A STUNNING performance from Albion Park opening bowler Rob Monaghan against his former club has enabled his side to overtake Shellharbour in the race for a semi-final spot, following round 10 of the South Coast Cricket first grade competition.
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In a day of high drama, Saturday featured outright results for the Park, Warilla Kookas and premiers Lake Illawarra. Meanwhile, Oak Flats clung to their competition lead with a high-scoring first innings win over Gerringong-Jamberoo.
While the round had plenty of highlights, the lowlight was a second day forfeit by The Rail against the Warilla, after several players were unavailable.
This handed maximum points to the Kookas.
Albion Park beat Shellharbour at Tom Willoughby Oval, jumping into fourth spot.
Rob Monaghan backed up his five-wicket haul on the opening day with a stunning 8-41, snaring 13 wickets for the game.
Chasing the Scorpions' 106, the Eagles replied with 146, Shellharbour captain Ben Mitchell the star with the ball, taking 6-44.
Meanwhile, Graeme Smith top-scored for the Park with 43.
Despite 23 from Ben Brooks and 33 by Alex Brown, it was left to Ben Hunt with 50 to give the home side any hope as they finished with 125, setting the opposition 58 to win.
Mitchell did all he could to take 3-23 off 13 overs second time around, before Smith (23 not out) saw the Eagles home by five wickets.
Oak Flats opener Kieran Gray made it three successive centuries when he helped his side chase down Gerringong-Jamberoo's 271.
Gray backed up his tonne in the final of the one-day competition and another one in the Jeffrey Cup last week, hitting 15 fours and two sixes during his 136.
He shared a 133-run opening partnership with Michael Arblaster (43), while Darrin O'Connell remained unbeaten on 41 as the Rats scored the victory by five wickets.
Brian Harris, whose wife presented him with his second daughter on Friday, made it a big couple of days with 3-67, while young spinner Ruben Vermaak bagged 2-30.
The Jet-Bulls were 5-71 at stumps, Mark Castray taking 3-9.
Lake Illawarra's Scott Ulcigrai scored a neat 100 as his side cruised to an innings defeat of Kiama at Howard Fowles Oval.
The Lakers declared at 5-309 off just 52.5 overs in reply to the Cavaliers' 108. The visitors crashed to 7-14 in the second innings as Aaron Henry (4-14) and Mark Ulcigrai (3-27) ripped through their top order.
Fortunately for the Cavs, Sam Wolf (39) and Dan Reilly (38 not out) were able to add some respectability as they were dismissed for 110.