From the Pavilion – Randy Petes in Strong Position

The Randy Petes season kicked off on the weekend with Round 1 against Campbelltown with 2^nd and 4^th Grade having to play both Saturday and Sunday.

1^st Grade: Campbelltown 283 vs RPC 2-67  @ Coogee Oval

Semple Presents Jagot with Baggy Green

After ex-Randy Petes captain Scott Coyte won the toss and elected to bat first in good conditions at Coogee Oval, Randy Petes got off to a great start with Nathan Ellis (3-78 from 11 overs) jagging a wicket early, but after that the Ghosts batting line up went on the attack, racing to 3 – 235 from 40 odd overs before Brandon McLean (3 – 30 from 8 overs) took the wicket of centurion Gibson for a run-a-ball 129.  From this point, the Ghosts lost 7 – 48 to crumble to 283 all out after 63.1 overs, with Daniel Sams (2 – 45 from 11.1 overs) cleaning up the lower order.

With a 32 overs left in the day, openers Jake Scicluna (34) and RPC 1^st Grade debutant #95 Tom Jagot (13) got RPC off to a solid start taking the score to 57 before both fell late in the day, to see the game nicely poised with the total on 2 – 67 with Nathan Price and Shaun Eaton at the crease.

2^nd Grade: won by 45 runs @ Raby 1

After a delayed start due to a damp wicket square, Randy Petes were asked to bat first after losing the toss.  The loss of any early wicket was negated by some solid top order innings from Nick Charlwood (48), Tom Holland (26) and Suffan Hassan (31).  But the star of the innings was skipper John McLoughlin, who posted his 5^th century for RPC with a brilliant 135, and in the process passed 5000 career runs for the club in all grades, joining Alex Sciascia and Usman Khawaja as the only players to achieve this feat.  When McLoughlin was dismissed, the innings was closed at 7 – 306 after 95 overs.

The Ghosts innings started with James Tyson (2 – 46 from 14.1 overs) grabbing an early wicket, but from there the Ghosts attacked to see themselves in the box seat heading into the final session.  However, some great bowling from new boys Sam Doggett (3 – 55 from 15 overs) and Ben Nethersole (2 – 42 from 16 overs) saw Randy Petes apply the pressure, and the Ghosts were not up to the challenge, being dismissed for 261 after 74 overs, 45 runs short of the required total.

Celebration Time

Flight Centre MVP Points:

3 – John McLoughlin

2 – Nick Charlwood

1 – Ben Nethersole

3^rd Grade: Campbelltown 191 vs RPC 3-31 @ Petersham Oval

Campbelltown won the toss and elected to bat on a flat Petersham Oval wicket, and were cruising at 2 – 120 before a run out to Kushaal Ram sparked a collapse to see the Ghosts lose 8 – 71 to be dismissed for 191 after 63 overs.  The pick of the bowlers was 3^rd Grade debutant Sam Wood, who picked up an impressive 5 – 43 from 14 overs, and he was well supported by the evergreen skipper Rod Stafford (3 – 58 from 24 overs) and Mitch Jones (1 – 25 from 9 overs).

In reply RPC are 3 – 31 with Ben Stares and Jordan Magro at the crease.

4^th Grade: lost by 1 wicket @ Raby 2

After being sent in at Raby 2, RPC got off to a terrible start, with a combination of good bowling and rubbish shot selection seeing the scoreboard reading 6 – 26.  However, veteran Matty Hilder (63) was able to find support from the young lower order in Cooper Smith (26), Rehaan Nawaz (21) and tom Evans (13) to drag the score up to 139 after 71.5 overs.

With 11 overs left in the days play, RPC were able to reduce the Ghosts to 3 – 20 to see the game evenly poised overnight.  The next morning saw an early wicket fall to Smith (2 – 18 from 11 overs), but then a partnership saw the Ghosts in the driving seat before a great spell by Andrew Sprowls (3 – 20 from 16 overs) saw the game swing again, and when Evans (3 – 37 from 15 overs) grabbed two wickets in consecutive balls it was anyone’s game with the scoreboard reading 9 – 123.  However, a close LBW shout with a handful of runs to win was turned down, and the Ghosts were able to sneak home, but some great fight was shown by the boys after the terrible start on day one.

Flight Centre MVP Points:

3 – Matty Hilder

2 – Tom Evans

1 – Andrew Sprowls

5^th Grade: Campbelltown 76 vs RPC 9-99 @ Kensington Oval

Skipper Jason McLean won the toss and elected to bowl on a Kensington wicket that looked like it had a bit in it.  And it was a good call, as the Randy Petes’ bowling unit ripped through the young Ghosts batting line up to see them all out for 76 after 37.3 overs, with Chris Singh (2 – 18 from 8 overs), Cameron Fowler (2 – 4 from 2 overs) and Nathan Stares 2 – 2 from 2.3 overs) all cashing in.  Also a special mention to young Green Shield player Jack James, who in his Grade debut took 1 – 6 from 5 overs and pulled off a direct hit run out.

In reply, RPC also found the going tough, but were able to take first innings points on day one, finishing at 9 – 99, with youngster James completing a great first day of Grade cricket, top scoring with 21 in a pressure situation. 

The Randy Petes will be looking to grab maximum points on day two.

RPC  Gold vs UNSW @ David Phillips South: UNSW 315 vs RPC 0-9

After RPC lost the toss and put into bowl on a pitch that had nothing to offer for the pace bowlers, John Stewart and Jack Standing got RPC to a good start.  Not giving away many runs Stewart managed to get the first break through.  Shimul Nath was brought into the attack later but even though he managed to turn it both ways and no one had any idea which way it was spinning, he didn’t have much luck either and ended up with one wicket. The two young spinners, Kyri Tsalakidis and Nivethen Radakrishnan provided RPC with 5 wickets with Kyri taking 3 of them and being on a hatrick at one point.  Nivy’s two came in one over at a stage when the game was seeming to be getting way from RPC. Jack Standings outstanding pick up and throw while one the move ran out the last batsman to end UNSWs innings and for us to chase down 315.

Lasith Fernando

RPC Green vs Fairfield @ Marrickville Oval: Fairfield 8-284

After winning the toss, RP Green decided to bowl first at Marrickville oval.

Mark Wall and Dominic Sullivan opened the bowling and Mark Wall immediately rewarded with two wickets for his brilliant line and length bowling.  With a sub-par fielding effort and  a bit of luck going on the opponent’s side, Fairfield-Liverpool batters dominated the day and gathered 298 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.  Mark Wall, Alexis Coovre, Liam O’loughlin and George Frazakis took two wickets apiece.

RP Green team is extremely positive and excited to take on the Fairfield-Liverpool bowling attack and put up a good game next week.

Bala Mohan