Welcome to another edition of the Weekend Wrap, proudly brought to you by our friends at New Balance | Belgravia Apparel. Visit them at www.belgraviaapparel.com for all your community club and business apparel needs.
Biggest weekend of cricket thus far for 2025/26 as the Women kicked off their seasons & the Men continued with white-ball cricket.
Saturday fixtures
Men’s 1st Grade:
North Sydney won the toss & batted, starting positively with a few strong top order partnerships. A tidy 10 over spell from Dhillon the key to keeping the run rate in check. The Tahs fighting back strongly in the latter overs, wickets to Toohey, Boulton & Joseph restricting UTS to 8/268. Brewster began with a flourish punishing a 33 ball 46, as Beadle (96) settled in with his usual class. The latter then combining with Lenton (53) in a 124 run partnership as both brought up match-defining half centuries. Work still to be done, Beadle leading the way with a composed 96, an important contribution from skipper Foster (28), before Joseph (20*) & Trewartha (12*) calmly steered the Tahs to a 5 wicket win with an over to spare.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
Bon Andrews presented another flat wicket as the Tahs won the toss & batted. Croft (36) making a bright start before a couple of wickets halted momentum. But that was just the catalyst for the Hole & Kapoor onslaught. Younger brother Ned (136) & older brother Reuben (90*) combining for a record 2nd Grade 3rd wicket partnership worth 215, as both batted superbly. The former bringing up his maiden hundred for Manly in a brutal display, while the latter anchored the innings with great composure. Kapoor Jnr chipping in with a quickfire 24, before skipper Vumbaca (31* off 11) took four sixes from the final over to propel the Tahs to a massive 5/345. North Sydney not giving up the fight easily with a 158 run opening partnership in reply, making it game on. But younger Kapoor turned the game with 4fa, as the Tahs regained ascendancy with Lawson also picking up a valuable 3fa in his second spell. Wickets also to Wigney before Vumbaca took the 9th & 10th to see the Tahs to a 47 run victory.
Men’s 3rd Grade:
The Tahs fielded first after losing the toss, Walker on song early with 2fa before North Sydney’s middle order steadied. A couple of frustrating little partnerships but the Tahs stuck to the task, Dinan breaking the partnership before spinners Cumming & Searle worked well in tandem, the former with 2fa. North Sydney got away a little in the latter overs, but wickets to Pryke & Bishop-Perrett late helped restrict them to all out 209 on the final ball. Hopes of a strong run chase were high on a good wicket, but unfortunately the Tahs top & middle order couldn’t build any real momentum, despite a few little starts. At 9/128, the task looked insurmountable but our great Pom Searley (70*) flicked a switch & almost pulled off a miracle. Some brutal hitting & clever farming of the strike on his way to 70no, but unfortunately, a run out saw the Tahs ultimately fall 33 runs short.
Men’s 4th Grade:
Sent into bat first at Tunks, recent returnee Akhurst (54) took the game on early with some powerful ball striking. He & Mendel (83) building a strong foundation for the Tahs innings. But it was the partnership between Mendel & Martin (36) that really gave the Tahs the momentum, as both batted positively to tick the score over at a good rate. Mendel anchoring the innings with a classy 83, before contributions from Dunlop & Parkinson lifted the Tahs to a strong total of 260. With the ball, Skinner struck early as Seward settled in for an economical spell of 10 overs straight that also brought a late wicket. Norths showing little intent in the run chase as the Tahs bowlers remained patient, Kerr charging in with his usual energy to pick up 3fa, while skipper Parkinson set his leg spin trap to take 4fa late in the innings, North Sydney eventually bowled out for 175 in the 45th over as the Tahs secured a strong win.
Men’s 5th Grade:
First game at Fortress Mike Pawley Oval for the season as skipper Waddington won the toss & bowled. It was the Zac Buchanan show early as he charged in and delivered a brilliant opening spell to pick up 3fa, before later returning to the attack to collect his 4th & 5th in a great display of fast bowling. Jenkins again an important contributor through the middle overs with 3fa, while the leg spin of Harvey Matheson also chipped in with 2fa. A great all-round bowling effort from the Tahs restricting Norths to 137. Gatehouse & Donnan (26) kick started the run chase with a flurry of boundaries, before Nasser (35 off 27) continued the momentum as he found the boundary regularly with ease. Horstead (34*) compiling another unbeaten innings showing great smarts, as he & Matheson (13*) saw the Tahs to a bonus point 7 wicket win in the 21st over.
Women’s 3rd Grade:
Away to Parramatta to kick off their season, W3s skipper James won the toss & bowled. Parramatta’s top order providing tough to dislodge as they capitalised on some missed chances from the Tahs, compiling a few frustrating partnerships to commence the innings. However, the Tahs’ bowlers stuck to the fight, Gillett with the opening breakthrough, before wickets fell steadily throughout the remainder of the innings, shared between the bowlers. Searles with two, and one each to Randall, Wright, James, Pike & Burke, as Parramatta reach 155 at loss of the final wicket. What looked to be a decent chase proved to be relatively comfortable as the Tahs top order provided a brilliant foundation for the run chase. Skipper James (34) & Burke (50*) off to an excellent start with a 65 run partnership, before Hough (39*) carried on the momentum in a strong innings. Contributions from the middle order pushing the Tahs over the line, winning by 7 wickets with 7 overs to spare in a superb run chase.
