From The Pavilion – Round 5, Day 1 vs Blacktown + Metro, PGs
Match Reports
1st to 5th Grade – Round 5 Day 1 V Blacktown
Metropolitan Cup – Round 5 Day 1 v UNSW and Sydney University
PG’s – Rounds 5 and 6 T20 Double Header v St George @ Coogee
It was a crucial round for the Randy Petes’ boys as we looked to rebound from a quiet round against USNW in Round 4 when we managed just the 1 victory, alongside 3 losses and a draw. We now sat in 8th place on the Club Championship ladder and faced Blacktown who have really been struggling this year, sitting in 20th place with just 80 points. Whilst on paper we looked to have a strong hand against a Club that has started the season slowly, we are being tested presently with a large amounts of injuries and unavailability. This is stretching our depth, but at the same time providing great opportunities for younger players to shine. On another busy weekend of cricket, Metropolitan Cup and PG’s were both in action again as they looked to bounce back from last round defeats. Read below to find out how all the teams fared, and which players starred in our colours this weekend.
1st Grade – Randwick Petersham v Blacktown @ Coogee Oval
Team – A. Sams (c+), Eaton, Hughes, Chibber, Bohannon, Kemp, Ayre Semple, Neser, Ram, Warren
Result – Randwick Petersham 10/147 – 44.5 Overs (Ayre 40, Hughes 19) and 0/3 – 1 Over v Blacktown 10/124 – 45.2 Overs (Semple 6/35-13.2, Neser 2/9-8, Warren 2/24-8)
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2623924
First Grade were keen to play some cricket after a frustrating couple of days out at Alan Davidson Oval in a match curtailed heavily by rain. The side has experienced all sorts of injuries this season, however we looked to be getting some strength back this week with three key players in Alex Kemp, Soumil Chibber and Riley Ayre available after missing last round. Because Alex Kemp has been out injured and taking on a raft of responsibilities at Cricket NSW, respected wicket keeper batsman Anthony Sams has taken on the captaincy for the rest of the season. Sams has been a senior player for many years in the Randy Petes’ colours and I’m sure will to a great job, like Alex Kemp and Adam Semple before him have done over the years.
On a wild day of cricket at Coogee, 20 wickets fell as we managed to cling on to a narrow first innings victory by 23 runs, with outright points a big possibility next Saturday. After being shot out for 147, we looked to be in a precarious position halfway through the day, before a brilliant display by our three seamers after tea led to Blacktown collapsing, from 2/53 to be all out for 124 just before stumps.
After winning the toss and batting on a fresh, but well prepared and hard wicket, 3 of our top 4 batman made starts before being dismissed, as we struggled to 5/53. Riley Ayre (40) has been a bit of an unsung hero with the bat, and that continued here by top scoring with 40 after being elevated to Number 7 in the batting order. Ayre played a composed innings as wickets continued to fall around him, facing 87 balls and managing just 3 boundaries. Alex Kemp (17) hung around in his new batting position of Number 6, as we managed to scramble a competitive score against a side that hasn’t been scoring many runs this season.
In reply, a fired up Adam Semple (6/35-13.2) produced a stunning spell after tea to skittle the Blacktown middle and lower order. Semple was at his best, angling the ball in from wide on the crease with the ability to nip it away, and was rewarded with a remarkable 4 caught behinds, all expertly taken behind the stumps by new captain Anthony Sams. Semple now has 11 wickets for the season and he was very well supported by both Francois Neser (2/9-8) and Nick Warren (2/24-8). Neser was particularly miserable going at just 1 run per over, bowling an outstanding line and length, as well as picking up 2 key wickets of the Blacktown opener and Number 3 batsman.
Next week, having seen the struggles of the Blacktown middle order, I am sure the boys will be looking to play some positive cricket and set up another run chase in the afternoon. Having already secured 6 points, a 10-point outright victory would elevate us in the Top 4 after 5 rounds of the competition, which would be a great achievement considering the injury and unavailable list that First Grade have had to deal with so far this season.
