Tahs Get Half The Job Done in the Wet Against The Bears

In a rain affected day, the TravelSim Waratahs had a successful day out across the grades against the North Sydney Bears. First grade could only squeeze out 55.2 overs due to the weather but had a good day in the field as they restricted the Bears to 7/196. Second grade ended their 96 overs at 8/292 with everyone getting amongst the runs but no one managed to raise the bat. Third grade were bowled out for 257 late in the day with several contributors amongst the runs. Fourth grade had a solid day out as they bowled the Bears out for 10/157 and managed to bat out the day to be 0/31 from 9 overs. Fifth grade had a perfect day besides the weather as they sit on 0/164 from only 49.4 overs. All the grades look in solid positions and we will have to play well again next week in order to come away with positive results.

Highlights of the weekend were a Captain Chris Green 4/43 from 17 overs in first grade, a Sam Gainsford 83 in third grade, a Jacob ‘Yak’ Graham 4/19 in fourth grade and an unbeaten 164 run opening stand by Dom Wheeler (88*) and Brynn Mendel (64*) in fifth grade.

What a man! Club favourite Sam Gainsford scored a majestic 83 in third grade and is a worthy winner of this weeks 4 Pines Player of the Week. After missing the first 2 rounds due to injury, Sam showed what an asset he is at the club and how he can take the game away from any opposition. His 83 of the best was scored all around the ground as he looked to dominate the Bears bowling attack.

He looks poised for another huge year for the Tahs as he continually leads from the front wherever he plays whether it’s with the bat, ball or in the field. Well done Mr Gainsford!

e rocked up in pretty lackluster conditions for our fixture against the Bears. We were sent into bowl, and after a strong start by the openers Mattos got the first break through nicking one through to the ever reliable A Crossy. After toiling hard, Visser finally got the wicket he’s been sweating on the last 12 months by nicking off Avendano for not many. After the umpires kept taking us on and off for a little mist in the air, we came back on for the Greeny show to just outclass the Bears batsmen with some crafty spin bowling. After having them 7-196 and the ball being a piece of soap the umpires decided to call it a day. Big day ahead next week to knock the last 3 over and have a good crack at chasing these runs.

Special mention and good luck to Greeny and Jay in there futures clash during the week.

Joey Graham

he second grade boys headed to North Sydney looking to set up their first win for the season. Cubby managed to win the toss on a pitch that would offer both to bat and ball and decided that the boys would have a bat. Weston (8) and Rawlings (31) got through the hardest patch of the innings with the ball moving around helping to set up the batters later in the innings. Both openers fell in quick succession leaving Merchant (45) and Ritchie (44) at the crease. The two put on 60 before Merchant was dismissed by a great catch on the deep square boundary. Davies (25) and Ritchie continued to move the game forward before Manly lost another two wickets in quick succession. Bariol (40) and Kaye (38) were left at the crease and continued to pile on the runs. These two put on a great partnership of over 60 before Foster finished off the Manly innings with a great knock to help the boys get to 292. A great first week for the Manly boys setting a very defendable total.

Manly 8/292

Ollie Davies

ain delayed days like this are enjoyed in different ways in different change rooms. We were lucky enough to have had professional magicians Josh Wigney and Sam Webber pull a few magic tricks which made the day enjoyable. We lost the toss and got sent in. Losing Billy early in the day made Sam Hole (40) and Sam Webber (39) work really hard and built a strong partnership early in the day, both looked really good. After losing Hole and Webber in quick succession, this brought two new batters in Gainsford and Wolter to the crease. They had to work hard and create a big partnership by playing aggressively with intent. Gainsford got out unlucky by rolling one on the stumps for a very well made 83. Virdi came in and let Wolter play his shots. Virdi lost his wicket not long after. Wolter got out for 52. Then we lost another two wickets later in the day trying to up the run rate losing Hicksy (2) and Jamieson (0). Javed (13* ) and RBP (19) played their shots and built a late partnership with some valuable runs. After losing Ryan, the magician “Wigney” came in and got run out stealing a two. We finished a long day at 257 of 72 overs. Boys are really keen to get stuck into the Bears next week.

Ash Virdi

“Pressure and Patience”. This was the motto that the 4^th grade side had for our clash against North Sydney at a drizzly and miserable Tunks Park. The usual pre-warm up touch game was undeservingly won by the top 6, only thanks to another poor all-round performance from Brad Wilson.

However, Captain Gummer backed his bowlers by winning the toss and electing to bowl on a hard, but grassy deck. Wilson started and thought he had taken a wicket with the first ball, only to be denied by the umpire. Falcs supported at the other end and created a couple of chances that unfortunately went down in the slips. Jacob ‘Yak’ Graham and Alex Bain came on shortly after and continued the pressure and patience created by the opening pair, with Bain being rewarded with a smart catch at gully from Jimmy Crombie. Sam Alexander came on and bowled superbly for an 18 over long spell, taking the second poll for the team too. Jimmy Crombie then came on himself and snared one for the Manly boys. With the score 4/80odd at tea, the boys reiterated what we said at the start of the day – pressure and patience. After tea our pressure and patience in the first half of the day paid off. Alexander and Wilson bowled beautifully in tandem and were rewarded with another wicket to Alexander and two for Wilson. But backing up from his outstanding performance last week was the Yak, cleaning up the tail with ease to finish with figures of 4/19. Sensational stuff. The Bears were bowled out for 157. With 9 overs left in the day, Gummer and Cohen negotiated a tricky period with ease, being 0/31 overnight.

A great day for the Tahs, putting us in great position for 6 points next week.

Go Manly!

Ben Falconer 

he 5th grade boys rocked up to a pretty wet & miserable Mike Pawley Oval hoping to be able to get some play in & build on the momentum from last round. After an hour or so delay, the rain eased off, the covers were pulled back & revealed another nice flat deck which skipper Shaggers duly chose to bat on after winning the toss. Wheeler & Mendel opened the batting and faced up to a leggie bowling the first over for some reason known only to the North Sydney captain. We got off to a bit of a flyer, scoring at around 5 an over for the first 10, but then they started bowling to their fields a lot better & dried us up so we went to drinks at around 0/60. After an almighty spray from their captain at drinks, who obviously has no idea about man management, the Norths bowlers kept the pressure on but kept leaking the odd boundary ball which allowed us to keep the score ticking and we went to tea with the score at 0/123.

The constant drizzle made the ball a bit soapy & we were able to keep the runs flowing after tea, until the constant whinging from the North Sydney captain about how conditions were ‘unfair’ to his team finally made the umpires call a halt with the score at 0/164 after 49 overs. Despite the rain easing off, we never got back on the field, so we will be hoping to set up a quick declaration next week & give our bowlers the chance to bag us the 6 points!

Go Manly!

Dom Wheeler