From The Pavilion – Rd 1 Grades 1-5 vs North Sydney + Metro Cup
Match Reports – Round 1
1st to 5th Grade v North Sydney (Limited Over Games)
Metropolitan Cup v Penrith and Sydney University (Limited Over Games)
After a couple of months of pre-season preparations, it was time to get down to business for the Randy Petes’ boys with the bell ringing for Round 1 on Saturday to kick off the 2017/18 season. After finishing 11th in the Club Championship last season, and winning the 5th Grade Premiership, the Club will be looking to build on last season, climb that Club Championship ladder, and get a couple more teams into the finals this season. Awaiting us on Saturday was a rebuilding and improving North Sydney Club that would provide a stiff challenge in the One-Day format, as both Clubs looked to get off to a winning start. In Metropolitan Cup we took on Penrith on Saturday and Sydney University on Sunday, with both sides featuring several new players. Read below all the highlights from Round 1, including some standout performances from some of the Club’s younger players.
1st Grade – Randwick Petersham v North Sydney @ Coogee Oval
Team – A. Sams (+), Kemp (C), Hughes, Sangha, D.Sams, Chhibber, Eaton, Semple, Ayre, Neser, Warren
Result – North Sydney 10-229 – 49.3 Overs (D. Sams 3/39-8.3, Chhibber 2/30-7) Defeated by Randwick Petersham 7/232 – 48.4 Overs (Hughes 62, Chhibber 56, D. Sams 37, Semple 36n/o)
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2623542
First Grade arrived at Coogee Oval on Saturday, looking to start with a win, in their quest to improve on last season’s 7th placed finish. Two debutants would take the field for the Club with an injection of both quality experience and youthful talent. Jason Hughes has been a prolific top order player for Mosman for near on a decade and would slot into the Number 3 spot vacated this year by valuable all-rounder Nathan Price. Riley Ayre is a gun left arm orthodox spinner from Sutherland who has already done well in 1st Grade and been a part of NSW Junior Academy Programs over a number of years. Other than these two, there were plenty of familiar faces in a team with plenty of 1st Grade experience, and Nick Warren coming out of semi-retirement to help spearhead our pace attack.
In what was a gripping and tightly contested game throughout, Kempy’s men managed to squeeze over the line by 3 wickets with little more than an over to spare. In what was a relatively low scoring affair, we overhauled the Bears’ modest score of 229, thanks to a late flurry from Adam Semple (36n/o) and a composed half century from Soumil Chhibber (56). Semple blazed his 36 from just 27 balls, with 2 big sixes, after it looked like the Bears might be closing in on victory at 6/152. Chhibber has always been an extremely underrated batsman who would have batted a lot higher in weaker sides over the past few seasons. This year it looks like he will get a genuine opportunity at Number 6, and he responded first up here by batting well under pressure, coming in with the team struggling at 4/93. Daniel Sams (37), alongside Chhibber and Semple, formed a middle order revival, striking the ball typically cleanly in his 47-ball knock. The mainstay of the innings, however, was Club debutant Jason Hughes (62) who used all his experience to guide the side out of a huge hole at 3/26. Hughes held the innings together and will be a vital cog in the team this year in the crucial Number 3 batting spot.
Earlier in the day the bowlers had all toiled away manfully to restrict the Bears to a modest score. Team spearhead, Daniel Sams (3/39-8.3), had a great year with the ball last season and he started well again here, picking up 3 key wickets. Nick Warren marked his return with some tight bowling up front, while Riley Ayre made a solid debut for the Club, bowling well after 12 months out with injury. With Chhibber (2/30-7) chipping in with a couple of wickets, the rest of the bowlers were able to bowl tightly throughout the innings. Captain Kemp was happy to get a close victory given the fact close losses have cost the boys a finals’ spot over the past two years. Next week we have another team from the North of Sydney as we head to our other home Petersham Oval to take on a Mosman side that had an emphatic win in Round 1.
JC Travel Professional MVP Award Points
3 – Soumil Chhibber
2 – Jason Hughes
1 – Adam Semple
2nd Grade – North Sydney v Randwick Petersham @ North Sydney 2
Team – Everett, Hart, James, Calder, McLoughlin, Holland (C), Ram, Hemphrey Mahony-Brack, Loth, McKenzie
Result – Randwick Petersham 10/146 – 38.4 Overs (Holland 28, McLoughlin 26, Hemphrey 23, Calder 22) Defeated by North Sydney 2/149 – 29.2 Overs
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2627682
Second Grade headed to North Sydney 2 looking to start the season faster than they did in 2016/17, when we lost our first three games. Experienced Clubman, Tom Holland, was back to Captain the side again this season, after the team showed significant improvement after Christmas last season to finish in 15th spot. This year there will be plenty of opportunities for the Club’s younger players, with Jack James and Matt Calder rewarded for good form in 3rd Grade last season with top order batting positions. Classy veteran, John McLoughlin, was also back in 2nd Grade after missing half the season last year through injury. We also welcomed one of our English imports for this season in Jamie Hemphrey who played in the strong Kent League during the English summer. Hemphrey is a promising all-rounder who will add plenty to our higher grade sides this season.
