A stellar month of cricket has rocketed Jesse Homan to the top of Cricket North's bowling charts.
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After 4-18 off 16 overs against Westbury, the 21-year-old broke all kinds of droughts with 11-113 in last round's big win over Mowbray, helping keep Riverside in the running for finals.
He backed up 6-53 in the first innings - his maiden A-grade five-for - with 5-60 in the second dig to become the first bowler to win Cricket North's player of the round since Jono Chapman in 2019.
Chapman's 12-33 against Riverside - which came almost exactly two years before Homan's haul - had been the only A-grade 10-for since South Launceston's Jack Young ran riot against Mowbray in the Eagles' premiership year of 2015-16.
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Homan, who is in his ninth season with the Blues, was happy to have secured his first five-for.
"I've got close a few times before, then I got one and then two which is pretty funny," the Launceston BMW yard assistant said.
"I think I've been bowling pretty well, I've had an injury-free year this year apart from one niggle at the start of the year which has been nice, so I think that's probably helped me a fair bit just having that consistent bowl every week.
"Most of the year I was opening the bowling but the past two games I've come on first change in a different role and it's worked a treat."
Homan has 28 wickets to his name heading into the final round of fixtures, but will not have the chance to add to his tally as Riverside sits out with the bye.
Launceston spinner James Curran and Mowbray coach James Storay (24 wickets each) appear the main threats to his crown leading into this weekend.
"I've worked hard all pre-season to try and have a good year so it's really nice," he said.
"You always want to be up there in the top - there's a lot of good bowlers in the league."
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The Blues appear set for a tense weekend as the Cricket North finals race goes down to the wire.
Homan's side occupies third spot, but a margin of 10.46 points to fourth means South Launceston can still catapult in the top three should it secure a big win over Mowbray in the final round.
"We had a really good start to the year but sort of dropped off after Christmas," said Homan, who is a former Riverside primary, high and Launceston College student.
"A good win against Mowbray has helped us a fair bit, so hopefully we can sneak into finals and with a bit of form we can go well - it's been a tight year."
R15 LADDER
Position, team, points
- 1. Launceston 79.29
- 2. Westbury 67.07
- 3. Riverside 54.01
- 4. South L'ton 43.55
- 5. Mowbray 20.90