A FIVE-wicket haul from Claude Beitz has helped to give All Saints’ College early bragging rights over Saint Stanislaus’ College in this year’s Independent Sporting Association division two cricket competition.

A change in personnel has seen All Saints’ drop back from division one to division two this season and under coach Spencer Goddard, they have been performing well.

Saturday’s nine-wicket win over Stannies at Stiles Oval was their third from four games in the competition, while they also won their opening round match in the knockout Douglas Shield against Penrith Anglican College.

“We have a very tight knit group, a good bunch of mates, and I think in some of the closer games we’ve had that’s what has got us through,” Goddard said.

“We did play well against Stannies, our boys and girl all bowled very well. We didn’t field so well that game, we dropped four or five catches, but fielding is normally a strength for us.

“While we are back in second division this season, it was good to get rid of some of  our Stannies demons, especially that second game we played them last season, they absolutely flogged us.”

The match was initially scheduled for All Saints’ Watson Oval, but heavy rain in the lead up saw it moved to the school’s synthetic Stiles Oval wicket. Given a junior game was played there earlier in the day, the ISA match was reduced to 36-overs aside.

Stannies won the toss and batted first, but with their rivals bowling good line and length, they struggled to get the scoreboard ticking over.

Opener Lachlan Coyte, Sam Condon and number 10 William Weldon equal top scored with 16, the tail-ender unbeaten, as Stannies managed 9-91 off their overs.

Beitz was the star of the hosts’ bowling line up as the quick took 5-25 off his eight overs and of those runs he conceded, 10 were wides rather than coming off the bat of a Stannies rival.

“He’s been performing very well. Up until this game he had been a bit unlucky, he was beating the bat and not getting the edges, but he persevered,” Goddard said.

“Playing on a synthetic where there are no demons in the wicket, chasing 91, I was confidence we could get there. It was under three runs an over we had to chase, it was just a matter of the boys putting their heads down.”

The All Saints’ coach decided to promote Thomas Geyer, who had hit an unbeaten 55 against the undefeated Central Coast Grammar outfit the previous round, from number five to opener.

It proved a masterstroke as Geyer cracked seven boundaries on his way to another unbeaten 55. Along with support from fellow opener Josh Wilcox (17) then David Cant (19 not out), he helped his side to victory in the 24th over for the loss of one wicket.

Geyer, who has only been dismissed once this season, is now topping the division two batting averages with 131.

“I thought that coming in at number five in a 36-over game, he might only get four or five overs and that’s not what you want from a batsman in form,” Goddard said.

“He was a bit nervous about opening to begin with, but now he’s done it I think he will have the confidence to bat there. He has the temperament and the technique, so hopefully he grabs the bull by the horns and goes for it.”

All Saints’ next challenge will be a round two Douglas Shield match against Blue Mountains Grammar tomorrow before backing up on Saturday against the undefeated division two leaders St Pius X.