PG’s Round 5 T20 – Randwick Petersham v St. George @ Coogee Oval
Team – Tector, James, Calder, Bohannon (c), Mahony-Brack, Hart, Montedoro, Mullins+, Jenkins, Kenzie, Dellar
Result – St. George 10/101 – 20 Overs (Kenzie 3/13-4, James 2/17-4, Bohannon 2/24-4) Defeated by Randwick Petersham 6/105 – 19.5 Overs (James 44, Tector 30)
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2634681
PG’s were in action on Sunday with the third and last T20 double header for the regular season against St George, looking to bounce back from two defeats to a strong Sydney side last weekend. After two consecutive road games, everyone was looking forward to getting back to our seaside home of Coogee Oval which is a great spot to play cricket on a Sunday in Sydney. Young 5th Grade seamer Alex Dellar made his PG’s debut in a year where lots of our young players are being given great opportunities.
In the first game, the boys put in a great performance, defeating a strong Saints side by 4 wickets with just one ball remaining in our run chase. Having had an outstanding bowling and fielding performance to limit Saints to 101, we looked to be cruising to victory at 0/68 before slumping to 6/101 to set up a frenetic finish before Ben Montedoro hit the winning runs against his old club.
Our opening pair of Jack Tector (30) and Jack James (44) both played beautifully to have us cruising toward victory, before Saints hit back hard. Both Tector and James batted sensibly, considering the low total we were chasing, and didn’t take unnecessary risks, while ticking over the singles and keeping us above the run rate.
With the ball, the team’s youngest player Bailey Kenzie (3/13-4) was once again outstanding, claiming three big wickets and going at less than 4 runs per over. Kenzie has proved a smash hit in PG’s this year and I know our Grade captains will be desperate to have him back in their sides for Saturday cricket in the near future. Jack James (2/17-4) has made a successful transition from medium pace to off spin in the past couple of years, and he proved more than effective here, darting the ball in, with the batsmen finding it hard to get underneath him. Skipper Josh Bohannon (2/24) proved as reliable as ever as we really put the clamps on a strong batting line up.
The win elevated us back into contention with 2 wins and 3 losses on the season. However, with the afternoon leg of the double header to come, a victory would be needed to get us truly back into the playoff mix.
PG’s Round 6 T20 Game 2 – Randwick Petersham v St. George @ Coogee Oval
Team – Tector, James, Calder, Bohannon (c), Mahony-Brack, Hart, Montedoro, Mullins+, Jenkins, Kenzie, Dellar
Result – St. George 6/165 – 20 Overs (Kenzie 2/24-4, Dellar 2/12-2) Defeated Randwick Petersham 10/111 – 18 Overs (Mahony Brack 34, Bohannon 29, Calder 16)
The boys were pumped up and ready to go, looking to make it two victories from two games against St George after our win in the morning. Given the team played so well in Game 1, there was no need for any changes, with the side going in with the same 11 that did the job in the morning.
Unfortunately, in this game, the strong looking Saints’ side hit back hard, controlling the game from start to finish to win by 54 runs. First Grade batsman Luke Bartier really took the game away from us early, scoring 66 from 48 balls as the visitors amassed a much better score of 6/165 second time round. Bailey Kenzie (2/24-4) was once again our best bowler, whilst youngster Alex Dellar (2/12-2) showed he is a great prospect by putting in an outstanding performance, picking up wickets and bowling tidily.
In reply with the bat, both openers fell cheaply before Bohannon (29) and Mahony Brack (34) put on 62 runs for the third wicket to get us right back into the contest. Mahony Brack blazed four 4s and two 6s in a powerhouse display; however once he fell, the wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Eventually we were bowled out for 111 after 18 overs to finish well short of the Dragons’ total.
All in all it was a good day for our very young side, taking a win off a strong Saints side who have made the semi-finals in the past two years in the PG’s competition. With three rounds to go, we sit in 14th spot on 6 points, however just 3.5 points out of the all-important Top 8 with three 50-over games still to play. Our next game is a tough one on paper, taking on 4th placed Manly at Manly Oval on November 26.
