grabbed the determined youngster’s wicket.

At eight down, it was still looking grim but Balaam found another young player of the future willing to tough it out.

Jack Howard, already a force to be reckoned with when ball in hand, has worked hard at training on his batting and it paid off as he helped his team to reach 102 in a partnership of 31 vital runs with the senior player.

Balaam was out for a grafting and immense score of 45. What a contribution on a day dominated by the ball.

Jai Smidt faced a tough situation but he held his nerve until Howard was last man out in just the 27th over with the total on 107.

The local bowling group had enjoyed a pre-Christmas feast it seemed as they all chipped in and dined out on gaining some flattering figures – something their eating habits over the holiday season may alter in a different manner.

Old Bar would have been recalling the tough chase of their low first innings score in the previous tussle at South Street and were no doubt hoping they could emulate the Lake’s win on that occasion.

That was blown away in the gustiness of the day as they lost their first wicket at one.

A procession similar but in the end, much worse, was to follow.

After being 5/24 in under 10 overs, a partnership of 11 to be 6/35 was gold.

The tail could not wag as B Strathdee went after some resistance and the final wickets found a continuing slippery slope that ended in a crushing loss at all out for 45 in 21.3 overs.

The Great Lakes bowlers, like their counterparts, all had figures to glow in pride with and it was the dessert of the day as a run feast was not to be found.

The home team know they can compete with all teams and Old Bar will no doubt come back harder after the break.

With both bowling groups having dominated so strongly, they may also evaluate whether it was a combination of the ball over poor batting or if, indeed, there was some hidden demon in the wicket that needs exorcising during the period forthcoming.

With the last 2018 game next weekend being a key to a congested points ladder, both teams will be hoping for some productive batting practice during the coming days.

Meanwhile, third grade’s clash with Wingham at Central Park was somewhat of a ‘flip side’ to both their game in the first round and what was happening with their club mates in Old Bar.

In the first round, after a number of washouts, both sides ground their way to low scores on the slow Lake St field and the home side could not chase down the visitor’s total.

An opening stand of 76, with the hard working and productive Cameron Thies out for 31, saw a good platform set by he and skipper Mick Adams.

Young gun Jack Galbraith played second fiddle to his senior partner but helped add to the total until he was out at 2/91.

The Wingham bowlers then got stuck into their work and caused a dilemma in the plan for a huge total as wickets fell at regular intervals and the Dolphins were soon teetering at 6/157 – the captain being out for an impressive 84 with a load of 15 boundaries showing he wasn’t keen on running in the hot, windy conditions.

It was a telling contribution from the elder statesman and one he will be informing his many student followers about come school day chats this week.

The home team bowling group all toiled manfully and had to as the Great Lakes had a couple more of the ‘mature’ brigade willing to cash in on the start set up. .

Nick Lumley scored 16 in a partnership of 28 as the overs were eked out and then Drew Townsend did the right thing to give strike to a dominant Brett Monks who ‘teed off’ with a powerful 47 not out – 25 coming off the last over to set a formidable 7/226 total.

Undries contributing 29 will be something for the bowling group to reassess though as those numbers are killers in many matches.

Knowing the local ground and conditions and having a fine reputation as a club that will have a dip, the locals were keen to dig in but after losing their first at 17, the team stumbled frequently as the total seemed to soar into the stratosphere and needing a rocket to reach it.

Regular walks to and fro saw Wingham floundering and appearing down and out at 8 for 62 with the bowling well on top and only needing a finishing touch.

A phenomenal 118 run partnership was the ‘Christmas pudding and cream’ as J Stace lit up the brandy celebrations a couple of weeks early with a scorching 83 made up of a blistering 10 fours and 5 sixes. Cricket can do that to you – lemons one minute and strawberries and caviar the next.

An excellent effort supported by number 10 bat J Mitchell and an invaluable 22.

S Undries aided and abetted with 25 but the innings ended at 181 off 35 overs.

Both teams will be ruing the number of sundries and it is an area that needs to be fixed to ensure it is not more costly in tight matches.

The first four of the bowling group for the Dolphins had a good day out with most contributing in some way.

Openers Galbraith and Thies did well again with 3/30 and 1/20 respectively, whilst evergreen Alan May was his usual miserly self with 1 for 28 off 8.

Monks had a ‘day on the green’ and after his vital score down the order and his last over hammerthon, he grabbed 4/14 off 8 to claim man of the match honours and a well earned pat on the back.

Given the difference between the two totals was just about his score, the Lakes can hope he maintains such form.

Both sides are playing quite well and will challenge the other sides in what is also a good battle across the grade.

With a sprinkling of youth and experience, as well as some quality veterans, they will no doubt have another beaut battle when facing off again.

Like all clubs in all competitions, the sorting of teams for next week’s last pre-Xmas match and the holiday fixtures in the new year could be a vital contributing factor in what lies ahead.

Hopefully their post-Xmas ‘figures’ will not be too blown out!