PORT Panthers Pirates' Hastings River District Cricket Association title defence is in tatters following a crucial loss to second-placed Wauchope RSL at Andrews Park, Wauchope, on Saturday.
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The 2005-06 champions must now win their remaining two matches, and rely on other results to go their way, in order to reach the play-offs.
After round eight, the Pirates sit on the bottom of The Westport Club's first grade ladder with 33.6 points – 7.8 behind Macquarie Hotel who occupies fourth spot.
Chasing Wauchope RSL's 8-224, the Pirates started strongly with openers Dave McMahon and Brendan Maguire combining for a 56-run stand.
However, Maguire's dismissal for 27 (which included one boundary and two sixes) saw Dean Cecil (1) and Luke Stevens (0) follow in quick succession.
McMahon (44), Jeremy Unicomb (19) and Rob McColl (24 not out) attempted to salvage the innings but wickets continued to fall at a steady pace.
When Bill Newell bowled last man Graham Wilson (0) in the 55th over, the Pirates' charge stalled on 139 – a deficit of 85 runs.
Newell, the Wauchope RSL skipper, led brilliantly from the front.
He picked up Stevens, Dave Firkin (0), McMahon, Jason Herdegen (6), Michael Sibthorpe (6) and Wilson to finish with 6-36, taking his season tally to 29 scalps.
Jason Blythe (2-5) and Brian Fowler (2-37) also toiled well.
Sent back into bat, the Pirates made it to 4-45 at stumps.
Macquarie Hotel v Port City Leagues
TWO stand-out performances, on opposing teams, was a highlight during Macquarie Hotel's impressive victory over Port City Leagues at Oxley Oval.
Port City bowler Ben Lawrie stunned the Macquarie Hotel line-up to have the side reeling at 5-41, before middle-order batsman Michael Ondrovcik turned the tables around with a brilliant individual knock.
Macquarie Hotel resumed at 0-1 in reply to Port City's 208, but Lawrie removed Mal Chessells (5), Shayne Redden (4), Simon Knudsen (8), Geoff Chessells (17) and newcomer Jacob Hart (4) with just 41 runs on the board.
Warren Preston and Ondrovcik then put on 105 for the sixth wicket.
Preston, another Lawrie victim, contributed 27 while Ondrovcik produced a match-winning 70.
Following that partnership, it was left to Phil Arnell and Jeremy Kirk to steer the side past the target.
Arnell remained 21 not out and Kirk unbeaten on 38 as Macquarie amassed 7-213.
Lawrie collected 6-54 off 18 overs and Craig McElroy claimed 1-62.
Camden Haven v St Andrews
ST ANDREWS continued its giant-killing run by accounting for competition pacesetters Camden Haven at Laurieton Oval, Laurieton.
Despite dropping first innings points on the opening day, the Saints struck back to secure an outright result on the weekend.
With the game evenly-poised, following scores of 93 and 97, the Saints declared their second dig closed at 9-146.
Shaun Buckley (31 not out), Josh Hyde (27), Josh Mann (24), James O'Reilly (16 not out), John Bain (14) and Jonathon Toombs (12) all got among the runs.
Todd Dalton snared 4-44, and Jon Berry and Sam Kerr returned 2-60 and 2-16 respectively.
Needing 143 to triumph, the Havens turned in their worst batting performance to date.
Within the space of a few overs, the home side slumped to 3-12.
Unfortunately, the Havens never recovered from that position and were bundled out for 60.
Only James King (16), Peter Morris (13) and Ray Grunsell (12) troubled the scorers.
Jonathon Cook was the star with the ball, taking 5-22 off nine overs.
