ON THE ATTACK: Griffith's Adam Waide launches into this lofted off-drive in his side's Creet Cup loss to Leeton. Picture: Anthony Stipo
THE Griffith under 18s have begun their Creet Cup campaign in a losing fashion, after being pipped by Leeton by a single wicket at Exies No. 2 last Sunday.
Despite naming several young stars in-form for their respective first grade sides, Griffith nearly pulled off the win even after being bowled out well short of their allotted overs.
Batting first and the home side got off to a shaky start when Michael McWhirter (7) and Tom Shannon (0) were dismissed cheaply as Griffith fell to be 2-14.
Daniel Peruzzi and Adam Waide, who top-scored for the innings with 42, began to dig the side out of trouble but the steady flow of wickets from the Leeton bowlers stopped any potential partnerships before they started.
Waide helped his side to 68 before being set packing as the local middle and lower-order failed to fire with Leeton's Matt Foley (3-28) and Jordan Camm (3-17) excelling with the ball as they restricted Griffith to just 120.
Needing wickets early to give their side a chance of a come-from-behind win, Cameron McFadyen obliged and knocked over Brendan Emerson for a duck.
Mitchell Hutchinson's wicket saw Leeton slip to be 3-33 and the locals could see the chance of an upset developing before them, before Justin Kelly (39) wrested back control for the visitors.
But a wicket to Anmol Karuah and two run outs saw Leeton dive to be 8-80 and in a real chance of being set home with nothing to show for their efforts.
But late-innings runs from Matt Foley proved the difference for Leeton as the number 10 batsman score 23 off 33 balls with three boundaries, with Griffith seeing its chances for an unlikely victory evaporate before their eyes.
Wickets were shared around for Griffith with McFadyen the most profitable with 3-37 off nine with Alex Flood a fraction expensive in collecting 1-35 off six overs.