History-making weekend for the Tahs across Saturday and Sunday, as the Women secured their first ever Club Championship crown amongst 9 wins from 9 starts. With a flurry of terrific individual efforts, the Men went 5 from 5 against local rivals Mosman, while all four Women’s grades recorded strong victories to book semi final spots.
We’ll start with W3s who with Saturday’s win, secured the Women’s Club Championship! Skipper Sallie Molyneux won the toss and elected to bat, Emily Hatfield (13) and Sophie Beukers (24) combining for a measured 48 run opening partnership to kick-start the innings. Natalie Jonkers chipped in with 13, until a middle-order collapse on the back of some ‘interesting’ cricket. There was a Mankad, but we won’t go into that… On a very slow outfield, every run was crucial, Grace Pike (15) and Olivia Champion (19*) settling the nerves with a vital 37 run partnership, before contributions late from Molyneux and Sophia Chick took the Tahs to 9/134. The bowling effort was simply outstanding, with so much on the line, everyone stood up to the occasion, wickets shared between Jasmin Wilson (3), Molyneux (3), Daisy Addison (2), Mia Waddington (1) and Sienna James (1) as Sydney were bowled out for 56, locking in a home semi for the Tahs and securing Club Champs – cue the celebrations!
W1s had a resounding victory at Grahams to conclude their regular season. Asked to bowl first, Mia Phelps picked up the key wicket of Koski early, before all the bowlers chipped in with economical spells backed up by some excellent pressure in the field. Chelsea McLerie led the way with a match-defining spell, taking 3/19 from 10 overs, supported through the middle to latter overs by wickets to Kristie Crawford, Eliza Henry and Ebony Hoskin. Campbelltown all out 126. An early wicket didn’t halt the Tahs run chase, as skipper Saskia Horley (50*) and Lauren Kua (52*) combined for an unbeaten partnership, both registering classy half centuries to lead the Tahs to a commanding win.
W2s were at Storey Park with a win needed to secure a finals berth, and that’s exactly what the Tahs got! Skipper Renee Hough won the toss and elected to bowl, with the Tahs justifying the decision on the back of an excellent team bowling effort. All bowlers kept the runs in check, wickets shared evenly amongst Lara Hughes (2), Erica Sharma (2), Molly Kidd (2), Mia Nel (1) and Hannah Moss (1) as Northern District were restricted to 8/116 from 50. After the loss of a wicket early in the run chase, Elizabeth Cambridge (45) and Hannah Moss (38) combined for an ultimately match-winning partnership to get the Tahs close before Nel finished things off with 9* as the Tahs booked a home semi.
Brewers faced off with a strong Parramatta side in a do-or-die elimination final at Manly Oval. Bowling first after losing the toss, Lily Crabbe and Darcey Whiteley both struck early, before the visitors rebuilt to be in control at 2/56. But that’s where the Tahs bowlers really turned the screws, Kaya Punter with 3/20 along with a further two wickets to Crabbe and important breakthroughs to Charlotte Croll and Saoirse Ford. Parramatta all out 115. Shaky start to the run chase as the first wicket went down early, but Croll (49) and Punter (37) patiently consolidated, slowly but surely closing the deficit with a composed partnership, an important contribution too from Whiteley seeing the Tahs victorious by 5 wickets.
M1s continued their momentum with an excellent all round victory over Mosman at AB Oval. Sent into bat, Joel Foster (93) took the attack to the opposition after the loss of an early wicket, leading the way for the Tahs with a seriously impressive innings, combining with Ahillen Beadle (52) for a crucial 124 run partnership to set the foundation for the Tahs. Skipper Jay Lenton was back to his best with 67, backed up by the in-form Ned Hole with a classy innings of 72. Jordan Daly chipped in with 47, the Tahs declaring 9/354 with 91 overs remaining on Day 2. As the wicket flattened out, it turned into a real grind for the bowlers, but Bertie Foreman once again stepped up with three sporadic breakthroughs, one each time just as Mosman looked in control. Wickets from there fell relatively regularly, Josh Seward with the massive wicket of Hicks, along with two to Ryan Hadley and three late to Tom Kaye, as Mosman were bowled out for 255.
