ADCA 2024-25: Reigning premiers Royals see off spirited challenge from Collingwood Park led by Hayden Davies

Swing bowler Hayden Davies produced a brilliant spell to continue reigning premiers Royals’ impressive start to the 2024-25 Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade season. Hayden Davies proved the difference in the round two clash between the Lions and Collingwood Park at Turf North on Saturday, snaring six wickets as his side won for the second week in a row. A key part of the Lions premiership campaign last season with 22 wickets, Hayden Davies claimed the first scalp of the Park innings and closed things out with the final four to return outstanding figures of 6-7. The Lions finished 50-run winners after setting Park 169 to win. That total proved too much despite the Lions giving up 40 extras, including 26 wides, in their bowling innings. With English recruit Freddie Sharp still not on Australian shores, no Park batter was able to surpass 20 as the Lions went on to claim a bonus point after removing their rivals for 118 inside 35 overs. Hayden Davies bowled Leroy van den Dool after he cracked two boundaries in his 12 runs and Park keeper Kobus Wessels also couldn’t keep out a searing delivery from the right-armer soon after. O’Shea Durack (15), Jesse Spaanderman (16) and Dash Germinario (18) helped steady the chase for Park but they couldn’t muster a significant partnership that would change the game. Ryan Davies and Angus Thompson combined to run out Jaymon Spaanderman on 10 and then Hayden Davies crushed any hope of a Park upset, as he ripped through the lower order. He trapped Germinario in front after a solid 48-ball stay and then bowled Byron Spaanderman (3), Michael Martain (0) and Ginton Du Toit (2) to seal his six-wicket haul in 6.5 overs. Lions recruit Daniel Thomas bowled with lively pace in his first game of the season, picking up 2-24 as the Lions maintained their place at the top of the ladder. Earlier the Lions reached 168 all out in the final over after strong top-order contributions from Angus Thompson, Ryley Valli and Jack Hastie. Angus Thompson fell four runs short of a half century while Valli made 25 opening and Hastie, who celebrated his 200th game for the club, chipped in with 23. Durack snared five wickets, the young spinner dragging his side back into the contest with 5-23 from nine overs. Jesse Spaanderman (2-13) and van den Dool (3-24) were the other multiple wicket takers for Park.