From The Pavilion – Round 3, Day 1 vs Fairfield-Liverpool + Metro
Match Reports – Round 3
1st to 5th Grades v Fairfield-Liverpool (2-Day Games)
Metropolitan Cup v Mosman & Easts (2-Day Games)
The Randy Petes boys hit Round 3 running, sitting pretty in 3rd spot on the Club Championship ladder after winning rounds against North Sydney and Mosman. Sitting behind powerhouses in Sydney University and Sydney, our Club had a great chance to edge ahead of them when taking on Fairfield-Liverpool in another round of 2-day matches. Fairfield-Liverpool had made a slow start to the season, sitting in 17th spot on the Club Championship ladder. However with three home games, we would have to be conscious of a Lions’ side intent on rebounding, as our 1st and 4th Grade teams looked to continue their unbeaten start to the season. While 2nd and 3rd Grade were hoping to make it 2 wins from 3 to start 2017/18, 5th Grade were hoping for a further improved performance from last week’s narrow loss and both Metropolitan Cup teams were desperate for their first wins of the season. Find out below who starred on Day 1 of Round 3, on a cold and windy day across Sydney.
1st Grade – Fairfield-Liverpool v Randwick Petersham @ Rosedale Oval
Team – A. Sams (+), Kemp (C), Hughes, Sangha, D. Sams, Chibber, Eaton, Semple, Radford, Ram, Ayre
Result – Fairfield-Liverpool 8/318 – 96 Overs (Ayre 4/103-34) v Randwick Petersham
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2623807
First Grade were looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season with a trip to the spacious surrounds of Rosedale Oval to take on the winless Lions on Saturday. The side had a couple of changes, with Number 3 batsman Jason Hughes back after missing last round through injury. Making his debut for the Club was all-rounder Luke Radford, after being unavailable the first two rounds. Radford had been highly impressive in pre-season, having played cricket for Warwickshire in the past, as well as a host of strong sides. Radford would add to the middle order batting, as well as provide another medium pace option with the ball.
On what proved an attritional day of cricket, the Lions were made to really graft for their runs, finishing on 8/318 from their 90 overs. It’s not often these days in 1st Grade you see a side score at just over 3 runs per over, however some really tight bowling from our boys, as well as Rosedale being the hardest ground to hit boundaries in Sydney, led to a day where both sides fought tooth and nail. At 3/82 and 4/143 we had opportunities to put the hammer down, however the Lions batted well in the middle order to set up a competitive score. In a huge blow to the side on the day and potentially for the rest of the season key all rounder Soumil Chibber was forced to go to hospital with a dislocated shoulder. We wish Chibbs a speedy recovery.
Clearly the best bowler on the day was our Number 1 spinner and off-season recruit Riley Ayre (4/103-30). Ayre has had a steady start to the year after coming back from an injury which kept him out for the whole of last season. However, his quality has been obvious and he backed that up with a marathon 30-over effort in which he picked up 3 key wickets. The side has really lacked a spinner that can control the tempo of the innings and bowl long spells, and Riley delivered on both fronts here to keep us well in the contest.
Daniel Sams, Adam Semple and Kushall Ram all did a good job on a flat surface, going for less than 3 runs per over, with Sams going for just 2 runs per over. Radford took his first wicket for the Club, opening his account with the first wicket of the day of key Fairfield-Liverpool player Delpechitra. It will be interesting to see whether the Lions declare next week, and back their bowlers, on a wicket where you need plenty of time to bowl a side out. Whatever the equation, our boys will be full of confidence after chasing down 343 last week against Mosman, and with the added firepower of Hughes and Radford in the side.
First grade spinner Riley Ayre in action
2nd Grade – Randwick Petersham v Fairfield-Liverpool @ Coogee Oval
Team – Bohannon, Everett, James, McLoughlin, Calder, Hart, Holland (C), De Silva, Standing, Hemphrey, Mahony-Brack, Loth
Result – Fairfield Liverpool 10/74 (Hemphrey 4/26, Bohannon 4/22, Loth 2/15) v Randwick Petersham 3/167 (Everett 70n/o,)
Second Grade arrived for our first home game of the year at Coogee Oval, fresh from an exciting 10-run victory over Mosman the previous week. Awaiting us was a Lions’ side yet to win in 2017/18 as we looked to push into the top half of the table with another win. The side was strengthened with English recruit Josh Bohannon coming back from 1st Grade, while wicketkeeper batsman Matt Everett was back from injury.
