After 6+ months of hard work & some sensational performances, Grand Final week was finally upon us, with M1s & M2s making it a historic weekend for the club as both came away with dominant GF victories. The first time in the club’s history winning M1s & M2s premierships in the same season.
Men’s 1st Grade:
At Cricket Central for the Belvidere Cup Final, Tahs skipper Foster won the toss & elected to bowl, but Easts made a fast start with D Hughes threatening, until Stobo picked up the big wicket. He struck again shortly after to see both Easts openers dismissed, but they again counter attacked as Maddinson in particular went after the Tahs bowlers heading into lunch. Easts were in a strong position at 2/122 & flying, until the skipper knocked off the danger man Maddinson with a jaffer. However, a couple more up tempo partnerships put the Tahs under pressure, Kaye dismissing the set Kennedy, but at 4/196, the momentum was still with Easts. That’s where the game was flipped on its head. Dhillon picking up the massive wicket of the in form Moran, before Stobo went struck two big blows just before a rain delay. Easts 4/196 to 7/196 in a heartbeat. After a short break, the Tahs continued on their charge, Stobo with his 5th after a superb spell, before a brief lower order revival from Easts was halted by the final two wickets to Dhillon & Foster, Easts all out 241 in just the 59th over of the day. Lightning & rain spelling a premature end to Day 1.
Batting the morning of Day 2 presented some early challenges in the chase, as the Tahs lost a couple of wickets with Easts’ opening quicks threatening in favourable conditions. But Beadle (116) & O.Davies (113) bode their time, patiently navigating the tricky new ball spell, before building into what was ultimately a match-winning partnership. The class & experience of Beadle was on full show as he locked in for one of the great Grand Final innings, facing a mammoth 270 balls in a phenomenal hundred. Meanwhile, O.Davies was at his counter attacking best, starting cautiously but pouncing on any scoring opportunities with brutal power on his way to a superb hundred. The two combining in a sensational 177 run partnership under traditional Grand Final pressure. When their partnership was ended, the Tahs had already broken the back of the chase, as J.Davies (76) settled into his work to continue the grind. He & Beadle seeing the Tahs pass Easts’ first innings total for the loss of just three wickets, before the two set about building a lead & batting Easts into the ground. They did just that, with J.Davies & Lenton (39) dropping anchor for the remainder of Day 1 as the Tahs gradually consolidated their advantage. J.Davies bringing up a gutsy half century, while Lenton knuckled down in his 300th 1st Grade appearance. The Tahs 4/356 at stumps, leading by 115.
Day 3 was brief. Very brief. The Tahs resumed 115 runs ahead, with the task simple. Bat long. J.Davies continuing his remarkable patience to join the 200 ball club, before being dismissed for a classy 76. Lenton & Stobo navigated the following few overs moving the score to 5/380, with the Tahs lead having built to 139. That’s when the most joyous of moments arrived, as Easts conceded defeat, shook hands & the Tahs were crowned Belvidere Cup Premiers just 14 overs into Day 3. Stobo awarded the Benaud Medal for Player of the Final after his 5/66 set up the game. Rapturous celebrations well into the evening as the Tahs soaked up a remarkable day. All for our great mate, Juicy.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
Our home of cricket, Manly Oval, hosted the Albert Cup Final, as Tahs skipper Trewartha won the toss & elected to bowl on a beautiful cricket wicket. The skipper began patiently alongside Croft in a 32 run opening stand amidst a challenging new ball spell in slightly overcast conditions. However, NDs bowlers built pressure & made things difficult, as the opening breakthrough led to a little flurry of wickets through the middle of the morning session. 0/32 quickly turned to 4/42, with a partnership desperately required. That’s when big game players stand up. And there’s no better example of this than Ned Hole. One could be pleased with the finals series he’d had to date after 52no & 174, but he knew the job was only just starting. Hole (100), alongside O’Sullivan (85), navigating the remainder of the morning session patiently to be 4/53 at lunch, before they gradually built into a match defining partnership in the middle session. Both beginning with great patience as NDs were up & about, before capitalising on their scoring opportunities & moving the game forward to swing the momentum. Both brought up outstanding half centuries, moving the score to 4/193 with their partnership worth 151, before rain ended Day 1 prematurely.
Day 2 saw Hole (100) & O’Sullivan resume their match-defining partnership, as the latter brought up a phenomenal Grand Final hundred in a stay that lasted 171 balls, his second consecutive hundred in what’s been a remarkable individual finals series. The partnership broken at 174 runs, before O’Sullivan (85) continued to defy NDs bowling as he went on to face a colossal 232 balls, falling just short of what would have been an incredibly well deserved hundred. A couple of quick wickets momentarily halted the Tahs’ foundation, leaving the score 7/267 & the game once again in the balance. On a good batting wicket, the Tahs knew they needed more, with Vumbaca (82) & Dunnachie (31) stepping up to the occasion with a 62 run stand that regrouped the innings & pushed the Tahs’ first innings total beyond the important 300 mark. Vumbaca compiling a crucial half century as Dunnachie provided great support. Lawson also taking important time out of the game, allowing Vumbaca to continue building the Tahs total, his innings lasting 197 balls as he produced a classy 82. The Tahs all out for 359 in the 140th over. With the ball, the Tahs began superbly as Osbourne struck twice in quick succession early, before a mini rebuild from NDs was again halted by Lawson with another two big breakthroughs in an over to break the back of NDs top order. The evening session of Day 2 saw NDs fight back strongly with a defiant partnership, progressing from 4/48 to 4/110 as the wicket flattened out & the Tahs toiled without luck. But once again, Lawson was the man for the moment, dismissing NDs skipper in the last hour of Day 2, to have them 5/133 at stumps.
Sunday morning was quite simply a demolition job, as NDs resumed 5/133 & began the day steadily after a couple of missed opportunities for the Tahs. Lawson breaking through for the Tahs’ 6th & his 4th, before the remaining wickets fell in quick time in front of a boisterous hill of chefs at Manly Oval. Osbourne striking twice in quick succession to pick up 4fa himself in an excellent spell, before the birthday boy Dunnachie closed out proceedings with the final two wickets. NDs all out 173. A momentary pause to see whether the skippers would shake hands, which they did, the Tahs crowned Albert Cup Premiers, a true redemption story after last year’s heartbreak against the same opposition. Ned Hole the Jack Moran Medallist for Player of the Final, and as M1s rolled in on the bus after their triumph, celebrations well & truly got underway for both sides as the Tahs celebrated a special history making weekend.
Onwards.
And that brings the curtains closed on what was another terrific season for the Tahs. It’s been a pleasure to write about each weekend’s trials & tribulations the last 6 months, but as always, the Tahs never back down from a fight. Thank you to the Manly Cricket community for the support this season, and to the playing group, coaching staff & volunteers for the tireless efforts day in & day out.
Rest up, reflect on the season that was, and we look forward to getting back to work in a few months time to prepare for another big season 2026/27.
Until next season, up the Tahs!
