We are very pleased to report that 4 Manly Warringah Juniors have been selected in the NSW U/17 squad for the coming 2015/16 season.
Local products Joel Wood (pictured above), Isaiah Vumbaca, Jack Edwards and Aiden Bariol have all come up through the junior representative ranks with the Tahs and after trialling for the team were selected in the extended squad. After a lengthy development program, selectors will trim this squad down to make the final NSW U/17 team.
The selections of Vumbaca, Bariol and Edwards are especially exciting as all 3 are still U/16s next season and have another season of U/17s to go. They will form part of our push for Green Shield honours next season.
All 4 performed particularly well in Green Shield and Grade this season. Bariol played his first full season of grade cricket while Vumbaca, Wood and Edwards played their first year of Grade Cricket with the Waratahs. Bariol won the 3rd Grade competition while Vumbaca and Wood played in the 5th grade final. Edwards was 12th man for the 5th grade final.
All-rounders Wood and Vumbaca , despite being serial pests when they are together, had a magic first season together. They shared in a match winning 102 run partnership against Randwick-Petersham in the Quarter Final while also showing their talent with the ball. Fast bowler Wood took 20 wickets in his debut season in grade, with another 8 in Green Shield. He also hit 219 grade runs and 181 Green Shield runs.
Leg spinner Vumbaca took 24 wickets in 5th grade and another 16 wickets in Green Shield for an outstanding debut season. He also showed how good he was at the tail end of the 5th grade season with the bat, hitting 228 runs at an average of 32.57.
Jack Edwards has allot of class about him. Having faced the pace of older brother and new NSW fast bowler Mickey Edwards all through their backyard years, he has a sound technique and relaxed temperament. He hit 143 runs in his six 5th grade innings but looked all class in doing so. However it was Green Shield were he really shone, hitting 263 runs at 32.68 despite still being in the U/15s.
For the last few years, Jack has been skipper of his age group which will contest Green Shield next year, and will surely come into captain calculations.
Boom rookie Aiden Bariol is a man with talent to burn. He won the 3rd grade Grand Final with a fantastic 23 not out off 57 balls, showing he has maturity beyond his years. His debut season yielded 259 runs, while his Green Shield season just pipped Edwards, with 296 runs at 49.33
Behind the stumps, Bariol had an equally stellar season, taking 29 catches and 2 stumping’s in grade cricket, while also taking 11 catches and 10 stumping’s in Green Shield.
Each of the boys are to be thoroughly congratulated. They have put in allot of hard work and should enjoy the challenge that this squad brings. All are in with a great change of making the final cut.
Good luck to all 4 throughout the winter months. Go Manly