In what proved a great day for Tom Holland’s men, 2nd Grade completely dominated Day 1 from start to finish, ending up 93 runs ahead on the first innings, with 7 wickets still in hand. Needless to say the boys will be pushing hard for all 10 points on Day 2, after sweeping Fairfield-Liverpool aside for just 74 earlier in the day, before replying with a commanding 3/167.
Winning the toss and inserting our visitors on a wicket with a tinge of green, our fast bowlers were all over the Lions from the get go. It was the two English boys who were the destroyers on the day, with Hemphrey (4/26) and Bohannon (4/22) bowling outstandingly to take 4 snaps each and rip the guts out of the Lions’ batting order. Hemphrey has hit the ground running since he arrived on Australian shores, now having 9 wickets in 3 games, and will be pushing for higher honours with further great performances. Bohannon proved his class, and why he is so highly rated back in his home County of Lancashire, by bowling with good pace and nipping the ball about all day. Big Doug Loth (2/20) proved the match winner last week with the crucial final wicket, and chipped in here with another 2 wickets.
In reply, opening batsman Matt Everett (73) was all class playing a range of shots in a powerful display. Everett went large early last season with a double hundred at Coogee, so it was great to see him cut loose against a struggling opponent. Joe Hart (20) looked solid back at the top of the order whilst Josh Bohanan (43n/o) quickly showed his class effortlessly making it through to stumps with a half century within his reach. Quick runs early on the day will definitely be the assignment before we settle in for another crack at the Lions batting order.
Captain Tom Holland noted how good is was to have President Mike Whitney down at Coogee Oval getting amongst it in the sheds, giving the boys some entertaining words of encouragement. It was also great to see the coaches in Greg Small, Glen Standing and Michael Wood on hand to watch the boys put in such an impressive performance.
3rd Grade – Fairfield Liverpool v Randwick Petersham v @ Fairfield Oval
Team – King, B Stares (C), Eldridge, Lyle, Montedoro, Ahmed+, Graham, McKenzie, N Stares, Tsalikidis
Result – Randwick Petersham 10/110 – 39 overs (Graham 28, Lyle 23) v Fairfield Liverpool 5/116 (McKenzie 2/30-11, B.Stares 2/16-9) – 41 Overs
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2628328
Third Grade was desperate to bounce back after a heavy defeat to Mosman in Round 2. With both sides sitting on 6 points after 2 games, the winner would jump into the top half of the table at this early stage of the season. Ben Montedoro was rewarded for some stellar form in 4th Grade to start the season by winning a debut game in 3rd Grade. The side was strengthened by the inclusion of regular 3rd Grade wicketkeeper Kaoser Ahmed and fast bowler Tom Mckenzie to lead the pace attack.
Unfortunately we struggled on a wicket that had a tinge of green, but was hard underfoot, being shot out for 110, before the Lions replied in steady fashion, closing on 5/116 at stumps. With the bat, Corey Graham (28) once again showed how vital a contributor he can be in the middle to lower order, by top scoring on a day when runs were hard to come by. Top order batsman Jack Lyle (23) looked in really good nick, before falling just as he looked set.
With the ball, and a low total to defend, we came out with plenty of intensity looking to make some early inroads. Strike Bowler Tom McKenzie (2/30-11) was all over the Lions from the outset, bowling with hostile pace, and was really unlucky not to claim a 4 or 5 wicket haul. Captain Ben Stares (2/16-9) obviously had been working on a shock tactic during the off-season, injecting himself into the attack with great effect. Stares bowled with great control and nipped the ball around on the greenish surface, building great pressure from one end, as well as making a couple of key breakthroughs.