2nd Grade – Blacktown v Randwick Petersham @ Joe McAleer Oval
Team – Everett, Tector, James, Calder, Hart, Holland (C), Edwards, Hemphrey, Mahony-Brack, Loth Jenkins
Result – Randwick Petersham 10/126 – 40.1 Overs (Everett 35, Mahony-Brack 18n/o, James 17) V Blacktown 4/270 – 53 Overs (Edwards 2/82-14, Loth 1/28-6)
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2627723
Second Grade were making the trip West this week to Joe McAleer Oval to take on Blacktown. It was an important game for both sides with Tom Holland’s men sitting on 11th spot on the ladder and Blacktown nipping at our heels in 14th spot on the ladder. With First Grade having strengthened this week, the flow-on effects were obvious in 2nd Grade, with quality players like Jack Tector and Mitchell Edwards making their 2nd Grade debuts for the Club, after being late debutants half way through last week’s 1st Grade game.
Unfortunately, this was a day where the hosts completely dominated, with the Warriors bowling us out for just 126, before replying with a commanding 4/270 to end Day 1 in front by 144 runs. Sometimes you come up against an opposition that is white hot on the day, and that was the case here as we were outplayed with bat and ball, and will have to regroup for Day 2 with only avoiding an outright defeat looking the best case scenario.
Reliable opening batsman Matt Everett (35) top scored with the bat with six boundaries, as we actually got off to a really solid start. With fellow opener Jack Tector (14) and Number 3 Jack James (17) both making solid starts, at 1/64 things were looking rosy for a big score. However, a dreadful collapse scuttled our hopes in their tracks. We lost 8/27 before and after lunch, to go from a strong position at 2/80 to 8/107 before being bowled out in the 41st over.
In reply, hopes were raised that a fightback was on the cards when quickie Doug Loth (1/28-6) removed dangerous opener Sharma in his first over to have the Warriors 1/3. However, from then on it was all the Warriors, as they scored at over 4.5 runs per over, with three of their top five batsmen scoring half centuries at a quick scoring rate. Our spin twins of Mitchell Edwards and Mac Jenkins got through plenty of work, combining for 3 wickets in 34 overs.
Overall it was a scrappy performance int the field and a batting display that failed to capitalise on a great start. Next week will be a good opportunity for our young batting order to get a chance at redemption, as the Warriors go hunting for outright points.
3rd Grade – Randwick Petersham v Blacktown @ Petersham Oval
Team – King, B Stares (C), Eldridge, Burton, Lyle, Montedoro, Graham, Mullins+, McKenzie, N Stares, N.Singh, Tsalikidis
Result – Blacktown 9/281 – 80 Overs (N.Singh 3/81-24, B. Stares 2/42-17, McKenzie 2/55-19) v Randwick Petersham
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2628352
Third Grade were our sole winners in the Top 5 Grades last week, and they would be looking to keep the momentum going coming up against a winless Blacktown side at Petersham Oval. Despite a fair few changes in the higher grades this week, 3’s had an air of familiarity about them, with just the one change to a winning side with gun all-rounder Corey Graham returning from being unavailable last round to bolster the side’s middle order.
On what proved a long day in the fieldn Ben Stares’ men really stuck to the task, limiting Blacktown to 9/281 from their 80 overs on another baking flat Petersham Oval wicket. Petersham has been a paradise this year for batsmen, with the fast outfield and true wicket, and our boys were forced to toil away with the ball and in the field, conceding a respectable 3.5 runs per over throughout the day’s play.
Blacktown had not been known for their solid batting so far this season, having lost all four games, but they certainly turned up here racing to 0/99 and 2/160 as their top order played with confidence and also slices of luck. The boys did well in the end, in the session after tea, claiming 8/120 with a score well over 300 on the cards at certain points throughout the day.
Once again veteran seamer Nigel Singh (3/81-24) took the honours with the ball, getting through a power of work in claiming 3 wickets in 24 reasonably economical overs. Singh picked up the wickets of the Number 4, 5 and 6 batsmen, as he made it 12 wickets from just three games since his return in Round 3. Captain Ben Stares (2/42-17) has proved a very handy surprise packet this season with the ball, and once again he was clearly our most economical bowler here, nagging away on a probing line and length while picking up 2 wickets and being the only to go at less than 3 runs per over. Opening bowler Tom McKenzie (2/55-19) also bowled a few really probing spells on a wicket not offering much assistance to the seamers.
