Season’s First Silverware and Top Grades in the Big Dance – Weekend Wrap 27/28 March 2021

Day 1:

The boys ventured out to the fortress Sydney University Oval with the hopes to repeat the result from our last round win vs the students. We were thrilled to see that two years’ worth of rain dried up enough to allow for a full game of cricket over the weekend.

Jay won the toss on what looked to be the flattest of flat wickets and elected to bat. With Benny Bryant unfortunately breaking a digit in the last round, cult hero Elliot Herd was left to fill Benny’s sized 9 shoes and take on the new ball attack of Joy and Kerr. From ball 2, all things looked positive for the Tah’s as Herdy and Joel ‘Fozz’ Foster started beautifully putting on 83 for the first wicket. After Herdy’s dismissal the students continued to mount the pressure bowling tightly up until the lunch break, rewarded with the big scalps of Edwards and Davies right on the stroke of lunch leaving us at 3-120.

After lunch Jay and Joel continued to rebuild our innings with some positive stroke play. Fozz brought up his 50 and continued to pile on the runs throughout the middle session, a treat for anyone who was in attendance. Unfortunately, Jay was trapped in front on 30 and Fozz fell shortly after for a crucial 109 leaving the wall Ryan Farrell and Cameron Merchant to continue to push us towards a defendable total. The pair put on another 40 runs for the 6^th wicket before Fazz was harshly dismissed. Handy chip ins from the lower order with Ryan Hadley the pick of the bunch, whacking the ball all around the park taking us from 269 to what ended up a winning total in 319.

An aggressive move saw an opportunity for the boys to jag one or two before stumps as we had 11 overs to try make some inroads. As he has done all season, Ryan Hadley delivered trapping the dangerous Nick Larkin in front for 7.

Day 2:

With the students 1-33 overnight, we knew Sunday was going to be a grind. Despite some tidy bowling early doors, the students pushed through the first half hour unscathed before the PNG pro Andrew Hicks turned the morning on its head dismissing Mortimer and the uni skipper in the same over. SOK came into the attack and continued to pile on the pressure. It wasn’t long until the discipline and skill of SOK was too much for the Uni opener who fell shortly before lunch. Post lunch was much of the same from the Manly boys as the bowling attack remained patient and were rewarded handsomely. Ryan Hadley came back into the attack and ran through Uni’s later order all but sealing the win for us. Herdy picked up the final pole thanks to a very sharp catch from Hicksy at mid-on who capped off the perfect debut. A very dominant performance from the boys, looking forward to an even bigger challenge in Sydney this weekend.

Tom Kaye

Manly’s Second Grade turned up to a picturesque Manly Oval against a strong ND’s outfit.

Corn fritters and bacon and eggs seemed to fuel the lads early as we were sent into bat on an unfamiliar flat wicket.

Matt Brewster and Ned Hole opened the batting and with patience and class opened the first session without losing a wicket, a massive mark on the game. Ned soon fell shortly after a well made 30 as Brewster continued his patient but smartly crafted 83. He faced 174 balls which not even Matt himself deemed possible.

After losing Matt and Davies through the middle Ahillen Beadle and Sam Gainsford batted with great fortitude not giving NDS a sniff at our middle order. At the end of the day we were 5 wickets down for 210 which was a great result.

The next day AB and Isaiah continued the resistance of the NDS heavily acquired spin attack with great success. AB showed his class, facing almost 200 rocks in a great display of patience and power. However after a few quick wickets and the big wicket of AB (81) we were left in a strong but ominous position at 9/277 with 75 overs left in the day. Number 10 Jordan Daly and number 11 Josh Wigney put on an unbeaten 92 partnership which was incredible to watch. Their assault lasted almost 40 overs before the ND’s captain gave into their defence. Daly 83* and Wigney 16* both very chuffed on their efforts as they enjoyed a rare beer at the end of the game.

You beauty, we are off to the big dance.

The Women’s 2nd grade team arrived at Grahams Reserve Sunday morning to face Sydney in the long-awaited grand final.

Manly lost the toss and was shockingly sent into bat on the beautifully prepared M1 wicket.

In to open the batting for Manly was Charley and Zara. Off to a slow yet stable start, Manly, unfortunately, lost the wicket of Zara early, to bring in the captain of the side, Mikaela. Charley and Mikaela did what they do best, building a strong partnership, ticking the scoreboard over. After a great effort, Manly lost the wicket of Mikaela (40). This brought Niamh to the crease, who continued the job, picking up the run rate for the team. With 10 overs left and wickets in the shed, the Manly girls changed the tempo. With the wickets of Niamh (18) and Charley (43), this brought two new batters to the crease, Kristie and Annie, with the goal to make runs quick. And that they did. The Manly girls finished the innings 8-174, with great efforts from Kate Natalie and Mia.

Annie and Mia opened the bowling for Manly. Mia (2/21) snagged the first early wicket, putting the girls in a high. Annie (2/15) took another quick wicket, putting the girls in a strong position. The wicket. continued to fall, with the contributions from Natalie (1/14), Mikaela (1/19), Zara (2/15) and Kristie (1/8), as well as a runout by Kate. The Manly girls finally took home the premiership with Mia taking the last wicket. What an unbelievable feeling and congratulations to all of the girls!

Well done to all the girls this season, couldn’t be more proud!

Yours Sincerely,

Natalie Jonkers