Round 2 Preview v Mosman

Round 2 Preview v Mosman

Not a bad start to our 2017-18 season last Saturday with three wins to run into 7th place on the Club Championship after scoring 78 points. An exciting win in 1st Grade and two great efforts in 3s and 4s with a record breaking score by 19 year old Ravin De Silva in 3rd Grade. His 155 broke the high score record for that grade established 14 years ago when Matthew Taylor smashed 144 at Coogee Oval against University of NSW in a score of 9-327. Rav’s 155 included 11 fours and a sensational 9 sixes off 120 balls made in 169 minutes.

This round its two-day cricket and we take on Mosman who started well with four wins over Bankstown to charge into 4th place on the club Championship ladder with 102 points, just 13 behind early leader Sydney. The big bats were out for Mosman last weekend as they amassed 1,160 in the five grades. Then again, we weren’t far behind with 1,054. The dry weather is made for good run-making so we’ll need to keep up the good work over the next two Saturdays.

1st GRADE is at Petersham Oval: Ours was a determined win last Saturday chasing down Norths 229 with just 12 balls to spare. But Mosman’s effort was just as determined gathering in Bankstown’s 243 at Bankstown Oval with a score of 4-244. We have won 11 to their 5 over the years with 4 drawn. Two of those draws were in the past two seasons. Last season they beat us in a T20 match which cost us a spot in the finals while in the Belvidere Cup match at Allan Border Oval it was a draw when we had them 6-287 chasing our 8-374 declared after Nathan Price made 140. We have lost Nick Warren and the batting hero Jason Hughes through injury from last week’s line-up. They have been replaced by Kushaal Ram who debuted in 1st Grade last season and a 20 year old right hand all-rounder Josh Bohannon, a Scholarship player with Lancashire County Cricket Club. He becomes capped player no. 114 and we welcome him to the club and trust he will enjoy the Randy Petes experience. NOTE: To view the updated 1st Graders Player Profiles go to the club website under “Club” or the following link: http://www.rpcc.tv/club/the-first-graders.html

Kushaal Ram finding the edge

2nd GRADE is at Allan Border Oval, Mosman: The Whales had a big score of 5-333cc to beat Bankstown last Saturday so we need an early breakthrough this round. Our bats started slowly last weekend but are far better than that. Mosman have beaten us the past 4 clashes but we have by far the better record having won 10 of the 11 before that. Time to reproduce that form. The up-and-coming Mac Jenkins returns on day 2 after competing in the under 17 National Championships. After his huge ton last weekend Rav De Silva makes his 2nd Grade debut.

3rd GRADE plays at Coogee Oval: If 3s can reproduce last weeks’ batting effort they’ll enjoy the Coogee Oval strip. We lead the historic statistics with 7 wins to their 3 while a tie was played 11 years ago in 2006-07. Last season at Rawson Oval in a Limited Overs match, they got the points when their no.10 got an inside edge for two off the last ball to win by one run. They beat Bankstown 2-159 to 156 last Saturday.

4th GRADE is at Balmoral Oval: Mosman have won 9 to our 5 over the years although we won by 6 wickets last year at Coogee 4-125 to 121 after Nick Warren, who made a guest appearance, took 5-36. Mosman lost to Bankstown last Saturday after scoring 203.

5th Grade plays at Kensington Oval: The hardest game a premiership team can play is usually the first round the following season. And our 5s proved that adage last weekend. However, that was last weekend and it’s good to get that one over and done with. There’s plenty of young talent in the side and that could well be on show over the next two Saturdays. The match stats are interesting here. We have played them 13 times and won 8 to their 5. The important point is however, that we have had the wood on them winning the last 6 games! And while they chased down Bankstown’s 218 last Saturday we have a good chance here to make it no. 7.

Metropolitan Cup from Jeremy Jastrzab: As the Sri Lankan national team will tell you, not all transitions are smooth. While both Metropolitan Cup teams suffered heavy losses last round, there were glimmers of hope throughout the new personnel. Dane Geraghty free-wheeled his way to 84 on debut against an all-conquering Penrith side, while the Gold team chirped and dived around the field until the last run was knocked off their meagre total. 

Gold get their first taste of the refurbished Marrickville Oval and take on reigning premiers, Gordon. The defending champs have a completely new side, as do the Golds who are giving a slew of Green Shield hopefuls a run in conditions that should be excellent for batting.

Green take on UNSW Black at David Phillips South on Sunday. If last week’s matches are anything to go by, the match promises an even contest between bat and ball.

DON’T FORGET THE PHIL TRESIDDER MEMORIAL GOLF DAY at RANDWICK GOLF COURSE on FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER! A big Ambrose event hitting off at 8 am. HAVE YOU NOMINATED YOUR TEAM OF 4 YET???

Go the Randy Petes!!

Lyall Gardner