Tahs Tame the Hawks + PGs – Weekend Wrap Round 9

Happy New Year! The Styleness Waratahs kicked off 2019 with a bang, winning 3 from 5 in their round 9 clashes with Hawkesbury, whilst also coming away with two wins in our women’s T20s, and a victory on Sunday in Greenies. 1st Grade toiled hard with the bat, however couldn’t back it up with the ball. 2nd Grade had an outstanding bonus point win, with the men from Manly chasing down their target of 108, one wicket down in the 23rd over. 3rd Grade had a win, restricting the Hawks to 160 and chasing it down 2 down. 4th Grade went down in a nail-biter, chasing 196 we fell 3 runs short. 5th Grade also won a close one, posting 140 we rolled Hawkesbury for 130 in the 45th over. 

Saturday also saw our women’s 3rd Grade side play two T20’s against University. Game one saw Manly post 127 before restricting our opponents to 6-67 off their 20 overs. Game two also saw Manly bat first, posting 143 before restricting University to 99. Well done girls!

Sunday saw our Green Shield side win a close one against the boys from Bankstown. Batting first, Manly was in trouble at 8-130 before posting 223. With the ball, the boys toiled hard winning in the last over by 3 runs. Our Green Shield side is now 5 from 5 and top of the table. Congratulations boys! Our PG’s side also played their final game of the season on Sunday against Bankstown. Bowling first, Bankstown managed 250 off their 50 overs, however, our batting struggles continued with Manly bowled out 164.

Matt Brewster is this weeks 4 Pines Player of the Week after a terrific innings to kick off 2019. Matt opened the batting in Third Grade and looked class from the beginning, punishing the bad balls and rotating the strike on his way to his highest score of the season. Matt batted with maturity which allowed our Third Grade boys to take the points home. Matt’s innings is hopefully a sign of things to come for the rest of the season for him.

Congratulations Matt!

We rocked up to the picturesque Manly Oval fresh off the break. Looking to get our season back on track we won the toss and had a bat with Logan and Faz getting the boys off to a terrific start once again. That then left our two experienced campaigners at the crease with Nappa and AB showing their class and scoring at ease, with a later order cameo from Foz started to bring us to a respectable target before Nappa went up another gear to score a run a ball 93 and see us to 5/232 after our 50 overs.

We went out with plenty of fight but with some terrific batting by first class opposition, and with a pitch not offering a lot, it just wasn’t our day going down in the 41st over. Plenty of positives to take out from it and some tough lessons which we will build on for a blockbuster clash next week.

Special mention to Ashy for making his well deserved 1st grade debut.

Joe Graham

The lads travelled out to Hawkesbury this week looking to get back into things and start on a positive note after the Chrissy break. After an electrifying game of touch footy, we found out that we won the toss and elected to bowl. All the bowlers toiled very hard in the lovely Hawkesbury weather of about 36 degrees. The stand out performances with the ball was Hamish Starr with 3/20 including getting one of their best batsmen out with a well-executed slower ball bouncer, and closely followed by Tom Kaye (2/8) and Arron beard (2/19). The Manly lads did very well to bowl the opposition out for 108 and then went in after to try to chase down the total and hopefully get the bonus point if possible. Max Webber and Ned hole went out and showed great intent from the beginning with some very expansive shot play coming from both players but especially from Ned hole who dispatched the bowlers to every part of the ground. The boys chased the total down with the loss of one wicket, the standouts being Max Webber (52) and Ned hole (49*). It was a great day for the Manly boys getting the win with a bonus point and a great way to start after the break.

3 – Max Webber

2 – Ned Hoel

1 – Hamish Starr

Brynn Mendel

The Third Grade boys arrived at Grahams eager to keep their winning momentum rolling against Hawkesbury. With one win separating 3rd place and 17th place, wins were crucial and we knew this weekends game was paramount for our finals push. We lost the toss and fielded on a flat wicket and a relatively quick outfield. Counsell started off with a LBW in the first over of the day, however a few dropped catches and misfields let Hawkesbury back into the game. A couple quick wickets put the Hawks on the back foot, and at 3-98 we were back into the game. Consistent dot ball pressure from our bowlers and a few more wickets restricted Hawkesbury to 165 off their 50 overs. Although not at our best in the field, all bowlers toiled hard with Nickos grabbing 3 wickets, Counsell, Graham and Hole also taking one each. The boys were confident in chasing down the target if we stuck to our plans and rotated the strike.

Brewster and Hole opened up and got us off to a strong start. Both players punishing the bad ball and rotating the strike. Sam Hole fell and Dom not long after bringing the debutant Joel Davies to the crease. Sam received a mid-game promotion to first grade whilst Brester and the better Davies pushed the Tahs into a victorious position. Brewster knocked up his second fifty on the bounce and looked at ease at the crease when punching the ball around the ground. Joel didn’t look out of place and played well beyond his years to maturely craft his way to 43* and see the boys home. Matt finishing 84* to give the Tahs the 6 points. 

