Monday News – Qualifying Finals – Day 1 & 2

Manly had a hard-fought weekend in this week’s Qualifying Finals clashes from in the top 4 grades, with three grads progressing through to the Semi Finals next weekend. 1s were knocked out of the premiership race after being outplayed by Syd Uni, while 2s won in a tight contest against Parra with Billy Lindsay picking up 5/48. 3s skipper Genie Little tonned up to bring 3s home against Sydney, and 4th grade have been given a lifeline as they go through to the Semis despite narrowly losing to NDs.

So 2s, 3s and 4s have booked in Semi-Final clashes for this coming Sat/Sun, with 2s playing Campbeltown/Camden at Manly, 3s away at Glen McGrath Oval against Sutherland, and 4th Grade versing Sydney Uni away.


4 Pines Brewery Player of the Week – Craig “Genie” Little
Genie produced a flawless performance with the bat on Sunday to bring his side home at Rawson Oval. After going in at 4-10, Craig made 101* in 3rd Grades winning total of 6-156, in what was a brutal display of timing and front-foot domination. Genie has had a strong season with the bat thus far, notching up over 400 runs at 40+, and he is clearly a huge asset for 3rd grade’s premiership hopes. Great work Craig!


Outstanding Performances
Tim Cruickshank – 63* (1st Grade)
Mitch Coombs – 64* (2nd Grade)
Andrew Lindsay – 5-48 (2nd Grade)
Craig Little – 101* and 2fa (3rd Grade)
Max Burgess – 76* (4th Grade)
Mickey Edwards – 4-35 (4th Grade)


1st Grade Qualifying Final vs Sydney University
1st grade had a really tough weekend out at Sydney Uni 1 in their Qualifying Final against 2nd placed USYD. Winning the toss and bowling, the Tahs were well placed early after picking up 3 quick wickets. However the day was all downhill from there, with Moran and Larkin putting on a strong partnership and batting out the day.

Things only got worse on Sunday, with Larkin bringing up his tonne, and Uni eventually declaring on 7-450 with Moran 202*. Bossie picked up 3 poles, and SOK and McLachlan grabbing 2 each.

In reply, Manly lost both openers early, but Cruickshank (63) and Beaver combined well and were both looking good. However, when Beaver was trapped in front for 48, a continuous stream of wickets fell before the game was abandoned with Manly 7-163. It was a disappointing end to a successful season for 1st grade, and unfortunately the’ve been knocked out of the finals race.

2nd Grade Qualifying Final vs Parramatta
The boys rocked to a soggy manly oval in the persistent drizzle and after a coffee run where the skipper missed out, work got underway on the super soppers. Marksy led the way, concentrating on the practice wickets which were eventually roped off anyway- great work mate. The toss was delayed until 12:30 and doochman changed his mind a couple of times before deciding to bat first. So greg marks and dooch got us underway on the greasy deck, with the drizzle continuing and after a couple of characteristic squirts from marks he was the first to return to pavilion with the score on 4. The flat joined the skipper and dooch then hit a massive bomb that went higher than it did long and eventually cleared fence below the hill containing the parra supporters. The flat looked his fluent self, working off his pads nicely and through backward point until he snicked off for 16. Dooch soon followed for 24 second slip getting all the catching practice and then Javy only lasted 3 balls until he left a straight one for 0. Pepperson hit 2 boundaries for his 8 and we were 5/49 and digits joined Coombs at the crease. Coombs put his phone away and began to find his stride, crashing balls through the off side and beginning to look set. Meanwhile digits let 5 balls go before hitting one straight to the keeper for 0, so Andrew ‘the finals man’ Lindsay replaced him. This pair resisted the tough conditions and the good bowling and were the primary reason we ended up with a competitive score. They both departed for a 24 each and it was left to the two Matts in the middle. Alexander tried to hold back his natural instinct against the spinner until he eventually succumbed and held out to cow corner who took a good catch and was out for valuable 15. Mee also batted well and tried to work off his tea with quick singles until he was bowled for 14 and Dylan was left stranded on 2, looking for an unlikely promotion. We ended up with a below par 131 but we knew with a good bowling and fielding performance anything was possible.

With 16 overs left in the day, Matty Mee and Billy opened up and Matty took the first wicket with a snick behind to Marksy and we were underway. Billy then got a double play with the batsmen playing onto his stumps and marksy then taking the catch, so he was definitely out. Matty then got the 3^rd for the afternoon sniffing the batsmen with a sharp bouncer that collected some glove on the way through to marksy. Matty then created another chance, snicking the batsmen off for a tough wide chance to scotty at second slip who mistimed his dive so Parramatta were left at 3/40 overnight.

