Royals slip from top spot after first loss in tense finish at Turf North against Collingwood Park

Collingwood Park caused a major upset as they dislodged Royals from the top spot on the Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade ladder in a tense finish in round seven on Saturday. Park secured a 10-run win late in the clash at Turf North, moving equal on points with third-placed Manypeaks. Set 160 to win by Park, the Lions came agonisingly close to victory, with tailender Jack Hastie hitting an unbeaten 47 runs in a fighting effort, but his side lost their first game of the season. The Lions slumped 8-91 in the chase and had their backs against the wall before Hastie and Caleb Haua gave their side a fighting chance. The pair combined for an impressive 38-run stand before Haua was caught from the bowling of Ben Grey on seven. The Lions needed 30 runs off the remaining 41 balls and Hastie continued to score at will, hitting three boundaries in a determined late charge. A clever quick single from Hastie put the Lions within 11 runs of victory in the 45th over, with Josh Duffield on strike. But the comeback was not to be as Jarrad Norton charged in and trapped Duffield LBW with the fifth ball of the over to spark joyous celebrations for Park and hand them their second win of the season. Ryley Valli got the Lions off to a bright start, hitting two boundaries in the first over, but he fell cheaply to Robinson for nine runs in the third over. With Teague Valli taking his place at the crease, Robinson wasted no time and snared his second wicket in as many balls to dismiss Valli for a golden duck. Robinson could not secure the hat-trick as captain Mitch Green hit the delivery for a boundary. Green restored some order to the batting line-up with a 26-run effort but South Australia recruit Alex Garlick claimed the prized scalp in the 15th over. The Lions were still in control but Robinson bobbed up again to remove Englishman Myles Holland (1) in the 18th over. In a stunning turn of events, Garlick found himself on a hat-trick as well in the 19th over after taking the wickets of Ted Batchelor (17) and Lorcan McNamara (0) in the space of two balls — both batsmen caught behind. Matt France (15) was skittled by Norton six overs later and Angus Thompson (3) was removed shortly afterwards, leaving the Lions at 7-82 as their winning hopes quickly slipped away. Garlick was a hard bowler to contend with all afternoon. He bowled two maiden overs and had figures of 3-34 while Norton (3-23) also stood out, taking most of his wickets late in the innings to help Park secure a deserved victory. Earlier in the game Park reached 8-159 from their 50 overs after strong contributions from Jed Schwarzbach and Garlick. Park’s John Miell and Rory Luscombe were the first to go as they fell to 2-37 by the 15th over. Important knocks from the returning Schwarzbach (27 runs) and Garlick (25) helped Park gather momentum but the Lions had no trouble finding wickets late. Schwarzbach was dismissed in the 34th over, caught from the bowling of Hastie before Devon Jefferis fell three overs later as they stumbled to 6-107. O’Shea Durack stepped up to the crease at No.8 to add 17 important runs but he was skittled by Matt France. Hastie returned impressive bowling figures of 2-26 from 10 overs and he dismissed Scottish import Ollie Davidson, while Thompson (2-38) snared the important wicket of Park captain Brad Bootsma.