Unfortunately it was a tough day for 2’s as we suffered an 8-wicket loss against a dominant Bears’ outfit. After being sent in to bat on a wicket that was fresh and doing a bit, the Bears were always going to have the better of the conditions. We never really got going, being bowled out for 146 with more than 10 overs still remaining in the innings. With the bat a number of our middle order players looked in good nick and made solid starts without going on with it. Captain Tom Holland (28), John McLoughlin (26), Jamie Hemphrey (23), and Matt Calder (22) all contributed without capitalising fully.
With regular keeper Matt Everett having injured his hand batting, Matt Calder was thrown the gloves and he did an admirable job filling in at late notice. Wickets, however, proved hard to come by on a wicket that had flattened out and baked in the sun, as the Bears cruised home inside 30 overs. Hemphrey (2/37-6.1) completed a solid debut for the club by picking up the only 2 wickets to fall. Next week the boys will be looking to bounce back, taking on Mosman at Allan Border Oval.
JC Travel Professional MVP Award Points
3 – Jamie Hemphrey
2 – Tom Holland
1 – John McLoughlin
3rd Grade – Randwick Petersham v North Sydney @ Petersham Oval
Team – King, B Stares (C), Eldridge, Lyle, De Silva, Ahmed, Standing, Graham, N Stares, Sterling, Tsalikidis
Result – Randwick Petersham 10/309 – 49.5 Overs (De Silva 155, Ahmed 38) Defeated North Sydney 10/208 – 43.5 overs – (Standing 6/33-9.5, Tsalikidis 2/59-10)
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2628311
Third Grade were under new leadership this season, with the popular Ben Stares taking over from Rod Stafford. After doing an outstanding job for 3 years, Stafford has decided to play 4th Grade this season, leaving the side in capable hands with his experienced deputy Stares taking over. It was nice to see a couple of the Club’s youngsters who have come through Green Shield, in Eldridge, De Silva and Standing, elevated to 3rd Grade with an opportunity to push for a higher Grade spot as the season progresses. Nathan Stares would fill the role as the sides 2nd spinner alongside Kyri Tsalikidis who was prolific in 3rd Grade last season.
The boys got the season off on a great note with a thumping 101-run victory in a match that we controlled from start to finish. Posting over 300 was a statement of intent on a belter of a Petersham Oval wicket, and the Bears were never really in the hunt, eventually being bowled out for 208 in the 44th over.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the day was a spectacular innings by Ravin De Silva (155). Ravin has been a promising player at the Club right from his Green Shield days, and has always had a bucket load of talent with the bat. Ravin ended last season in spectacular fashion, crashing 80 in his lone appearance in 3rd Grade, after spending parts of the season in 4th and 5th Grades. However, clearly he is a player of high-Grade talent, and this time he proved it by smashing a mesmerizing 155 from just 120 balls. This passed the previous best in Third Grade, established 14 years ago when Matthew Taylor smashed 144 at Coogee Oval against University of NSW in a score of 9-327. Ravin belted 11 fours and an amazing 9 sixes, and smashed a number of Club records along the way. Wicketkeeper batsman Kaoser Ahmed (38) played a typically busy innings in the middle order, combining for a 92-run partnership with De Silva. Top order players Eldridge (22) and Lyle (20) both looked in good knick before falling just when they looked set.
The other star of the day was another local junior, Jack Standing, (6/33-9.5) claiming a fantastic 6-wicket haul. Standing at one point claimed a remarkable 3 wickets in 4 balls, as the Bears’ middle order had no answers to the youngster. Standing showed plenty of promise last year as an all-rounder in 4th and 5th Grades, having previously Captained the Club in Green Shield. Standing did most of his damage with the bat last year and was frustrated by a few injuries with the ball, however, when on song, he can bowl a heavy ball and get it to talk. Jack is a very skilful bowler and, if he stays fit and healthy, like Ravin, they are players of higher Grade potential that can really put themselves on the map in the next year or two.
