From The Pavilion: Round 15 vs UNSW – Brought To You By Petersham RSL

With wins in all Grades, Randy Petes signed off the 2014-15 season in style with a Greenwash, finishing in 11th place on the Club Championship ladder with 1001 points……

1st Grade: RPC 162 vs UNSW 122 @ Coogee Oval – Match Result: Win

After winning the toss and batting first, RPC were in trouble early at 2-11, but Nathan Price (64 from 95 balls) was able to anchor the innings, and with help from Daniel Sams (20 from 25 balls) and Shaun Eaton (21 from 46 balls), RPC were able to scramble to 162 after 44.2 overs.

In reply, UNSW were cruising 3-83, before a key wicket to Nathan Ellis (3-24 from 8 overs) and a run out kick started a collapse to see UNSW bundled out for 122 after 42 overs, with spinner Brandon McLean (2-7 from 4 overs) showing what he is capable of with the ball.

Unfortunately, the win wasn’t enough to seal a finals birth, as the side finished in 7th position on the Belvidere Cup ladder by quotient.

Link to scorecard: http://www.sydneygrade.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?matchID=1855156&entityID=4

Nathan Price on the attack @ Coogee Oval

2nd Grade: RPC 230 vs UNSW 202 @ Village Green– Match Result: Win

Asked to bat first, RPC were in trouble early with only Tom Jagot (27) firing at the top of the order, but some smart middle order batting from Suffan Hassan (67) and Jack Preddey (47), saw RPC post a competitive 230.  It proved to be enough, as all the bowlers contributed to see UNSW fall short, being dismissed for 202.

The win sees the side finish in 12^th position on the Abert Cup ladder.

Link to scorecard: http://www.sydneygrade.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?matchID=1855601&entityID=4

3rd Grade: UNSW 133 vs RPC 3-137 @ Petersham Oval – Match Result: Win

After sending UNSW in at Petersham Oval, Randy Petes were on fire from the outset, with seamers Andrew Sprowls (3-22 from 10 overs), Rehaan Nawaz (2-30 from 10 overs) and Jack Lyle (3-26 from 8.3 overs) doing the damage to roll UNSW for 133 after 49.3 overs.

The run chase was clinical, with Adam Docos (29), Lyle (27) and Ben Stares (43) doing the business to record an easy win.

The win sees the side finish in 10^th position on the Mitchell Cup ladder.

Link to scorecard: http://www.sydneygrade.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?matchID=1861007&entityID=4

4th Grade: RPC 5-236 vs UNSW 215 @ David Phillips South – Match Result: Win

When skipper David Bourke finally lost a toss, Randy Petes were asked to bat first, and posted a solid 5-236 after 50 overs, with Nikki Radhakrishnan (65), Alan Sciascia (49) Chris Singh (31) and youngster Brett Hunter (28 not out) all contributing.

The UNSW run chase was solid from the outset, and had moved into a comfortable position, until the spin of Kyri Tsalikidis (3-29 from 10 overs) and Hunter (2-33 from 9.4 overs) put the brakes on, and RPC were able to complete a much needed win, dismissing UNSW for 215 in the final overs.

The win sees the side finish in 16^th position on the Mitchell Cup ladder.

Link to scorecard: http://www.sydneygrade.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?entityid=4&matchid=1861873&gradeid=64_1

5th Grade: UNSW 107 vs RPC 6-108 @ Kensington Oval – Match Result: Win

What a result for the Fighting Fives! RP won the toss and sent the students into bat. Jaya Murdita and Cooper Smith contained the scoring in the first twelve overs with the score at 0/24. Grant Rimmer then entered the attack and took 3 wickets in his first 3 overs to leave the visitors struggling at 3/35 off 18. Darren Smith bowled with great discipline and bowled 3 maidens on the trot to apply pressure. He was to finish with 0/20 off 10. Rimmer (5/22) took another 2 wickets and took a run out chance and soon the score was 6/75 off 35. Cameron Fowler and Nathan Stares again bowled great in tandom with Fowler (3/13 off 6) causing many problems for UNSW’s tail-end. Cooper Smith (1/7 off 7)  took the vital wicket of Uni’s main batsman. Uni were all out for 107 in the 47th over. Stuart Parsons and Harry Towler again started solidly but at 2/30 off 7 the game was moving quickly. Nathan Stares came to the crease and timed the ball beautifully and Uni were regretting some missed chances as he scored freely. Towler scored 21 and Luis Siddal scored a quick 12 but got caught trying to lift the scoring rate in pursuit of the bonus point. Stares was dismissed for 41 to a fine catch with still 6 runs to get. The cool heads of David Lillyman and Darren Smith prevailed as 3 runs were needed off the last over. RP won with a bonus point to set up a qualifying final with second-placed Manly. The only time that RP was in the top 6 was after this game and ended up in 5th place!

The win sees the side finish in 5^th position on the David Sherwood Cup ladder, booking themselves a Qualifying Final against Manly next weekend.

Grant Rimmer

RPC 5th Grade Captain

Link to scorecard: http://www.sydneygrade.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?matchID=1862136&entityID=4

Metro Cup: Penrith 8-309 vs RPC 148 @ Marrickville Oval – Match Result: Loss 

RP Green Captain won the toss and elected to bowl first on soggy pitch at Marrickville oval. Penrith batters played well on a damp pitch and put together a massive 8/309 off 50 overs. Top bowler of the day was Alexis Coovre, bowled  an impeccable line and length and rewarded with 1/24 off 9 overs.  Adam Lee (3/55) and Mark Wall(2/71) also made a significant contribution.  

With 310 runs to win,  Mark Wall (37 runs) and Neale Crawford (20 runs) shown some resistance in the batting, but rest of the batting was below mediocre and we all out for 10/148 off 39.1 overs.  

Link to scorecard: http://www.smcc.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?matchID=1872858&entityID=2318

RPC Masters vs RPC Metro @ Kensington Oval – Match Result: N/A

In a world first this match resulted in two winners – never before seen in cricket worldwide

The Masters were cocky after posing for their team photo (looked like a team of billiard balls) and took to the crease after a short rain delay. The metro team, all good looking young men, opened ferociously with the four man pace attack of Perera, Fernando (despite both looking decidedly dusty from sat nite), House and Coovre reminiscent of the West Indies in their heyday. They soon had the Masters reduced to rubble. Metro keeper Jastrzab performed like he’d just come from a Sunday morning vodka tasting and skip Bala Mohan was marshalling his troops around the paddock like Napoleon at Waterloo. Opener Greg Scott put up stout resistance for the Masters but it was up to the old firm of Fabz Heaton and Daz Smith to put a respectable score on the board. 123 off 30 overs. The Masters supplied a hearty afternoon tea and the run chase began. Metro after an early slip looked to be playing for a draw as overs ticked by without the score moving. The sledging was flowing from the masters particularly their annoying little keeper. Then opener Ed House decided to kick it along and the runs flowed. He took a compulsory time out after 40 runs and Fernando carried on with run a ball stuff. The result was in the balance at 3-60 off 22 when a light shower halted play. The shower turned into a downpour and the Masters produced a match winning move by opening the fridge early which stopped the run chase in its tracks. Using the new Knucklehead – Dufus system the double win was recorded for eternity.     

Denis Hinds

RPC Legend