Next week, whilst it is never easy to score close to 300 to win a Third Grade game, the boys should be presented with perfect conditions at Petersham Oval to do so. Captain Stares commented that this was a highway of a wicket and the boys would be confident that if we bat the day we will be able to run the Warriors down. Let’s remember, last week 3’s looked well and truly buried on Day 1, before fighting back to claim a great come-from-behind victory, and, with a place in the top half of the table at stake, I’m sure the Warriors will have their work cut out for them to get the victory they probably expect from here.
4th Grade – Blacktown v Randwick Petersham @ Jim Henshaw Oval
Team – Powell +, Murdita, Andonoupoulos, Frith, Bourke (C), C. Singh, Stafford, Fox, Flanagan, Budwee, Tsalikidis
Result – Blacktown 10/133 -57.2 Overs (Stafford 5/37-19, Flanagan 2/30-20, Budwee 2/18-7) v Randwick Petersham 2/50 – 20 Overs (Murdita 16, Andonopoulos 13n/o)
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2629150
Fourth Grade headed to the salubrious surrounds of Jim Henshaw Oval, keen on making amends for our first loss of the season last week. The boys were still sitting pretty in 5th spot on the ladder, and could move back in to the Top 4 with a victory over the winless Warriors. Having welcomed back retirees albeit fleetingly in James Tyson and Karl Schubert, it was time to welcome back another one this week, with Club legend Chris Singh pulling on the boots. Singh had been a prolific player in 3rd grade and 4th grad for over a decade for the Randy Petes so skipper Bourke was delighted when he made himself available at short notice. Gabriel Budwee and Kyri Tsalikidis were also back in 4th Grade to add some real punch to a bowling line up already containing prolific wicket takers in Rod Stafford and Padraic Flanagan.
I’m not quite sure what happened in the off season, but veteran David Bourke has changed a lifetime philosophy of batting first 9 times out of 10, and thinking about bowling first once before deciding to bat. This season, the wily skipper has bowled first on a couple of occasions, and he was rewarded for his decision here as we shot out the Warriors for 144 before looking pretty solid in reply at 2/50 at stumps on a tricky wicket. Blacktown were really made to labour for their 133, chewing up 57 overs, as all our bowlers played exceptionally well, putting the screws on and building pressure throughout the innings.
The star of the day was, once again, 4th Grade’s best recruit ever in veteran Rod Stafford (5/37-19). It was only a matter time before Stafford claimed his first 5-wicket haul of the season, as he managed to extract both turn and zip out of the surface, as he ran through the Blacktown middle and lower order. As well as ripping the ball, Stafford has the ability to zip a few through straight, and was rewarded with a couple of LBWs in his 19 over spell at the crease. Stafford was once again expertly supported by our leading strike bowler in Flanagan (2/30-20) who once again bowled outstandingly, conceding just 1.5 runs per over and picking up two key wickets. The pair now has 29 wickets between them already this season, and would have to be the most deadly pace/spin duo in the competition thus far. Gab Budwee (2/18-7) also made his presence felt in his return to the side, as our senior bowlers all did their job.
In reply Murdita (16) and Powell (13) got things off to a solid start putting on 31 runs for the 1st wicket before they were both dismissed with the score on 31 to throw a late scare into the camp. However, Peter Andonoupoulos (13n/o) and Tom Frith 5 (n/o) steered us safely to stumps, with the boys requiring another 84 runs with eight first innings wickets in hand when we resume on Day 2.
