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With the business end of the season arriving, it was mixed results for the Tahs across the weekend. The Men commenced their final round club champs shootout with St George, unfortunately M3s washed out on Day 1. Meanwhile, W1s & W2s concluded their seasons, while Brewers hosted a ridiculous elimination final, and W3s had a pre finals bye.
Saturday fixtures
Men’s 1st Grade:
Asked to bowl first after losing the toss at Hurstville, Kaye did what Kaye does best, an early wicket to dismiss the danger man Nikitaris. St George consolidated into lunch with a steady partnership, before Evans struck just after the break for the Tahs 2nd. It was a tough slog for the Tahs attack as St George bunkered down on a traditionally flat Hurstville wicket, with opportunities few & far between but the scoreboard mostly in a stalemate. Dhillon & skipper Foster with important breakthroughs, while J.Davies picked up the big wicket of the stubborn opener for 71. St George continued to build frustrating partnerships at a slow rate, Boulton & Foster with further wickets to have the home side 7/256 at stumps after 97 overs in the dirt.
Men’s 2nd Grade:
The Tahs were sent into bat at Manly Oval, as Croft (42) & skipper Trewartha (25) made a steady start navigating a probing new ball spell in a 52 run opening stand. The tempo of the game swung immediately as M.Kapoor (34) started positively, putting on a further 57 with Croft as both propelled the Tahs into a strong position at 1/109. However, a frustrating collapse followed as St George built pressure & scoring became tougher on a low Manly Oval wicket. Mini starts from the middle order but ultimately nothing substantial, until a slight rearguard effort from Lawson & Osbourne pushed the Tahs total to 180. Plenty of time remained on Day 1, and with work to do, Osbourne was up for the fight with a superb opening spell to take 3fa, before Lawson struck twice late in the day, with the hill rallying behind him, to have the game right in the balance with St George 5/70.
Men’s 4th Grade:
Back home at Grahams, the Tahs lost the toss & were sent into bat first, an early wicket not the ideal start before Donnan (40) continued his strong form to steady the ship alongside Mendel. Another couple of wickets either side of drinks though halted that fightback, until Merchant (32) & Dinan (26) consolidated heading into the tea break, both batting with great intent to have the Tahs in decent position at tea, 3/105. Unfortunately, after tea, things went completely pear shaped as a middle & lower order collapse occurred in the blink of an eye with St George taking the ascendancy. Manly all out 139. Things didn’t fare much better with the ball, as St George’s openers took the attack to the Tahs late in the day, to be 0/59 at stumps in reply.
Men’s 5th Grade:
As was the Saturday trend, M5s lost the toss & were sent into bat first at Olds Park. After the loss of an early wicket, Martin (74) & skipper Nasser (26) consolidated well momentarily, but it was really the 3rd wicket partnership between Martin & H.Matheson (42) that set the platform for the Tahs. Martin patient in a classy innings of 74, while Matheson continued his strong form with a positive 42. The tempo shifted when Overhoff (54) arrived at the crease, taking the game on & finding the boundary with ease on a very big ground on his way to a fluent half century. Gatehouse (42) continuing the momentum with a measured innings to have the Tahs in a great position. A few late wickets fell as the Tahs looked to move the game forward, but overall a strong day, 9/275 at stumps.
Sunday fixtures
Brewer Shield:
It was elimination final time for Brewers on Sunday, hosting Sydney University at Manly Oval. Tahs skipper Addison won the toss & elected to bat first, but the Tahs were off to the worst possible start losing three wickets inside the first 4 overs to be 3/3. However, some terrific fight by Davies (30) & Pike (30) steadily rebuilt the innings after the early onslaught, as the former played the anchor role with great determination, while the latter took the attack back to the Sydney Uni bowlers, the two combining for a match-defining 58 run stand. Another collapse ensued however when that partnership was broken, important late runs from Gillett (12no) but the Tahs would have their work cut out defending 92. Not if you ask this team though. Brown with two big breakthroughs in her first over, followed by another to T.Ford, and it was 3/5, game on. Sydney Uni fought back with a threatening partnership, but when Pallister struck twice in quick succession to make it 5/36, the momentum had swung again. From there, the Tahs bowlers continued to execute superbly with not many runs to play with, a run out to dismiss the stubborn opener, two wickets in consecutive balls to Gillett, and another to Brown. It went down to the wire, but a brilliant direct hit run out by Ford secured a 20 run Tahs victory & booked a semi final spot next week.
Women’s 1st Grade:
In their final game of the regular season, Tahs skipper McLerie won the toss & elected to bat first at Barker Oval, as Learoyd & Horsfall (21) made a conservative yet positive start to the innings. But it was the free-flowing 56 run partnership between Kua (31) & Adams (60) that set a terrific platform for the Tahs at 2/11, as the latter in particular made things look easy in a run-a-ball half century on return to team. Unfortunately however, a middle & lower order collapse ensued as the Tahs struggled to capitalise on the strong foundation that had been built. Eventually bowled out for 170 in the 42nd over. Runs on the board though, and a wicket relatively early to L.Hughes was a good start, before Gordon consolidated. But a run out & another to Hughes in quick succession swung the game once more, Gordon 3/66. That’s where Gordon turned the game well & truly in their favour with a counter-attacking 90 run stand as their overseas player launched an unbeaten 71 off 39 balls. Another wicket to Hughes & two to McLerie proving just a consolation, as Gordon won by four wickets in the 41st over.
Women’s 2nd Grade:
Tahs skipper Guyot won the toss & elected to bat first at Grahams, as the skipper herself (54) & Kyme made a steady start to the innings, before the momentum shifted with the positive intent of Hughes (26) who took the game on from the get go finding the boundary regularly. Guyot continued to anchor the innings, ultimately compiling a composed half century, but the Tahs struggled slightly through the middle overs losing a few successive wickets. Wilson (23) chipped in with an important effort in partnership with the skipper, before Allen (19no) counter-attacked in a crucial cameo. Thornton & Frew closing out the innings well, Tahs posting a competitive 8/166. Unfortunately, with the ball, the Tahs were far from their best, as St George-Sutherland’s openers built a massive partnership. Sharma fought hard with a couple of wickets, but it wasn’t to be, the total passed in the 45th over for the loss of the two wickets.
Upcoming fixtures
Biggest weekend of the year thus far for the Men, as the Tahs resume on Day 2 of fixtures with St George, a shootout for club champs. There’s a few equations floating around, but put simply, the more wins, the better. M3s play 120 overs after the Day 1 washout.
Meanwhile, it’s semi final time for the Women, as W3s host North Sydney on Saturday, and Brewers travel away to take on Penrith. Both grades have been excellent all season & will be up for the fight, tussling for grand final spots.
Big week, until then, up the Tahs!