After our oatmeal and with marksy now sporting a gash in his big toe we interrupted the bums’ Sunday sleep in (waiting for their Robin Williams tickets- what about him!) and got underway. With a standard warm up injury to marksy who collected a stray ball from digits on his wrist we took the field, the Parramatta supporters now quiet after their night out. Billy and Matty took the sort of new ball again and billy soon snicked the batsmen off to marksy, collecting his second of five catches for the innings. Billy soon followed up with a carbon copy the manly boys now becoming jubilant. So old mate Roger then stepped in to middle and after a few verbals during the week with manly boy benny martin, the boys stepped it up. Billy charged in and decked one straight back into him, Roger deciding to leave it and consequently had his poles flattened and you could almost hear benny cheer from the M2. Dooch forgot about the hat-trick so digits stepped up to short leg and almost snared it had the batsmen got anymore bat on it. The crispy flat was then brought in, and started his usual shape away looking for catches on the off side but despite a couple of LBW’s shouts for marty to decide on, the flat was fried and finished for an expensive 0/7 off his 7. Billy was proving almost unplayable on the second morning so we knew if took our chances it was only a matter of time, unfortunately no one told scotty as he put down a chance at 3^rd as javy dove across him from gully. However we didn’t have to wait long as the batsmen hit one straight to digits at mid-on 2 balls later and the captain was smiling again. Double bowling change saw Dyl from the southern end and matty A from the northern, standard Dyl striking first ball the batsmen giving javy a sitter at short leg, Parra reeling now at 8/97 and Gordy’s Ipad 2 working overtime. Matty burgled the last 2 to collect 2/10 off 3.2 and matty mee taking 2/27 off 11. However the pick of the bowlers was the inspirational Billy taking 5/48 from his 15 who taught us all to keep the ball full and let the ball and pitch do the work, raising the ball to the crowd on the walk off.

So the boys padded up again, looking to bat them out of the game and not give Parra a sniff of second innings points. The same pair opened up despite Matty Mee’s best attempts to get Dooch to reverse the order (he walked out of the sheds fully padded, bat and gloves in hand). Marksy got going with a few nurdles and squirts but Dooch was the first to go, getting bowled trying to work one to the on side. The battered flat got going again with superb strokeplay until his partner, marksy gave gully a chance on 9, Javy joining flat in the middle. This pair was forming a good partnership until a mix up resulted in flat being cooked at the strikers end for 19.  However Javy’s batting was looking simply superb at the other end smashing bad balls away and pushing singles, the bad man definitely returning to form and got all the manly boys in the stands on their feet. Pepperson, batting with him was also hitting them well smashing characteristic cover drives and a bomb over square leg and forming a good partnership with Javy. Unfortunately Scotty fell to a bit of a stinker of a LBW for 16 and Javy was unluckily run out at the bowlers end for 45 after Cooma smashed one back at the bowler who fingered it onto the stumps. Digits joined Coombs and left plenty go, leaving the coasty to punish the bowling to all parts especially crashing balls through cover and over the top, taking 16 from one over. With tea approaching and the game slipping from Parra’s hands the 3^rd string bowling attack came on and Cooma cashed in finishing with 64* off 57 and digits 7* before the game was finished at tea time at so all the hot food didn’t get wasted. We finished at 5/161 dishing out a comprehensive victory so we move through to the semi-final next week against the ghosts at Manly Oval. Go Manly!

Special mention to 12^th man Sammy Hole, who was superb for the 2 days; scoring a try in touch footy, running the drinks out for the boys at every wicket and being an all-round help around the ground.  Thanks very much mate- all the boys appreciated your efforts!


3rd Grade Qualifying Final vs Sydney
A rainy Saturday morning greeted 3rd grade as they rocked up to their newest home ground, Rawson Park, for their much-anticipated 3 vs 4 Qualifying Final clash with the Mark Atkinson led Sydney. The covers couldn’t be taken off until around 11am, and when they were some wet-patches were revealed on the pitch, along with a lot of other water around the square and on the practice wickets. This left a lot of hard work for the groundsmen and both teams, and finally at about 3 play got underway.

Sydney won the toss and batted, which was a somewhat suprising decision, reaffirmed by the fact that the ball was moving around everywhere early. Genie and Taylor opened up beautifully, and Visser and Hodge continued on nicely. Sydney faced 35 overs on Saturday and scrambled their way to 4-54 at the end of the day, with Genie picking up 2 and Viss grabbing 1 as well as a run out.

Sunday’s weather looked a lot better, and the pitch appeared considerably flatter from the first ball of the day. Reecie picked up an early wicket, but a strong Sydney partnership followed, and as they began to lift the tempo it was clear that they were eyeing off a declaration. Following an extended lunch due to more rain, the Sydney batsmen really began swinging the bat, and after Farrell picked up a stumping and Viss another wicket, the Tigers declared at 7-155, leaving us 67 overs to bat.

On a flattening deck we got off to a shocking start, sinking to 4-10 with Webber, Gummer, Don and Rockley all back in the sheds within the 5th over. However, Skipper Genie and Pughy began to form a formidable partnership at the crease, with both batsmen playing nicely on the front foot. Pughy was trapped in front for a quality 30 with the score on 75, bringing Shaggas to the crease to help support Little who was starting to hit the ball ridiculously cleanly. Squid was dispatching anything overpitched with immense power, and the Tigers had no answer to his incredible innings. Shaggas eventually went for a patient 11, and with Tubby Taylor coming in to support his skipper, the Tahs got over the line 6 down as Genie brought up a spectacular tonne, finishing on 101*.

It was a satisfying win, led by the captain, but it highlighted the need for the top 5 to show some accountability and bat for long periods of time, as finals cricket is a tiring contest. Bring on the Semis this weekend against Sutherland at Glen McGrath Oval!


4th Grade Qualifying Final vs Northern Districts
4s went down in a tight contest at Atmosphere park on the weekend. Batting first, Manly posted a respectable 169 with skipper Maxy Burgess carrying his bat for a great 71*, and he was well supported towards the end by Louis Anderson who smoked 40 odd.

On Sunday, NDs were struggling at 4-48 in reply, with Mickey Edwards (4-35) producing a scintilating spell. However, as he can only bowl 6 overs in a spell, the Rangers regrouped and eventually passed the total 7 down. The boys have been given a second chance as other results went their way, and they now face Sydney Uni this week in the semis.