Welcome to this week’s edition of Tah Talk with Jay Lenton. This week Jay looks at W1s and our 7 wins on the bounce, Matt Brewster’s match winning innings from Sunday, and how our W3s team are leading the way across NSW Premier Cricket this season.
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1S WOMEN LEAD THE WAY
It’s hard to believe it was only a few short years ago we weren’t even fielding a team in the first grade women’s competition.
Once we got started, we were always confident of forming a competitive unit but the rapid rise has been nothing short of remarkable.
As we head into the business end of the season, the Tahs are in with a shot of winning the minor premiership and going all-out for grand final glory.
After seven wins on the trot, Saskia Horley’s team will take pole position if it beats leaders St George-Sutherland on Sunday.
It will also ensure our spot in the finals for the first time.
The success is down to a host of people, from coaches to officials, supporters, sponsors and, of course, the players.
Head coach Dom Wheeler knows his cricket inside out and Sas is a great leader who all the girls look up to.
She has created a very positive vibe and is very much of the team-first mentality.
Everyone is chipping in and knows their role well. They just don’t rely on the same few people each week.
Pleasingly, a number of young debutants have stepped up from 2s and have not looked out of place, showcasing how the depth of our squad continues to build.
And we’ve added great experience in recruits Georgia Adams and Ebony Hoskin.
Ebs also offers some good comic relief at times.
Saskia told Tah Talk: “It’s been great to see the girls work as a team and have each other’s backs when things are good, bad or ugly. The energy around the whole club has been phenomenal with plenty of laughs and smiles while also competing in training and on game day.
“Looking forward to seeing what this team can do in the remainder of the season.”
So are we, Sas.
MATT’S A SPECIAL BREW
Matty Brewster is the sort of player every team loves to have.
Unassuming, selfless and with a great work ethic to match a terrific attitude.
“Brewy” is a very good keeper but has happily forgone the gloves to bat anywhere in our top six in first grade while putting in 100 per cent in the field.
Last Sunday he came to the crease at a very tense time in our quarter-final limited overs run chase against Mosman.
We were 4/60 in pursuit of 201 when Matt joined Joel Davies in the middle.
The Whales well and truly had their tails in the air and sensed they were on top.
When Joel departed for a well-made 53, we still needed a further 68.
Brewy didn’t panic, intelligently working the ball and picking up the occasional boundary to combine brilliantly with our late order to steer us towards the target.
He finished undefeated on 52 as we passed Mosman for the loss of seven wickets.
It was an invaluable knock which has us one win away from a grand final berth.
THIRDS GIRLS ON A HIGH
Back to the women and what a remarkable season our third-grade side is having.
They have the highest net run rate and quotient of any team in any grade, across both the men’s and women’s competitions.
Not surprisingly, they top the ladder after destroying Sydney Uni last weekend.
This team has jelled really well under the father-daughter/coach-captain combination of Simon and Sallie Molyneux, with major contributions from all players.
As mentioned above, the improvement in playing standards across the women’s program is something we are very proud of.
It not only says we are doing plenty right on the playing front but also indicates a quality coaching and support set-up.
