Welcome to another edition of Tah Talk with Joel Foster. This week we review W1s getting back on the winners list, Green Shield starting their campaign, and our final Tah Talk for 2025.
A big thank you once again to Scott MacNeill and the team at Gibson MacNeill Lawyers for their partnership with this season. If you have any legal needs, no matter the size, visit them at www.gibsonmacneill.com.au
W1s get on the board
It has been a tough couple of weeks for our W1s side.
A huge number of injuries and unexpected unavailability’s has resulted in a significantly inexperienced side each week.
Skipper Chelsea McLerie has been pushing her team hard, but we just have not had the experience on the park to get over the top of some good sides.
So last weekend’s victory over second placed Penrith was extra special.
Lizzie Cambridge, our usual W2s skipper, put together a patient 45, with Kaya Punter scoring 26.
With some contributions from the lower order, we scrambled ourselves to 128 off our 50 overs. Not exactly a winning total but kept us in the game.
Penrith raced to 0/45, but an Erica Sharma and Kaya Punter inspired bowling performance saw a huge collapse of 10/61, and the Panthers were all out for 106.
Manly win.
This was always going to be a development year for our W1s side. We have some great young cricketers who have made their debuts this year like Eve Burke and Willa Pearson, all of who we think will develop into long term 1st Grade cricketers.
Along with our young stars like Eliza Henry, Kaya Punter and the injured Arabella Handley, our future is bright.
Patience is the key.
Green Shield start their campaign
One of the most memorable parts of my cricketing journey has been playing Green Shield.
Ask any player who has come through NSW Premier Cricket junior ranks, and they will tell you the same thing.
It is why I always encourage our Green Shield players to take in every moment.
Most of the time, especially here at Manly, you are playing with your mates that you came through Junior Reps with.
Sprinkle in some well credentialed country players and it is usually a perfect formula.
It’s no different this year.
With the side led by Darcy Horstead and coached by Kevin Davies, it has excellent depth in the batting and bowling and should push hard for a finals spot.
We have plenty of players playing Grade side year in our outstanding 5th Grade side, with almost half of the side returning from last year.
After easily winning our first game, we went down to Parramatta in Round 2.
I have no doubt we will come back strong in the final 5 matches.
Seasons Greetings
This will be our final Tah Talk for 2025.
It has been a whirlwind first half of the season across the club, with some amazing performances.
Our Women are building slowly and primed to step it up in the second half of the year, while our Men are sitting pretty in all grades, including second in the Club Championship.
I cannot wait to see what the next 3 months brings us.
Thank you to those that tune in every week and read what is going on around the club, your support is very much appreciated.
From everyone at the Manly Warringah Waratahs, we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and an amazing new year.
See you in 2026. Go Manly.
