Preview Round 9 v Bankstown: limited overs matches & PG v Mosman

Welcome back everyone and Happy New Year one and all!  It’s on again. The second-half.  This is the one that counts. Seven matches to determine the finalists and we aim to be part of that. This Saturday in a one-dayer against Bankstown. It’s an ordinary round match for grades 2-5 but for 1st Grade it’s the last round of the preliminary games in the separate Limited Overs Cup competition. And while we were done on run-rate to miss a place in the Twenty 20 Cup finals when we were second on points but relegated to 9th on run-rate, that won’t be the case here as we have already secured a spot in the top 8. In fact, both we and Bankstown are already in the finals. They are 1st and we are 2nd and we also have the top two run-rates. We will probably need to win however, to get a home game in the Qualifying Finals which are scheduled for Sunday 29 January. PLEASE PUT THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY! We want a big crew along that day to cheer on the boys.

Welcome back everyone and Happy New Year one and all!  It’s on again. The second-half.  This is the one that counts. Seven matches to determine the finalists and we aim to be part of that. This Saturday in a one-dayer against Bankstown. It’s an ordinary round match for grades 2-5 but for 1st Grade it’s the last round of the preliminary games in the separate Limited Overs Cup competition. And while we were done on run-rate to miss a place in the Twenty 20 Cup finals when we were second on points but relegated to 9th on run-rate, that won’t be the case here as we have already secured a spot in the top 8. In fact, both we and Bankstown are already in the finals. They are 1st and we are 2nd and we also have the top two run-rates. We will probably need to win however, to get a home game in the Qualifying Finals which are scheduled for Sunday 29 January. PLEASE PUT THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY! We want a big crew along that day to cheer on the boys.

As a result of our big round before Christmas when we “greenwashed” North Sydney we are now up to 11th from 15th in the Club Championship. Bankstown are not having such a good season and are 14th—89 points behind us. We are on 539 points with the tearaway leaders NDs on 889—350 ahead of us. While we won’t be catching them in a hurry, there are a few targets slightly ahead of us, notably Easts (10th on 540), Mosman (9th on 543) and St George (8th on 589). A good round here could put us in 7th or 8th spot. A good incentive for our players to pull out all stops in the run to the finals!

1st GRADE is at Bankstown Oval: Last 8 matches: WWDWWLLW: We are in 7th place in the Belvidere Cup competition while Bankstown are 2nd. There are just 8 points separating the top 8 teams with us 7points behind the leader NDs. Defeating Bankstown would certainly put us into the top 6 and also take us to the top of the Limited Overs Cup competition. Interestingly, both teams have lost 64 wickets in scoring 2437 (us—the highest in the comp.) and 2308 (them). Both teams have remarkably taken 77 wickets! Historically there’s not much between the sides either with the Bulldogs leading 7 wins to 6 with one game tied although we have won 5 of the last 6 clashes. How close can two teams get! Plenty to play for! Greg West makes a welcome return.

In the batting this season we have Anthony Sams with 678 (incl. T20) while Bankstown’s two top bats are Mitch Brown (603) and Philip Wells (557). In the bowling Daniel Sams is having a scorcher of a summer with 30 scalps (incl. T20) to Nathan McAndrew’s 25 for Bankstown.

Congratulations to skipper Alex Kemp who hit one of the fastest (if not the fastest) centuries in our history last game when he smashed 104*in 68 balls with 14 fours and 5 sixes! He now has 1,416 1st Grade runs—84 to get for 1,500. Jake Scicluna now has 1,493 runs in 1s needing just 7 for the 1,500 milestone.

2nd GRADE is at Petersham: Last 8 matches: LLDLWLWW: With 3 wins out of the last 4 the side is “on a roll” and just two wins out of 6th in 16th spot. We have 18 points and so does Bankstown (17th) so this is an important match. Historically we have the advantage with 7 wins to 5 although they have won 3 of the past 4. Jack James makes his 2nd Grade debut while Pat Magann is back from injury.

3rd GRADE plays at Jensen Park: Last 8 matches: WLLLTLWW: Another team with wins at the past 2 starts. Chance to make it a hat-trick here as the Dogs have lost 5 of 8 this season and are 16th on 12 points. We are 10th on 21 but the 6th placed team is 10 points ahead of us. We will need to get a wriggle on if we are to figure in the finals. A must win match. Like 2s we hold the historical ascendency with 7 wins to 5 although they have won 3 of the last 5. The TAB has us red-hot favourites! Welcome to Jono Maloney who debuts with the club.

4th GRADE is at Coogee: Last 8 matches: WWLLLLWW: This is the second time we have won 2 on the trot this season. Last time we blew it with 4 losses! Not this time. The boys are keen and time to make a move. We are now EQUAL 6TH on points and 8th on quotient. Bankstown are feeling unloved with no points from 6 losses and 2 draws. We should be wary of the wounded Bulldog however. Over the years we have won 7 to their 5 but they have won 4 of the last 5 including last season when they beat us outright. Promising all-rounder James Mahony-Brack makes his season debut.

5th GRADE plays at Grahame Thomas, Bankstown: Last 8 matches: WWLL (LWO) (LWO) (WLO) W: We are 2nd on the ladder and just 7 points from the leaders Penrith! Bankstown are yet to register a point with 4 losses and 4 draws. They have only beaten us twice in 5s while we have won 12 times including an outright victory last summer. Go you good things!

Poidevin Gray (Under 21): THIS SUNDAY 8 Jan 2017 v Mosman at Coogee: Last 4 matches: L L L L: Not a happy season for our PG boys but a chance to salvage some pride and Club Championship points here. Mosman have had only the one win so there’s nothing much between the sides. We have one of our best PG records against the Whales winning 4 of the 5 played since 2001-02 which was the season they recorded their sole win. There’s at least 24 Club Championship points up for grabs.

Metropolitan Cup from Jeremy Jastrzab: With an extra week off before Christmas, the Metropolitan Cup squad is bursting with enthusiasm (and players), with all rearing to get their seasons back on track. With no runaway leader this season and a tight pack of six teams, Gold are gunning to keep their top 4 position against an unusually lowly Sydney University at Snape Park on Saturday. The students don’t seem to be the lower grade powerhouses they once were, while Gold are bolstered with the high number of availabilities. Green then occupy Snape on Sunday against their favourite opposition – UNSW. There aren’t too many points between them and the rest so they’ll be looking to teach the students a lesson and get their season back on track.

Best of luck to our A W Green Shield boys as they take on NDs next Tuesday and Easts at Coogee on Thursday to wrap up the season.

Lyall Gardner