Sunday fixtures
Men’s 1st Grade T20 Elimination Final:
Out at Sydney University, the Tahs fielded first after losing the toss. A brilliant start as Joseph struck in the first over, before Osbourne & Davies picked up key wickets not too long after. But Easts fought back strongly first with a decent partnership that was broken by Dhillon, before they really took the game on through the middle to latter overs with a powerful partnership. Their No.3 providing the foundation for their innings with a classy 95no as Easts posted a very competitive 5/193. A daunting chase in a final, but the Tahs proved they were more than up to the task. Brewster (47 off 20) & Foster (21) off to an absolute flyer putting on 65 inside the first 5 overs in a brutal partnership. Two quick wickets halting momentum momentarily, but Lenton (56* off 33) & Davies (60* off 33) quickly took back the ascendancy with a match-winning partnership. The two building into their innings before taking advantage of the power surge as both brought up entertaining fifties to lead the Tahs to phenomenal 8 wicket win inside 18 overs.
Men’s 1st Grade T20 Qualifying Final:
Later that afternoon, the Tahs were sent into bat first against Sydney University. A couple of early wickets not the brightest start, but skipper Foster (45 off 28) & Davies (38 off 29) consolidated with an excellent partnership in quick time. Both taking the attack to the Uni bowlers in a 72 run stand. However a few more quick wickets halted momentum and left work to be done to build a competitive total. Joseph (23) & Beadle (30 off 16) with an important partnership steadying the ship, before Trewartha & Dhillon found the boundary a couple of times late to propel the Tahs to 7/168. Needing to bowl well to defend, the Tahs did just that & more. Taking wickets regularly & building consistent pressure to control the game superbly. 2fa each to Toohey, Osbourne, Dhillon & Davies, and one apiece to Joseph & Foster, as the Tahs bowled Sydney Uni out for 121 in the 18th over, booking a spot in next week’s T20 semi final.
Brewer Shield:
The first of Sunday’s Manly Oval T20 triple-header fixtures saw Brewers skipper Addison win the toss & bat first. Tahs top order was under some pressure early with a couple of quick wickets, but Terrey (61 off 42) stepped up to the task with a sensational innings. Composure to steady the ship initially before taking the game on & finding the boundary regularly, including 3 sixes in an excellent half century. Important contributions from the middle order helping the Tahs to a competitive 8/111. With the ball, the Tahs started superbly as Ford struck early before Bookless took two wickets in quick succession to have Northern District on the back foot at 3/14. From there though, the game petered out as NDs middle order consolidated with a steady partnership, without ever really threatening the run chase. Economical spells from the Tahs bowlers, but a few missed opportunities, as NDs ended their 20 overs 3/90, resulting in a 21 run win for the Tahs.
Women’s 1st Grade:
Just after midday W1s took to the park with the Tahs fielding first after losing the toss. NDs openers providing a real challenge as they batted with great intent & gave few opportunities in a 106 run opening partnership. However, the Tahs bowlers stuck at it, Henry breaking the partnership before overseas recruit Carter also picked up a valuable wicket. NDs eventually posting a strong total of 2/128. Not the ideal start to the run chase with an early wicket, before Henry (18) & Cambridge (15) steadied things briefly, but the task looked to be getting more difficult as the required run rate climbed. But Carter (50 off 39) was up for the challenge with an excellent half century on Manly debut to give the Tahs a real chance. The middle & lower order fighting for every last run but ultimately the Tahs fell just 4 runs short in a close finish.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
The final game of the weekend proved to be the most nail-biting, Tahs skipper Cambridge winning the toss & batting first. The skipper (17) & Guyot (45 off 37) taking the game on early in an excellent 67 run opening partnership. The latter proving the anchor of the Tahs innings with a crucial 45. As the ball got older, batting became more difficult on a very used wicket, as the Tahs scraped to 9/119. The Tahs started well with the ball as Terrey struck twice in a brilliant 4 over spell of 2/9, both courtesy of great work behind the stumps by Hughes. But NDs stayed in the fight with a considerable partnership taking the game down to the wire. Wickets late to Cambridge & Frew, as the game went to the last over. Two brilliant run outs on the final two balls forcing the game to a super over! NDs first to bat in the super over, 3 & 4 off the first two balls, before Terrey held her nerve with two wickets, to go with a run out, as NDs set the Tahs 12 to win. Guyot with 2 & 3, a wicket falling, then 2 to Cambridge, & 2 byes, leaving 2 to tie & 3 to win from the final ball. Skipper Cambridge stepping up to the moment coming back for 3 after the ball stopped just short of the boundary, seeing the Tahs victorious in crazy scenes as light faded.
Upcoming fixtures:
Two-day cricket commences for the Men this weekend as the Tahs take on Sydney University on Day 1, with M2s & M4s hosting. M1s also have a crunch T20 semi final on Sunday afternoon against Randwick.
Meanwhile, W3s are away to St George-Sutherland on Saturday in a one-dayer, as are Brewers & W2s in T20. Finally, W1s travel to Drummoyne to take on Sydney in a T20.
Until next time, up the Tahs!