The boys will be eager to keep this momentum going heading into next round against North Sydney away from home.

3 – Matt Brewster

2 – Joel Davies

1 – Nick McLachlan

Alex Bain

The boys turned up to a lush Benson Lane paddock on the back of an outright win before the Christmas break. Gummer won the toss on a deck that looked like it could do something early and flatten out during the day. The heat was a major factor in the decision, with the bowlers having to manage the warm weather. After a slow start, returning Jimmy Crombie struck with a caught behind to keeper Oscar and shortly knocked over middle stump to have Hawkesbury 2/50. Jake Osborne then brought the game back into Manly’s favor snagging the opener who began to look dangerous. From there Hawkesbury built a very strong partnership assisted by some dropped catches and sloppy fielding. Introduce the late call up Lachy Trewartha. The young man spinning his way through Hawkesbury’s batting line up taking 4/32. Hawkesbury had managed their way to 198 on a deck that had flattened out.

Gummer and Cohen began the run chase positively before Gums fell for 10. Cohen continued this on his way to a well-made 40 assisted by some big hitting from Duly. The heat had gotten to him forcing him to retire hurt. This brought a few collapses with Manly losing 2 for 3 with the run rate increasing. Charles and Moffat started to get the score back on track before Charles was run out for 11 bringing Oscar to the crease. Oscar and Jesse continued to rotate the strike scoring fluently before Jesse departed for 22. This started a collapse for the Manly boys with Duly (30), Oscar (30), Trewartha and Wiggers being dismissed for just 5 runs falling short of the target by 2 runs.

A disappointing loss for the boys but will be ready to bounce back next week to maintain a top of the ladder position.

3 – Lachie Trewartha

2 – Nick Cohen

1 – Oscar Luscious

Lachlan Charles

A hot sunny day at Mike Pawley oval and a green grassy pitch saw skip Marshall lose the toss and sent in to bat. The Manly boys went out eager looking for runs. Dunlop and Buchanan to open up the batting. The Hawkesbury opener looked shaky after bowling two leg-side wides for the 1st and 2nd balls of the game. However a slower delivery had Dunlop pushing early through his shot ending with a caught and bowled hitting the opener hard in the stomach. Buchanan pushed through and batted with good timing and patience manipulating the field and hitting the gaps. He was joined by Jones who looked steady but however was undone by some good swing bowling.

Next at the crease was skipper Marshall who was to be given LBW to some more seam bowling. At drinks the Tahs were 3-55 looking to consolidate. However, Buchanan fell to a leg-side stumping after a solid innings for a well made 32 which left Barnett to take the reins and control the field with the middle order. A tough bowling attack disallowed any big cameos from Melville, J Brewster and Park who all fell for not many while still helping a patient Barnett. After losing early wickets a low total seemed imminent. However Dunnachie shed some light on a bigger score with a big straight six before being caught soon after. Losing Barnett around the same time for 23 left the Tahs 7-88 with only 12 overs left. With Hobson and Falconer now in and nine down a small total was closing in. However, some solid batting from falconer with some class boundaries and well-run 2s had Hobson finish on 10 not out and Falconer on 28 not out, putting on a 9th wicket masterclass and elevating the 5th Grade boys total to 140. A great effort after a shaky start!

Defending what was a below-parr score Hobson opened up with some pacey swing bowling. After 5 sharp dots in the first over a drive back at Hobson saw a clever deflection onto the non strikers stumps and a run out to Hobson’s name! An ideal start. Sam Jones from the other end bowled tight swing having the Hawks 1-4 after 4. Jones with a big inswinger caught the other opener in front LBW, with the score now 2-14. Soon after Hobson strikes with the ball edging off to glovesman Dunlop. The score now 3-14. Energy in the field kept rising as the first few wickets fell and positive talk from all 11 in the field piled on the pressure to the Hawkesbury middle order. With pressure building, Hobson scored an under edge with another catch to Dunlop behind the wicket. Now 4-21! Park was brought on to bowl and bowled tight lines to dismiss one of the Hawks’ middle order for not many, caught by Buchanan with a low catch at straight square leg. The score now 5-24! The Hawks fought back with some good hitting which was undone with a great throw and run out by to Dunlop. Now 6-68 after 27 overs having the Tahs in a strong position.

