Elliot Stevenson
Clarence has risen to the top of the CTPL ladder with a seven-wicket victory over South Hobart-Sandy Bay at Kangaroo Bay Oval, with captain Justin Galeotti hitting a century on day two.
Galeotti’s 125 not out off 209 balls marked his second century since returning from Victoria during the preseason.
Although a recent returnee, Galeotti has taken up the mantle of captain of Clarence, a role in which he is excelling according to coach Shane Holland.
“Justin has come back to the club after a couple of years and has shown great leadership sliding in as our captain,” he said.
“He has really improved his batting and it's showing.
“He's proving really difficult to get out this season.
“He’s got his second hundred and a couple of not out nineties as well, so he's putting together a great year.”
South Hobart-Sandy Bay’s first innings total of 244 proved lacking as Galeotti partnered Michael Jones (83 off 178 balls) in Saturday’s successful chase.
Holland praised Jones’ reliability, which was typified in his most recent knock, his fifth half-century of the season.
“He’s mister consistent, Mike,” he said.
“He’s always great and ever reliable.
“We don't always want to have to rely on Mike, but we know he's always there to get the job done.
“Hopefully he can put a few more of those performances together as the season comes to an end.”
Holland’s debut season as head coach of Clarence has seen the men’s first grade team transformed since finishing fifth and narrowly missing out on two-day finals in 2024-25.
The Roos are currently first, having overtaken New Town following its home loss to Kingborough, a position that Holland says his side are not taking for granted.
“It's very exciting,” he said.
“We feel like we've missed a couple of opportunities with the two white-ball formats and not featuring in the grand final of those this season.
“So, we're really locked in and trying to get one of those top two spots and see how we go.
“Hopefully we're playing our best cricket at the end of March.”
Recently crowned T20 premiers University has transferred its limited overs form to red-ball cricket, defeating Glenorchy comprehensively at home on Saturday.
The target of 181 was erased quickly courtesy of a century from teenage sensation Charlie Hill (100 not out off 141 balls) and 62 off 59 balls from the experienced Jake Doran.
Hill has hit five centuries in all competitions this season, including a pair of first grade tons, the previous coming against North Hobart in October.
Now premiership captain of Uni, Ruwantha Kellapotha, showed his class with 41 off 20 balls and 3/47 off 18 overs when Glenorchy batted out the remainder of day two, ending at 8-184.
The Greater Northern Raiders have narrowly avoided an outright loss to Lindisfarne at the NTCA Ground.
Managing just 106 in the first innings, the Raiders were put to the sword by Lightning opener Prasanna Ketheeshwaran (106 off 216 balls), who batted across both days for his maiden CTPL century.
Kookaburra Cup final player of the match Ben Hann’s 6/55 off 23.3 overs was impressive albeit inconsequential to the result, as the Lightning extended their lead to 151 before being bowled out.
With much of the match remaining in order to avoid an outright decision, Raiders’ batsmen fell around the stubborn Cooper Anthes (62 not out off 181 balls), with Lachie Nichols (4/17 off 11 overs) probing throughout the day.
Anthes remained at the crease at the end of play alongside Jack Coull (1 not out off 45 balls), with Greater Northern sitting at 8-120.
Kingborough has shaken off its T20 Grand Final loss to University with a dominant win over second placed New Town at the bike track.
Jake Weatherald’s century, 131 off 129 balls, was compounded by Josh Henley (56 off 98 balls) and Tom Martyn (54 not out off 65 balls) on day one, before a disciplined bowling performance led by Sam Barker ensured the victory.
Barker took 5/53 off 19 overs, a maiden five-wicket haul for the young seamer, assisting in bowling the Bucks out for 213, 164 runs short of Kingborough’s 377.
Chrisenthus Kahatapitikankanamalage provided a measure of joy for New Town, hitting an unbeaten 85 off 186 for some lower order runs.
The win means Kingborough remains in touch with the top four, sitting just three points behind Lindisfarne in fourth.
In the women’s competition, North Hobart’s hopes for a dual-premiership season remain a reality with a seven-wicket victory over Clarence at Kangaroo Bay Oval.
Opener Tanja Lee was damaging for the Roos, making 63 off 93 balls to get Clarence off to a strong start, but a spirited fightback from Julia Cavanough (3/33 off 9 overs) and Ella Marsh (3/26 off 9 overs) slowed them down.
With 141 on the board, Demons’ star Caitlin Mair (46 off 31 balls) set off in chase, before playing-coach Cavanough (30 not out off 20 balls) and Clare Scott (40 not out off 30 balls) led the visitors home with over 30 overs remaining.
North Hobart is now on equal points with second-placed Greater Northern, which has a game in hand over the T20 premiers.
Kingborough’s unlikely charge for a premiership in its first grade return season continued with a strong win over New Town at the Twin Ovals on Sunday.
A restrictive bowling performance led by former North Hobart left-arm offspinner Shelby Leonard (3/34 off 10 overs) held the Bucks to 116.
In the box seat, Imogen Hill (30 off 43 balls) got the Knights off to a bright start, before captain-coach Emily Divin powered her side home, hitting an unbeaten 50 off 43 balls.
Kingborough is now six points clear of both Greater Northern and North Hobart at the top of the CTPL one-day ladder, an impressive feat for an you team with a distinct lack of first grade experience.