Despite trailing by 6 runs on the first innings, if we can wrap up the tail quickly there is no reason that outright points can’t be up for grabs in Week 2. Ideally, the boys will be looking to put together a better batting performance which could set up an interesting final session.
4th Grade – Randwick Petersham v Fairfield-Liverpool @ Petersham Oval
Team – Powell, Gracias-Flor, Burton, Frith, Bourke (C), Stafford, Mullins, Budwee, House+, Flanagan, Singh
Result – Randwick Petersham 6(dec)/282 – 69 overs (Stafford 103n/o, Burton 90, Gracias-Flor 28, Bourke 23) V Fairfield-Liverpool 1/4 (7 overs)
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2629126
Fourth Grade are flying at the start of 2017, and were going for a hat trick of wins to start the new season when they took on the Lions at Petersham Oval. The side was given another massive injection of experience and class with Premiership winning 5th Grade Captain Nigel Singh back for his first game of the season. Singh, like Rod Stafford, has taken wickets in every grade over the years and he and Stafford might be in a match race, all season, to see who can do the most damage. Ash Burton was fit to return from injury after impressing in 2nd and 3rd Grade last season, as well as PG’s.
On Day 1, Bourkey’s men put in another polished and confident display, racking up 6/282 at a gleaming Petersham Oval, before picking up a late wicket to top off a great day. Rod Stafford (103 n/o) has scored plenty of crucial lower order runs over the years in every Grade; however he has never quite managed to crack it for a century. But all that changed on a memorable afternoon at Petersham. Stafford had already made his intentions clear this season, striking the ball well with consecutive scores to start the season, but he took it to another level here with a brilliant display to the raptures of his team mates at the ground. Stafford deposited 9 massive horns to all areas of the ground on his way to a memorable century, with his remarkable innings coming from just 75 balls, in 78 minutes. However, in typical Stafford fashion, it wasn’t all crash and bang. From 55 balls, Stafford had not yet brought up his half century, playing himself in and assessing the best areas of the outer park to launch the ball into. His final 20 balls was utter carnage, and you might not hear a bigger roar all season than the eruptions from the boys when Stafford bunted one over mid-wicket for a boundary to bring up the century.
Despite Stafford getting all the headlines for the day, it was Number 4 Ashley Burton (90) that proved the rock on which the innings was built. Playing his first game of the season, Burton proved why he had done well in higher grades last season by playing a gritty and responsible innings. Opener Savio Gracias Flor (28) got the side off to a typically brisk start with his aggressive intent, before we slumped to 4/67 after a few quick wickets. Burton was joined by Captain David Bourke (23) who put together a crucial partnership of 71 before the tea break, to allow Stafford the platform, after tea, to play his natural game. It was another crucial contribution from the Captain, whilst Burton upped the tempo after tea, swatting a number of boundaries, as his partnership with Stafford took the game away from the Lions. The 142-run stand was only broken late in the day, with Burton out when in touching distance of what would have been a great century, facing 138 balls with 15 fours.
To top off a great day, the returning Nigel Singh trapped a Fairfield-Liverpool opener plumb in front, to have the Lions right on the back foot at 1/4 from 7 tidy overs. Bourkey’s team are flying at the moment, with the senior players leading the way, and the young packers chipping in with contributions in what seems a happy dressing room. They will push for 6 points next week which will keep them at the top of the table.
5th Grade – Fairfield-Liverpool v Randwick Petersham @ Don Dawson Oval
Team – Rushton, Lopes, Andonopoulos, Crawford, Sapariya, Wall (C), Papathanasiou+ O’Loughlin, Deller, Sachs, Fox
Result – Fairfield-Liverpool 8/284 – 80 Overs (Fox 3/65-20, L. O’Loughlin 2/41-13, Lopes 2/26-5) v Randwick Petersham
Fifth Grade made the track to Don Dawson Oval to take on the Lions, looking to build on an encouraging display against Mosman last week. There were a few changes to the side with Captain Adam Lee unavailable and Mark Wall stepping up from Metropolitan Cup to take the skipper’s armband. The side was boosted by a couple of youngsters who had gotten a taste of higher Grades in recent weeks, with Hayden Fox and Apollo Papathanasiou sure to strengthen the side.
