It's becoming very tight at the top of the Orange District Cricket Association's third grade table with after the ladder-leaders Spring Hill faltered to record just the second loss of the season.
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The Wood Ducks continued its poor run of form over recent weeks after player unavailability hampered them in the T20 competition finals.
The ladder-leading side was rolled for just 122 from just 24 overs as Grady Tapping (3-26) and Pavel Melnichuk (3-21) did the damage with the ball.
Warriors stalwart Jamie Stedman and Matthew Elliot did most of the damage with the bat as the chase only lasted 27 overs, with Stedman hitting 33 before being dismissed.
While City did lose 4-17, Elliot (35 not out) and Melnichuk (23 not out) steered the side home with five wickets in hand.
While still 18 points clear from the Gladdy and City chasers, the Wood Ducks will still be looking to bounce back next week against Centrals Wanderers at home.
Gladstone continued its strong run of form since the break, with the side powering to a six wicket win in just 27 overs against CYMS Bourkes.
The win gave them much-needed percentage over Orange City, with the two sides locked neck-and-neck behind Spring Hill, with 51 points apiece and just one percentage point between them.
An all-round performance from Waseem Khan and a 58 with the bat from Lachlan Griffith helped Cavaliers to a 51-run win over CYMS Kellys.
Khan hit 53 runs off his own bat to put on a 98-run stand with Griffith, while some late hitting from Terry Hancock (43) helped Cavaliers to a healthy total from 38 overs, with Kevin Costa taking three wickets for the side.
Khan then came out and took 3-41 with the ball in hand, while Tammineni Lakshmikanth and Mitch Jackson both took two apiece.
Meanwhile, Centrals Wanderers has some work to do to keep pace with the top four, with the side just three points adrift of second and third following a loss against club-mates Centrals White.
It was the White's third win for the season after a magnificent innings from Ben Sandford.
Mitch Stanley top-scored with 37 while Damien Caughlan hit a quickfire 35 at the top of the order to set the Whites 185 for victory.
Sandford 95 not out to guide his side home with help from Peter Mackay with two wickets in hand, despite the best efforts of Nick Freedman with the ball in hand, as the burly quick took 3-44, combining with Zac Cullis, Gareth Faul and Sean Kelly who all took a wicket each for Wanderers.
Second grade cards were incomplete online.
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Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