All in all, a great day for 3rd Grade and for Ben Stares as he looks to keep building this time from the work Rod Stafford put in over the past few years. Next week the boys take on last year’s 3rd Grade grand finalists in Mosman at Coogee Oval, as we look to make it back-to-back victories to start the season.
JC Travel Professional MVP Award Points
3 – Rav De Silva
2 – Jack Standing
1 – Rocky Ahmed
4th Grade – North Sydney v Randwick Petersham @ Tunks Park
Team – Murdita, Gracias Flor, Powell, Montedoro, Kenzie, Bourke (C), Frith, Stafford, Mullins, Flanagan, Fox
Result – Randwick Petersham 8/257 – 50 Overs (Gracias Flor 57, Montedoro 41, Stafford 37 n/o) Defeated North Sydney 10/230 (Montedoro 3/27-6.1, Stafford 3/50-10, Kenzie 2/41-10)
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2629109
Fourth Grade kicked off their season at Tunks Park once again under the veteran leadership of David Bourke. Bourkey’s men were one of the surprise packets and success stories of last year, finishing in 8th spot, just missing the finals. Bourke would be joined by great mate Rod Stafford in what will be a massive boost to 4th Grade’s chances of playing finals this season. The theme of this week was youngsters going up Grades, and that was no different here with the likes of Dylan Powell, Ben Montedoro and Kel Mullins all elevated to 4th Grade after playing in the 5th Grade Premiership winning side last season. Hayden Fox made his 4th Grade debut, while Tom Frith, brother of former 1st Grader Matt Frith, made his debut for the Club. Bailey Kenzie is a promising young AWGS all-rounder snaffled from Manly who made his debut for the club here. A late inclusion to the side was another club debutant in Padraic Flanagan who impressed in the pre-season with his ability to hit the deck and bowl consistently.
Bourkey’s boys made sure they got the season off to a winning start with a 27-run victory in a high scoring encounter. Having set a formidable 8/257 from our 50 Overs, we managed to roll the Bears for 230, and the song was sung loud and proud in the phone box which is the Tunks Park sheds. The great thing about 4th Grade’s victory was not only the recurring “theme of the round” of our younger players really stepping up to the plate, but the number of contributors here with bat and ball in a real team victory.
With the bat it’s always important to start well, and our top order managed to get us to 1/80 after being sent in on a wicket that was a little soft in the morning. Murdita and Powell looking in good nick, while Gracias Flor (57) flayed a number of boundaries in his typically aggressive style. Gracias Flor loves to take the new ball on, and he pounded a number of boundaries off both front and back foot. Ben Montedoro (41) had a really great back end to the season in 5th Grade’s Premiership win last season, and he picked up where left off with a stylish 42 in his debut for the Club in 4th Grade. Rod Stafford (37n/o) has always scored runs in every Grade he has played over the years, so it was no surprise at all when he bludgeoned a number of boundaries late in the innings to elevate our score over the 250 mark.
With the ball, it was a really new look 4th Grade attack, with only Murdita having bowled in 4th Grade last season. Bowling with decent speed and control, Flanagan looked the goods, picking up 2 wickets and bowling with plenty of fire. Bailey Kenzie (2/40-10) showed no signs of nerves on debut, bowling a really controlled spell and picking up a couple of well deserved wickets, showing what an asset he will be to Green Shield and Grade sides this season. Ben Montedoro (3/27-6.1) completed a great all-round performance by bowling well under pressure in the death overs. Monte’s style of offies will prove hard to get away in one-day cricket, and provide a great 2nd option to main veteran leg spinner Rod Stafford who made an immediate impact, picking up 3 wickets and some crucial breakthroughs after the Bears had made a strong start at 1/100. Next week, 4th Grade will be looking to make it 2 wins from 2 as they host Mosman at Balmoral Oval.
JC Travel Professional MVP Award Points
3 – Ben Montedoro
2 – Rod Stafford
1 – Savio Gracias Flor
5th Grade – Randwick Petersham v North Sydney @ Kensington Oval
Team – Crawford, Rushton, House, Budwee, Sapariya, Saady, Wall, Sidney, Lee (C), O’Loughlin, Deller
Result – Randwick Petersham 10/110 – 34.5 Overs (House 29, Sidney 20) Defeated by North Sydney 2/113 – 23.1 Overs (Deller 1/10-5)
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2632419
A new look Fifth Grade side were looking to get their Premiership defence off on the right note when they hosted the Bears at Kensington Oval. Of course, last season was a memorable one for 5th Grade having won the Premiership after finishing 3rd in the regular season. The Boys played a remarkable Grand Final, upsetting home side St George at Hurstville in a landslide victory.
