Lyall’s Preview – Round 9 v Mosman

Preview Round 9 v Mosman

This Saturday we take on Mosman in a series of One Day Limited Overs matches starting at 10 am in all grades. While Mosman haven’t been all that threatening over the years our record against them is passing to say the least. We have played them in a total of 61 matches and have won 35, lost 20, tied one and drawn five.  But we need to win more. And we need those wins this round. While our lower grades have been disappointing, it’s certainly not for the lack of ability. 

Preview Round 9 v Mosman

Club Championship: Last weekend we had two good wins in 1sts and 5ths but only grabbed 48 CC points to Sydney Uni’s 72. So we won the war and lost the fight but still retained 10th spot although we are now 312 points behind leader Manly and will need a miracle to take out the Championship this season. This weekends’ opponent Mosman however, are behind us in 13th place but only 48 points in arrears. We need to get a wriggle on.

1st Grade is Coogee: We have won four of the last five games against the Whales and 11 overall of the 17 we have played. But they are always a tough nut to beat. They’re only one win behind us in the 1st Grade Belvidere Cup competition in 7th place while we are 3rd. In the Limited Overs competition they are 10th and we are 14th courtesy of a shocker against Easts before Christmas. And with only this and one more match against Gordon we need to really fire the next two weekends to make the final series.  And a big game for captain Adam Semple who plays his 150th match for the club. He is already the most capped 1st grader we have and Saturday will be his 149th in the top grade. The Gordon match on 24 Jan. will see him bring up 150. And congratulations to Nathan Price who brought up 100 1st Grade games last Saturday while Shaun Eaton passed the 1,000 runs milestone for the club. Captain Adam Semple will be looking to improve on his two from eight toss wins.

2nd Grade is at Allan Border: 2nds have only ever lost to Mosman ONCE—in 2002-03 but have WON 10 times. Time to get back into winning form after three straight losses. The Whales are just one win ahead of us this season in 6th place (24 points) while we are 13th (18 points). There’s nothing in this competition so a few wins on the trot could see us right up there. Skipper John McLoughlin brought up his 100th innings in 2nd Grade last game and needs only 51 runs for 3,000 in the grade.

3rd Grade is at Petersham: We might be 18th on 9 points but a few wins could see us knocking on the door. It’s a team of talent but hasn’t quite got it all together as yet. Mosman is only 13th just three points ahead so it will be an even match. The new husband Rod Stafford returns as skipper for his 199th game for the club. Five wins to three losses and a tie is the record.

4th Grade is at Rawson: Unfortunately 4ths has the worst historical record against Mosman with only 4 wins out of 11 games. However, we won the last clash bringing to an end four wins in a row to them. Confidence may be down after last week when our 164 run defeat was a new losing single innings record for the grade. However, we have been known to bounce back well and this is the chance to prove it. Skipper David Bourke returns.

5th Grade is at Kensington:

The side is on a high after last week’s gutsy win. And while our record against The Whales is five wins all, we have the momentum wining the last three. However, Mosman are the leaders at present on 37 points while we are 11th on 24 which is just one point behind fourth placed Easts on 25. This could be a season-changer for the team.

Poidevin Gray is at Mark Taylor Oval, Waitara against Northern District THIS SUNDAY in the 2014-15 Qualifying Final. We are one of eight teams participating this round. We need to win to grab a place in the semi-finals on Australia Day. We have played ND’s five times since 2001-02 and THEY HAVE WON ALL FIVE!! If ever the averages were in our favour it’s this weekend!!  Go the Randy Petes!!

Metropolitan Cup: Metro Green take on the powerful Blacktown side at Marrickville in a one-dayer on Saturday. The Greens have started to wind it up in the second half and now sit 6th on equal points with Blacktown. George Frazakis did a Spyros Arion last week to UNSW and will again be a key operative. Last week’s heroes Mark Wall and Jez Jastrzab will be there to back him and a tough win is on the cards. The Gold team nearly pulled off the shock of the season last round and went within a whisker of toppling unbeaten Penrith. They go to beautiful Balmoral to take on Mosman on the Sunday. Skipper Luis Siddall with 50s in his last two digs will have some power injected from a crew of Green Shielders looking to expand their repertoire. Genius leg-spinner Shimul Nath will lead the attack and the Gold boys are now confident of chalking up that first win of the season.  

 Lyall Gardner