ALL SET FOR A GRAND OCCASION
You naturally set out to win premierships when a new season rolls around.
But given cricket’s many vagaries – weather, player absences through injury and rep duty, form losses, dodgy wickets et al – they are hard to win.
So, to have four grades in with a chance to win grand finals this weekend is something truly remarkable and a testament to the club’s overall strength.
The depth is so great several players of good quality will miss selection due to the abundance of talent available.
First grade heads out to Cricket Central to meet St George over three days, starting Saturday.
The Dragons boast state reps Blake Nikitaras, Blake Macdonald and Kurtis Patterson in their line-up.
Our side also features some big names, including in-form Blues duo Ollie Davies and Jack Edwards.
It should be a cracking contest.
Our third grade team crossed a couple of bridges to take on minor premier Sydney Uni at Uni Oval.
Fours are in action at Manly Oval against Northern District while 5s host Parramatta at Graham Reserve
Good luck to all players.
Let’s hope it’s an Easter to remember.
ROY’S THE MAN
There aren’t too many bigger shoes to fill than those worn by Phil Marks.
Skid is a legend of not only the Manly club but the entire NSW cricketing scene.
So, when he announced a couple of years ago that he would be stepping down as the Tahs’ head coach to move up to Queensland, it left a large hole.
Roy Vumbaca didn’t take the traditional player-into-coach path that most take, having spent many years in rugby league coaching and as an educator at St Paul’s College.
But he’s always had a heavy interest in cricket which only grew stronger when sons Izzy and Noah joined the Manly system.
Roy learned a lot from working under Phil and was the obvious choice as our new head coach when Skid hung up the coaching clipboard.
It was no doubt a daunting prospect at the time but one Roy took on with his boundless enthusiasm and hard work ethic.
Roy is a meticulous preparer and knows the right time to give a rev up and the right time to have a quiet word – or say nothing at all.
During him time in charge, we have reached eight grand finals across the grades for ???? premierships.
This weekend we are in position to create history by taking home four titles.
I doubt we’d be in this position without Roy’s dedication to the task and whole-of-club approach, aided and abetted by an excellent coaching staff.
He doesn’t drink these days but I reckon he might break the drought and crack a cold one if all goes to plan over Easter.
Thanks for everything, Roy.
FAREWELL FOR NOW
This is the last Tah Talk for season 2023/24.
Thanks to everyone who took the time out to have a read and pass on their thoughts.
And thanks to our terrific media team for dressing it up each week before sending it out on our various channels.
Enjoy the off-season and we’ll see you next summer.