Captain Wall described the day as one of missed opportunities and near misses as Fairfield-Liverpool rode their luck a bit to make a strong first innings score of 8/284 from their 80 overs. In typical fashion for most of the Western Sydney Clubs, the Lions’ batsmen stuck from the hip at times and rode that momentum to post a score that will make a mighty effort to chase down next week.
With the ball it was youngster Hayden Fox (3/57-20) who did the bulk of the damage, claiming 3 key wickets and bowling tightly for all of the day. Fox has really stepped up this season after grafting away in Metropolitan Cup the past couple of seasons. He has definitely earned his spot and it’s good to see a kid with such a great work ethic and positive attitude be rewarded with opportunities. Liam O’Loughlin continued to play a steady hand as the team’s Number 1 spinner, picking up a couple of wickets and keeping the opposition tied down. Youngster Luca Lopes chipped in with 2 wickets on a day where all the bowlers bowled with good discipline and control.
Next week, the boys will be looking to put up a good fight after making 199 against Mosman last week. With the in-form Peter Andonopulous coming off a blistering hundred, the boys will be confident we have the firepower to give the Lions a run for their money.
Metropolitan Cup – Randwick Petersham Gold v Mosman @ Snape Park
Team – Stewart (c), Jastrzab, Sidney (+), Genner, Segal, Ganesh, Miller, Geraghty, Sherriff, Robertson, Coombs, C De Silva
Result – Randwick Petersham Gold 10/247 – 60.3 overs (D. Sidney 84, J.Genner 68, N. Ganesh 44) vs Mosman 1-42 from 17 overs
Jay Patel called correctly and elected to field on a cold and overcast Saturday. Stewart and Jastrzab opened the innings with Jez falling early and Stewart left one that came back a long way. This brought Ganesh (44) and Sidney (84) to the crease. As the less experienced bowlers came to the crease, both batsmen took advantage of them and the fielding to push the score along. Ganesh played the supporting role while Sidney played a very composed innings – punishing anything loose and pressuring the fielders with quick singles. With Ganesh run out, Genner entered the fray and unconventionally carved himself 68 runs. With a declaration looming the batsmen tried to force the tempo but were undone by loose shots. All out 247 and leaving Mosman to face 17 overs. Genner made the breakthrough leaving the Whales 1/42 overnight.
John Stewart
Metropolitan Cup – Randwick Petersham Green v Eastern Suburbs @ Waverley Oval
Team – Coovre (c), Mohan, S Singh, Kashyap, Bhavsar (+), Stewart, Jastrzab, Sherriff, Robertson, Fox, Crawford
Result – Eastern Suburbs 10/258 – 77.5 Overs (Fox 3/41-15, Kashyap 3/61-17) v Randwick Petersham Green
Showing up with the rare privilege of playing on a first grade ground, the Green team won the toss and elected to bowl in cloudy conditions, and on a green-tinged pitch. Opening bowlers Bhavsar and Robertson both picked-up a pole early-on to have Easts 2/23 in the eighth over. The remaining opener and their robust number four bat then put on a smart 96-run partnership before they both succumbed to the spinning web of Kashyap, who at this stage had found a groove. Kashyap then removed their number five bat, before his spinning partner, Sahib Singh, joined the party, removing the number six cheaply, the hosts 6/148, in the 49th over.
Fox, in his second spell, then blasted-out the son of a former Australian cricketer, who was well-set on 37, as well as numbers nine and ten, to have the hosts 9/209. This saw two unlikely heroes at the crease, barely tall enough to ride the roller-coaster. A wise man once said: “Size matters not!” And those words never rang truer, for over the next 50 runs the two colts played ‘hard to get out’, playing it straight to the good ones, caressing the wider ones, and punishing anything loose in the direction of Bondi Beach. Their number eight, who looked particularly impressive brought up his 50 in the nick of time, before Sheriff removed his partner with a nice caught and bowled – Easts all-out 259, with only two overs left in the day.
Jeremy Jastrzab
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