Preview Round 3 v Penrith – Brought to you by Sydney City Toyota

Preview Round 3 v Penrith

A big round coming up against Penrith who have so far won nine of their 10 matches with only their 4th Grade losing one. They are on a high and we will need to be up to the mark to take them down a notch.  Of 66 matches we have played them in all five grades since 2001-02, we have won 34, lost 23 with nine drawn. Not a bad record but not overwhelming.

A big round coming up against Penrith who have so far won nine of their 10 matches with only their 4th Grade losing one. They are on a high and we will need to be up to the mark to take them down a notch.  Of 66 matches we have played them in all five grades since 2001-02, we have won 34, lost 23 with nine drawn. Not a bad record but not overwhelming.

Despite our good start with six wins out of 10, we have had ordinary luck with the toss winning just two out of 10. The two tosses we won (4ths and 5ths) resulted in wins while we still won four of the eight tosses we lost despite not having the opportunity to take advantage of the best conditions.

And the records keep tumbling! Last round against Hawkesbury saw a new CLUB and 1ST GRADE partnership record when the Sams brothers (Anthony 105*; Daniel 82) got together to score 183 for the 7th wicket to enable a good win to be registered. The previous club record was established 12 years ago in 2001-02, our first season, when David Fraser and Marc Anderson hit 133 against Parramatta in 3rd Grade. The previous 1st Grade record was set only last season when Adam Semple and Daniel Sams scored 121 against Sutherland at Glenn McGrath Oval. It was also Anthony’s first ton for the club so it’s celebrations all around!

Club Championship: After two rounds we are in sixth place on 144 points, 102 behind tearaway leaders Penrith. Playing them this round gives us a great opportunity to make up some ground.

1st Grade is at Howell Oval, Penrith. A great start with two good wins to put us in 3rd spot on the competition ladder. We have a 9 to 4 win ratio over the Panthers and this weekend would be a great time to increase that gap. Here’s an interesting statistic after just two rounds. While we have received 39 extras in scoring 627 runs, we have conceded just eight to our opponents who have scored 535 from 145.5 overs. Of those eight there have been no byes (well done Anthony Sams), one wide and just two leg byes! 

2nd Grade is at Coogee Oval. A hiccup last week but this week gives us an opportunity to bounce back despite Penrith notching two wins to start the season. We beat them outright in 2010-11 although they have won the past two seasons. They lead 7 wins to 4 in the historic stakes but we are due.

3rd Grade plays at Bill Ball Oval. A very slow start by 3s but we have won three of our last four against Penrith including an outright. Last season at Petersham we won after conceding 37 wides in a total of 173. Kushaal Ram and Josh James put on a record 6th wicket partnership of 106 to take the points.

4th Grade is at Petersham Oval. A 7 to 3 win ratio is held over the Panthers and we are on a hat-trick having beaten them the past two outings. The side was unlucky to lose the first game this season when they couldn’t get the last man out. Should have been two from two. Matt Hilder needs just 20 runs to achieve 4,000 for the club.

5th Grade plays at Rance Oval, Werrington. Two good wins sees us equal leader on points but fourth on quotient. Eight to five is the win factor in our favour. We have had some good tussles over the years with Penrith in this grade having met four times in final series matches. Congratulations to Grant Rimmer who brought up 100 wickets in 5th Grade last round.

Metropolitan Cup. Both Green and Gold teams have been stung by heavy losses in round 2 and are looking for revenge. Gold have a home game at Kensington against Blacktown who knocked over Sydney Uni. last week. Leg spinner Kyri Tsalikidis with 4 wickets in each of the first 2 rounds will be the key bowler backed up by young Liam O’Loughlin. The batting has been patchy with skip Lasith Fernando after a brilliant century in round 1 leading from the front but he needs more support and the boys have promised to dig deep. Greens stay with their Sunday routine and visit the grizzly Bears at Tunks Park. Greens have imported some fine English beef into their batting as support for evergreen fitness freak George Frazakis and swashbuckling Jezza Jastrzab looking to carry on from round 2. Spearhead Max Brandy has promised to channel his anger at the batsmen not the umpire and we are looking for a pfeifer from him.

Poidevin Gray. We begin this year’s campaign THIS SUNDAY at Coogee Oval with a 50 overs a side match against Fairfield-Liverpool. We have played them only four times over the years winning just once in 2008-09. Best of luck to our under 21 boys!
History Note: Great to see Liam O’Loughlin in the Randwick Petersham Metro Cup colours. He is the third generation of O’Loughlin’s in the club with Grandfather John who passed away two months ago a legend since first playing with Randwick in 1943-44. John’s son and Liam’s dad Paul played for Randwick for many years during the 1980’s.

Lyall Gardner

PS: Latest press release from Richard McCord, the “Bernborough” of scorers. He can’t wait to get back and has targeted round 4. He has taken off 8 kilos and is exercising every day. After nearly 3 months in hospital it is a tough job for him to get fully mobile. He thinks he will be on the walking frame until Christmas but has improved to be able to leave his house for a short walk in street outside his home.