The most successful season in Manly Warringah Junior Representative history has come to an end, with the U/15’s, U/13s and U/11s President Cup teams coming away with premiership victories on the weekend.
The Presidents Cup is essentially the 2nd grade of the Junior Representative teams, with the DCA competition the top grade and run prior to the New Year. Each age group has both a DCA and Presidents Cup team.
There were some very tense scenes at Griffiths Park and Balgowlah Oval, as well as up in the Norther Shore, as the 3 teams looked to finish of their seasons in style.
The U/15s managed to defend 178, bowling North Shore out for 172 in the last over of the match. Luke Trjbovic with 61 and Meet Patel with 39 formed to basis of the Manly boys score, although a small collapse at the end of the innings left the side feeling like they should have scored more.
In the field, North Shore made their way to needing 51 with 6 wickets in hand and 12 overs left, a seemingly easy target. However the boys rallied with Claeton O’Connell (4 for 23) leading the way, and we managed to come away with the victory.
The U/13s came away with a crushing 10 wicket premiership victory over the previously undefeated Central Coast at Balgowlah Oval. Bowling the opposition out for 65 after 41 overs, all bowlers contributed in a great team effort. Then with the bat, the Waratah opening batsmen took the Central Coast bowling apart. Brynn Mendell hit a fantastic 41* while Jack Melchiore played the anchor, although no less important, role with 21*. They reached the target in the 18th over.
Finally, the U/11’s made it a threepeat with a Grand Final victory over Sutherland. After being 7 for 52, the lower order batsmen got their higher order friends out of trouble, getting the Waratahs to a very defendable score of 124 before a combined effort with the ball saw Sutherland bundled out for 59.
What an amazing achievement. 3 premierships in the one day. It ends a fantastic junior representative season for the Waratahs with overall 6 minor Premiership’s across the DCA and Presidents Cup competition’s, 6 home grand finals, and 4 Premierships. This particular writer thinks back to the days when we struggled to get enough people trying out for certain rep teams, let alone winning competitions.
Acting Junior Reps President Ross Denny was ecstatic with the result.
“I am delighted at how our rep season has unfolded with results even stronger than the year before” said Ross.
“6 out of 12 minor premierships with 4 grand final wins was an outstanding success. A combination of great alliances with the Manly Grade club and Warringah Shires through our pathway program and excellent coaching resources have contributed to our results and bide well for Manly junior cricket well into the future.”
The Junior Association can be very proud of their efforts. Both the grade club and the Shires club can also feel very proud of the work both have put in to improve our juniors standard, which ultimately helps bring up the standard of the players coming into both clubs in future years.
Congrats again to all Junior Representative teams for the 2014/15 season, let’s try and make 2015/16 an even better one.
