WBCA 2022: Forestry defeat Bridgetown in rematch of 2021 grand final as season opener

The Warren Blackwood Cricket Association started off the 2022-23 season the way it finished the last — with reigning premiers Forestry beating last year’s runner-up Bridgetown.

Forestry won the toss and elected to bat.

The opening combination of Dan Ward and Kallan Fall got Forestry off to a decent start before Brendan White (9-2-7) removed the dangerous Ward.

Fall had partners come and go before he too was dismissed for 28 by the experienced Shane Glancy (9-4-18).

A partnership between Kayne Aitken (14) and Josiah Smith (43) took the Forestry total past 100 and a few late boundaries from the tail saw Forestry bowled out for 159.

Bridgetown got off to a fiery start, with Peter Mason (20) finding the boundary on a few occasions before Ward (8.3-5-22) and Aitken (9-3-28) put a halt on the scoring and taking some wickets.

A late strong partnership between Glancy (23 not out) and youngster David King (29) created some concern for the home side before Ward eventually took the last two wickets to leave Bridgetown all out for 121.

Forestry are back at home next week facing the red hot Manjimup in the Manji showdown at Collier Street Sporting Complex (Turf), while Pemberton take on arch-rivals Northcliffe and Boyup Brook travel to Bridgetown for the annual Blackwood Marathon game.