So far after 4 Round this season the U/11 Creak Shield, U/12 Cawsey Shield, U/15 Weblin Shield and U/16 Watson Shield teams are all undefeated so far in 2014/15. That is 4 out of 6 teams undefeated, an amazing effort.
Our U/13 Gee Shield side has only lost one game out of 4, while our U14 Moore Shield side has come away with 3 unlucky losses and one dominant victory.
With 1 round to play, all of our undefeated teams are assured of making the Quarter Finals, while our U/13 side is well in contention.
This particular author’s recollection of Junior Reps over the last 15-20 years has always been one of poor performances. Alot of our Rep sides were whoever turned up to the trails, quite often less than the 11 required to make up a side. However a couple of years ago it was decided that enough was enough, and to give our junior cricketers the opportunity to be the best they can be, more funding, effort and prestige was entered into our junior rep program, driven by people like Danny Lemoy and Ross Trewartha.
It’s also no co-incidence that our Pathway program started at about this stage also. David Gainsford and Greg Boyer have been instrumental in not only getting the standard of our rep cricket up to the level they should be, but also in communicating the pathway for any junior cricketer on the Northern Beaches from where they currently are to playing 1st grade for Manly and beyond.
So it has been a fantastic combined effort by many people to get where we are today.
There have been some great individual and team performances so far this year:
- Joel Davies (pictured above) and his fantastic 112* in the U/11’s in Round 2. Joel has scored 214 runs in 4 innings.
- Oliver Davies (brother of Joel) and his brilliant 136* in Round 4 of the U/14. Oliver has hit 218 runs this year also after 4 digs
- Nick Osborne hitting 102* in the U/15s in Round 3
- Jack Pickering and his consistent for in the U/16s, averaging 49 across 4 matches
- Jonah Anderson took a breathtaking 6 for 24 in the U/15s with his tweakers in Round 4 against Parramatta. The kid can bowl.
- Toby Cousemacker taking 5 for 9 in the U/11s in Round 1 vs Hawkesbury
But it hasn’t just been brilliant individual performances. Our teams are knowing how to win in tight games. Our U/12 Cawsey Shield side has come back from the deasd twice, once with a runout while the opposition was going for the winning run, and another through a last wicket stand of 39 to win the match.
The U/15s have continued their 2 year undefeated stretch with some mouthwatering performances from Green Shield players and current 5th graders Isaiah Vumbaca and Aiden Bariol. The U/12 Cawsey Shield side are also undefeated over the last 2 seasons.
So there is just one round to go this Sunday. If the boys continue with their performances and effort, we have no doubt that more premierships will be on their way.
To view more information visit the Manly Warringah Junior Cricket Association Website at http://manlyjuniorcricket.nsw.cricket.com.au/
Go Manly.
