Ringo McKenna bowls his way into record books as Towns clean up Bluff Point in Geraldton men’s cricket

Towns’ Ringo McKenna is in the Geraldton Bendigo Bank Cricket League record books after he took 8-12 against Bluff Point on Saturday.

It was a remarkable event at the Recreation Ground for the 20-year-old made more special as his friend and workmate Jai Russell picked up 5-3 in Friday’s Young Motors T20.

“Honestly, it was a lot to do with luck and it didn’t feel any different to many other times I’ve bowled, things just went my way,” McKenna said.

“The pitch was helpful, there were a few poor decisions by the batters and again, luck — I don’t think I’ll ever have another day like it again.

“Hopefully (I’ll) keep going from here and I’m aiming to go to country week which is a far bigger test.”

Only two bowlers have taken all 10 wickets in the league’s 59 years. Brenden Carson (10-21) for Chapman Valley against Northampton (1992-93) and Dean Forster (10-46) for Bluff Point versus Nabawa (1970-71).

Matt Guyton (9-51) was close for Northampton against Sportsmans (1994-95) while Merv Fitzgerald also took 8-12 for Nabawa versus Bluff Point (1967-68).

McKenna’s haul was however the best since bowlers were limited to 12 overs in 1995-96 (10 from 2010-11) and the best, restrictions or not, for Towns beating the 8-22 taken by Ian Criddle (1969-70).

McKenna’s feat meant a one-sided game. The Pointers batted first and made only 38 with McKenna taking wickets in each of his first four overs, two in his fifth and one apiece in his sixth and eighth overs.

Towns were 2-1 in the reply, so 12 wickets fell for 40 before Nathan Podmore (68), Callum Marquis (17), Russell (19) and Brady Collins (72) took Towns to 7-207. Matt Russell (2-21) and Mitch McAuliffe (2-33) had some joy.

At Wonthella, Chapman Valley-Northampton rallied from 5-31 to post 132 with Stuart Gaby (60) and Hayden Dawson (19) adding 80 for the sixth wicket. Brad Roworth (4-23) and Jarrod Jupp (2-19) bowled well.

Sportsmans made light of what could have been a thorny chase with captain Riley Barham (61 not out) batting through the innings.

He put on 51 for the first wicket with Dan Zinetti and there was more from Clint Yeates (54) and Kip Allen (17) as Sporties made 3-184.

A Jai Russell hat-trick in his 5-3 bag capped off Towns’ win over the Pointers in the T20 at Wonthella. Towns made only 94 but Bluff Point was replied with only 73.

Russell (20) and Kodi Giltrow (29) top-scored for Towns with Mitch McAuliffe (4-24), supervet Ashley Taylor (2-10) and Jayden Pinto (2-10) sharing the spoils.

The Pointers made a mess of the chase and after 10 overs needed 5.6 runs an over.

Then Giltrow (2-12) and Sam Crouch (2-13) struck before Russell took his wickets in 11 balls finishing with his hat-trick in which he had Aaron Joss and Morgan McAuliffe leg before and bowled Matt Reid.