Manly Oval hosted M2s in their crushing defeat over Mosman. Sent into bat first, Zach Trewartha (18) and Roop Dhillon (47) got the Tahs’ innings off to a flyer with an aggressive opening partnership to set the tone. Small contributions from Bryant, O’Sullivan and Mendel, before Lachlan Barnsley continued his strong form with 48, combining with Isaiah Vumbaca (39) for a 62 run stand. A late cameo from skipper Andrew Jamieson (29) propelling the Tahs to 8/246. With the ball, the Tahs bowlers were just relentless, Michael Counsell on fire early with three wickets up front, along with a wicket to the skipper. Through the middle overs, Matt Sunshine continued the roll with an excellent 4fa of his own (on his birthday – he bowled really well, just ask him!), before Ford and Counsell picked up the final two, Mosman all out 87 and a bonus point for the Tahs.
Back to back heart-stopping victories for M3s with a 9 run win over Mosman at Rawson Oval. Sent into bat after losing the toss, it was a similar case to last round’s batting performance, with a number of starts but no real big scores. Skipper Sam Hole, along with Boulton, Merchant, Webber and Coyte, all with 15-30 to help the Tahs towards a competitive total. Evan Dunnachie continuing his strong form with the bat, top scoring with 32. Late contributions from Lachie Trewartha and Josh Lawson pushing the Tahs to 199. Mosman began positively in the chase despite a couple of wickets, but it was Fraser Noack that turned the game with 4/18 from 10 tight overs. The home side rebuilt again though and it went down to the wire, clutch death bowling from Lawson, Dunnachie, and none other than wicket-keeper Sam Webber who stepped up to bowl the last over with 12 to work with, the Tahs ultimately victors in a thriller.
M4s solidified their spot atop the ladder with a gutsy run chase at Grahams in a reduced 41 over per side fixture. After a delayed start due to a wet pitch, skipper Adam Parkinson chose to bowl first, but the bowling group struggled to gain any real ascendancy early despite a few sporadic breakthroughs. Some excellent fielding from Josh Cooper with 4 catches, and three wickets to George Cumming were the standout efforts as the Tahs fought back late to keep Mosman to 9/199. Jayden Kennedy (42) was off to an absolute flyer in the run chase with some entertaining ball-striking, but his dismissal was followed a few in quick succession to have the Tahs under pressure at 4/69. But the two youngsters, Cooper (66) and Jake Hutchings (47) stepped up with a match-winning 105 run partnership as both batted with great composure to narrow the deficit. Some late fireworks from the skipper with 20* seeing the Tahs home by 4 wickets in the 39th over.
With limited ground availability, M5s were pushed to Sunday but that didn’t stop Simon Waddington’s men from continuing their red-hot form. Bowling first, an early breakthrough to Julian Osbourne followed by two quickly to Chris Halloran had the Tahs on top, Mosman 3/23, before they rebuilt with a strong partnership. However, the Tahs’ bowlers were keeping things economical throughout, a run out to Kai Croft breaking the partnership, 4/77, before the Tahs took 6/25 from this point, wickets shared amongst Halloran, Luke Watts and Osbourne. Mosman all out 102. The run chase was completed in relatively solid fashion, Keelan Mendel leading the way with 45*, supported by 26 to Watts and 17* to Reuben Kapoor, as the Tahs chased the total for the loss of two wickets.
So all in all a pretty phenomenal weekend for the Tahs, with the Women guaranteeing 4 grades into semi finals along with securing the coveted Club Championship, while the Men made it back-to-back clean sweeps to extend their own Club Champs lead to 151 points with one round to go.
The action doesn’t stop with another huge weekend coming up for the Tahs. The Men begin their final regular season round with Day 1 of two-day fixtures against Penrith, M2s and M4s on the road to the foot of the mountains. Meanwhile, finals fever for the Women, W1s facing Sydney away, W2s hosting Gordon, W3s hosting North Sydney, and Brewers taking on Northern District, all semi final fixtures.
Until then, go Manly!
