Preview: Qualifying Finals

It’s Finals Time!  And we have our 5th Grade “Fighting Fives” lining up against Manly-Warringah! We finished fifth and Manly second so this is a MUST FOR US. A loss and it’s all over. A win will put us in the semi-finals.

It is a two day match played over Saturday and Sunday THIS WEEKEND at Frank Gray Oval, which is in Stirgess Avenue, Curl Curl on the Northern Beaches. It is a lower grade Shires ground for the Warringah club. Manly has had such an outstanding season with all their five grades in the finals, they haven’t got the grounds to go round!  The match starts at 10 am both days and the boys would love to see plenty of Randy Pete’s cheering them on.

This will be the 11th time in our 14 years 5th Grade has contested the finals series. We have WON SEVEN and drawn three in the 10 Qualifying Finals we have contested. WE HAVE NEVER LOST A 5TH GRADE QUALIFYING FINAL!  AND–we have NEVER MISSED the Semis in 5ths after making a Qualifying Final.

Historically this should be a close match with both sides recording 5 wins and a draw in the 11 times they have played each other. Last year we met Manly in the semis after we had beaten Penrith outright in the qually. It was played at Mike Pawley Oval and we sent the Sea Eagles in to bat after winning the toss. And at 5-62 we were looking good until a late rally got them to 170. They had batted for 92 overs leaving us just 40 overs to get the runs. And while our boys gave it their best shot, 116 was all we could muster to go down by 54 runs. As it turned out, Penrith, who we had thrashed in the qualifying final came back in the semi and beat Manly in the Grand Final to take the premiership!

We have a strong team for this absorbing encounter led by the “legend” himself, Grant Rimmer who has indicated this may be his swansong????  Can’t imagine “Rims” without a shiny new cricket ball in his paw each summer. He looks like he’s got a few good seasons left in him yet!!

The team is:

Grant Rimmer (Captain), Harry Towler, Stuart Parsons, Neale Crawford, Ashley Burton, Nathan Stares, David Lillyman, Cooper Smith, Darren Smith, Kryi Tsalikidis, Nigil Singh, Ed House (12th man)

There is nothing like support from the sidelines. If you can get to the game this weekend please do so.

Go the Randy Petes!

Lyall Gardner