With previous captain Nigel Singh electing to go up the Grades this year, Adam Lee took the reins as Captain for the first time with plenty of new faces alongside him. The side was lucky to have two experienced veterans of the Club in both Nick Saady and Gab Budwee, who have both experienced success in higher Grades at various points in our history. With plenty of last year’s winning team having been rewarded by going up the Grades, this was an opportunity for some of last year’s Metropolitan Cup players to step up to the plate.
The day didn’t go to plan for 5th Grade, with North Sydney recording a dominant 8-wicket victory. A score of 110 was never likely to be enough on a slow but flat Kensington Oval wicket, and so it proved, as the Bears passed our score just 2 wickets down in the 24th over. This side might take a few weeks to gel and, with everyone always up for a big game against the defending Premiers, this year was never going to be easy. Top scoring with the bat was wicket keeper Ed House (29) as wickets fell around him. Damien Sydney (20) added some lower order resistance to give the boys a fighting total. Opening bowlers Deller and Wall kept things tight early, bowling well without managing to make major breakthroughs. Next week the boys are back at Kensington Oval, in search of our first win of the season, against Mosman.
JC Travel Professional MVP Award Points
3 – Ed House
2 – Alex Deller
1 – Adam Lee
Metropolitan Cup – Randwick Petersham Green v Penrith @ Marrickville Oval
Team – Genner, Bhavsar (+), Lopes, Mohan, Geraghty, W. Deller, Grogan, Coovre (C), C De Silva, S Singh, Sherriff
Result – Penrith 4-335 – 45 Overs (Sherriff 2/61-9, Genner 2/75-9) Defeated Randwick Petersham Green 149 – 44.4 Overs (Geraghty 84)
RP Green won the toss and elected to bowl, on a dry, flat and slow Marrickville wicket. The Penrith batsmen were their usual brash selves, punishing anything short, or on leg-stump. They also used finesse, teasing the nine-man fielding side with flicks and dabs into the gaps, and before too long, their lanky 14-year old opener, fresh off the Penrith production line was raising his bat for a well-earned ton. Genner came on and put the brakes on with his left-arm chinamans, eventually bowling the centurion through the gate. He then got the number three snicking behind, the Penrith side pushing-on, but unable to re-capture their earlier momentum. Corey Sheriff then came on for his second spell, bowling with good rhythm, getting Penrith’s captain caught at cow corner, and the number four caught behind, but not before the men of the west had amassed a hefty 335 for us to chase down.
In reply the Green batsmen never got going, save for a sparkling 84 by debutant, Dane Geraghty. He defended well, ran hard between the wickets, and dispatched anything remotely loose to all parts of the ground. A hundred was there for the taking, but a mix-up with a club veteran, left him out of his ground, the green team eventually all-out for 154.
JC Travel Professional MVP Award Points
3 – Dane Geraghty
2 – Josh Genner
1 – Corey Sheriff
Metropolitan Cup – Randwick Petersham Gold v Sydney University @ Alan Davidson Oval
Team – Jastrzab (+), Andonopoulos, Ganesh, Kashyap, R Sachs, Gaba, Segal, Stewart (C), O Sachs, Gandhi, Robertson, Sherriff
Result – Randwick Petersham Gold 77 – 26.4 Overs (Jastrzab 14) Defeated by Sydney University 0-83 – 14.1 Overs
Council sprinklers on Saturday morning saw a late change for Gold’s first fixture of the year, from the rustic Alexandria Oval to Alan Davidson Oval for a Sunday morning clash against the students from Sydney University. The team had been given an almost complete overhaul with 8 players either making their first or second appearance for the club, while two players on their own accounting for 248 games. Opening pair Jeremy Jastrzab and Peter Andonopoulos put on patient 27 before ‘Ando’ got out just as he looked set to put the foot on the accelerator. Newcomer Nav Ganesh looked ominous at 3 but got out chasing a floater, before Jastrzab and Kashyap pushed the score to 60. Unfortunately, a mixture of poor shots, poor decisions and inexperience set about a devastating collapse that would lead to the young side being bowled out for 77.
Impressively, the young team came out onto the field full of voice and energy in defence of a small total, with tight bowling and plenty of diving stops in the field. While the openers match our enthusiasm with a clinical chase, the result could have been pegged back a notch or two, if not for a dropped catch and a disallowed stumping. While the final result was disappointing, it was good to see the young players so vocal in a small defence. If they learn from their batting mistakes, they have the makings of putting up a strong showing through the rest of the season.
JC Travel Professional MVP Award Points
3 – Jeremy Jastrzab
2 – Peter Andonopoulos
1 – Corey Sheriff
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