RIVERSIDE continued Westbury’s run of defeats after recording a five-wicket victory in their Cricket North one-day fixture at Riverside yesterday.

The victory added further valuable points to the Blues tally and consolidated their spot on top of the NTCA first grade ladder heading into the Christmas break.

Westbury made 170 after batting first with Richard Howe continuing his good form this season in Cricket North and Aussie 15 competitions to top-score with 46 batting at No.5.

But the Shamrocks’ top order failed to fire again losing opener Dave Rodgers for 2, Sean Stevenson (19), Dane Anderson (11) and Daniel Murfet (5) to slump to 4-46.

Howe combined with Josh Adams to take the score to 75 and then added another valuable partnership of 42 with young spinner Nathan Parkin who made 25, batting at No.7.

The Shamrocks managed to bat out their overs and reach 170 but the total fell well short of what they would have wanted.

Riverside opener Tom Garwood batted very well at the top of the Blues order to top-score with 61 and set his side on the path to victory.

Garwood and UK import Oliver Law were the backbone of the innings with Law making 57 not out and putting on a partnership of 63 for the fourth wicket.

Alex Saunders contributed 18 not out in the tail to help see the Blues home to victory with Law – Riverside finishing at 5-171.

Saunders picked up figures of 2-25 off his nine overs with the ball for Riverside in the Westbury innings but Alex Kerrison was the standout finishing with 4-34, off 9.4 overs.

Parkin backed up his effort with the bat to take 3-34 with the ball for Westbury.

SOUTH LAUNCESTON grabbed some important points of its own to help it improve its position in the top four with a five-wicket victory over Launceston at the NTCA Ground.

The Lions made 122 batting first with opener Alistair Taylor continuing his purple patch with the bat by top-scoring with 35, while Tom Bennett was the next best with 20.

Launceston struggled to build partnerships with the only effective one being the 41 runs that Taylor and Bennett put on for the fourth wicket.

Graeme Donaldson picked up 3-26 with the ball for South with Jack Young taking 2-14 and Josh Freestone 2-32.

Knights opener Mackenzie Barker helped his side to the win with a good knock of 47 to top-score at the top of the order and captain Nathan Philip chipped in with a handy 36 in the middle order as South finished at 5-122 in reply.

Ben Humphrey was the only multiple wicket-taker for Launceston with 2-28.

STARS OF THE DAY

BEST WITH THE BAT

Tom Garwood (Riverside) 61

Oliver Law (Riverside) 57 not out

Mackenzie Barker (South) 47

Richard Howe (Westbury) 46

BEST WITH THE BALL

Alex Kerrison (Riverside) 4-34

Nathan Parkin (Westbury) 3-34

Graeme Donaldson (South) 3-26