Dunnachie was brought on with Brewster. After some tidy overs from Brewster, Evan collected a well-deserved wicket with a good catch by Barnett at point. The Hawks now 7-74 after 28 overs. Drinks came after some tight bowling from skip Marshall and the score sat at 7-90 after 34 overs. After drinks the Hawks brought in some experience and powered boundaries giving Marshall some worries. The skip unwavered by the Hawks display of power, played all over the Hawks’ power hitter with big slow turners and an arm ball to catch the batsmen out of his crease and stumped by Dunlop. The score now 8-119 chasing 140, Marshall took a big wicket. With not many to chase, the Tahs bowled well and with confidence, some great bowling by Jones which soaked up a few overs for not many. Falconer was brought on and after only a couple overs darted one down the leg side, what looked like a boundary ball was hooked off the edge of the bat down the leg side with a diving Dunlop hanging on with a one hand diving catch, a crucial wicket. 11 to win now and one wicket to get, nerves were still high for the Tahs. Marshall with unwavering skill after only one over caught the number 11 in front LBW to give the Tahs a great victory after a big long fight in the field!

3 – James Buchanan

2 – Jack Hobson

1 – Ben Falconer

Reiley Dunlop

The PGs boys rocked up to Bankstown Memorial Oval knowing a win and results going their way could lead to a QF birth. Brynn Mendel made his debut after scoring runs at leisure at grade level. Losing the toss, we bowled first on a flat wicket and a lightning outfield. Hads and Beardy opened the attack and were unlucky with the Bankstown openers throwing the willow to get off to a quick but shaky start. The introduction of Hamo grabbed the first wicket to a good catch at fine leg by Brynn. Bankstown put on a strong partnership before Joey and Sommers grabbed back the momentum with spells of quality bowling, not giving the batsmen an inch and both finishing with a wicket each. Wickets followed to Hadley and Beard to end the Bankstown innings 7-250 off their 50 overs. With a flat wicket and a quick outfield, the boys were confident in chasing down the total if we batted well and stuck to our plans.

Brewster and Ned opened up before we lost Ned and Foz came to the crease. A strong partnership came about with both punishing the bad balls and rotating the strike. We lost a few quick wickets to have us 4-119 with a lot of work to do. As per our season so far, we couldn’t string partnerships together with the Manly boys falling short, being bowled out for 164. Foz top scored with 44, closely followed by Brewster on 35, however, no other batter could score above 16. 

Overall a disappointing season for our PG boys as it comes to an end after the loss this weekend. Although we didn’t fulfil our potential with both the bat and ball this season, a lot of lessons were learnt. We’ll look to bounce back next season with most of the boys being able to back up once again. To Jakey and Joey who finished their underage cricket with this loss, congratulations on all you’ve achieved in PGs in not only this season but the past seasons as well. Thanks to Nappa for coaching and Gordie for scoring for the whole season. Until next season!

Alex Bain

It was a hot and sunny day down in Ramsgate for the 3rd Grade women’s team to kick off their T20 season against Universities Blues. Winning the toss Manly elected to field, using their great bowling attack to set the tone for the day. Sarah Gordon and Chelsea McLerie opened the innings with some fast accurate bowling – picking up the first wicket of the day in the second over which was caught by Robyn Medley, the first of three she would hold.

Manly continued with their accurate bowling which kept the runs low and our second wicket was caught by Isabelle Keene. Alicia Humphrey in her first match for Manly took an impressive wicket on her first ball of the over. Continuing through the overs there was some impressive ground fielding and catches by Renee Hough and Robin which left Universities to finish on 6/67.

Going into bat we were confident in our ability to chase. Nat Guyot and Robyn opened the batting and worked well together to win the match in 10.6 overs. Both retired at 30 to allow us to play out the over and gain the bonus points. Renee Hough went into the field with a YOLO attitude and unfortunately was bowled out first ball. This left Olivia Hough, Chelsea and Issy to bat out the remaining 9 overs to finish on 3/127.

Esme Cooke

A quick turn around saw Manly win the toss again and elect to bat first. Kristie Crawford and Mia Waddington opened the batting for us, showing skill in hitting the bad ball and finding the gaps. Kristie was first to retire in the 9th over with Mia following quickly in the 10th. This allowed Sienna James with her experience to bat with Sarah. Sienna used her power to score 16 of her 24 runs through boundaries before unfortunately being bowled out. Esme Cooke went into bat with the aim of running singles to pick up the score. Finishing the innings with Alicia on 2/143.

Going back into the field the team were feeling the affects of the heat. Robyn and Olivia opened the bowling starting well with a maiden over. Universities were looking strong and playing the bad ball well until our first wicket came to Renee in the 6th over with a catch from Robyn. Universities were scoring well and putting up a good fight. Kristie took the second wicket with another excellent catch from Olivia with Sienna following quickly behind with a catch on the boundary. It wasn’t until the 15th over when Mia found her line and length to gain two LBW wickets that the game looked almost over. Universities retired batsman came back into bat for the final few overs but the game was for Manly to take. Universities finishing on 6/99.

With two wins under our belt this was a great start to our T20 campaign! Thank you to those who came down to support, score and coach! Go Manly!

Esme Cooke