5th Grade – Randwick Petersham V Blacktown @ Kensington Oval
Team – Crawford, Rushton, Ganesh, Sapariya, Wall (c), Sidney (+), Dellar, Sekton, L. O’Loughlin, M. O’Loughlin, Waugh
Result – Blacktown 10/185 – 75.1 Overs (M. O’Laughlin 4/33-15, Sekton 3/59-15, L. O’Laughlin 2/45-16) v Randwick Petersham 0/4 – 3 overs
http://www.premier.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?locx=MATCH&matchID=2632460
Fifth Grade were in a showdown this week, with both ourselves and Blacktown desperate to get our first win of the season at Kensington Oval. The side has had some improved performances in recent weeks, and received a great boost to our bowling line up here with both young guns in Mitchell O’Loughlin and Mac Waugh back in the side. Both young quickies played a part in last year’s 5th Grade Premiership win, with Waugh playing a key role in the finals, so it was great to finally have some troops available that tasted success last season in that great season under Nigel Singh.
In what proved a slow day’s cricket, our boys did a great job with the ball and in the field, limiting the Warriors to all out 185 from 75 overs on a flat Kensington Oval wicket. After conceding big scores in our last couple of outings, this was a far more disciplined performance with the ball and in the field, as we conceded less than 3 runs per over throughout the day and gave ourselves an outstanding chance of victory next week.
The Warriors looked to be well in control of the game in the first session, having reached 1/70, before a remarkable collapse saw them lose 5 wickets for just 9 runs. Even more astounding was the fact that 4 wickets fell with the score on 79, as Warriors’ batsmen were left scrambling for their pads to get out to the wicket in time.
Clearly, the standout performer of the day was returning paceman Mitchell O’Loughlin (4/33-15) who ripped the heart out of the Warriors’ batting line-up with a 4-wicket display. The big quickie applied pressure from the start, and got through a big work rate in his first outing of the season, with his return boosting a bowling line-up that had been struggling a bit up front in recent weeks. O’Loughlin was well supported by Sekton (3/59-15) who backed up his marathon effort last week with 3 big wickets here, to keep the Warriors in check. Mitchell wasn’t the only O’Loughlin getting in on the act, with older brother Liam claiming two wickets as the boys combined for 6 wickets between them on the day. Liam bowled with good accuracy and control in his 16-over spell.
Skipper Mark Wall commented that it was the best display all year in the field from the boys and that they are very confident that they can get the job done next week. Next week, our two openers will resume on 0/4, with 182 runs required for victory and all 10 wickets in hand, in what hopefully will be our first victory of the season.
Metropolitan Cup – Randwick Petersham Gold vs UNSW Black @ Alexandria Park
Team – Stewart (c), Jastrzab (+), Segal, Jedwood, Lopes, Fennech, Whalebone, Coombs, O Sachs
Result – Randwick Petersham Gold 122 – 40.2 Overs (Segal 32) v UNSW Black 8/86 – 37 Overs (Segal 2/4, Lopes 2/14)
http://www.smcc.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?matchID=2757131
Gold arrived at Alexandria Park to be confronted with a wicket resembling parts of the outfield. Predictably, Gold were invited to bat by UNSW Black’s skipper and it was a poor start with Stewart out early. Jastrzab and Segal showed off good technique and runs began to flow. The loss of Jastrzab didn’t slow proceedings with Noah Jedwood (21) combining with Segal (32) to have the scoreboard ticking over. Jedwood punished anything loose including one into the adjacent tennis courts. Not to be outdone Segal followed 2 balls later. After tea wickets steadily fell to see Gold all out for a seemingly below par 122.
The UNSW batsmen went on the attack early but quickly slowed the tempo with Lopes (2/14) and Oscar Sachs (1/23) giving nothing away. The bowlers worked in partnership and were backed up brilliantly in the field with 2 spectacular catches to Lopes and only 9 men on the park. UNSW limped to stumps finishing the day 8/86, including a spell of 6/18 in the final 15 overs of the day that also contained a double wicket maiden from Segal (2/4). Gold will be on the hunt for the final 2 wickets and an opportunity for outright points when play resumes next week.
John Stewart
Metropolitan Cup – Randwick Petersham Green v Sydney University @ St Pauls – Day 1
Team – Coovre (c), Geraghty, Bhavsar (+), Mohan, Sherriff, Robertson, W Deller, C De Silva, Kumar, Hani
Result – Sydney University 6/330 – 53.4 Overs (Mohan 2/79) v Randwick Petersham Green 3/50 – 24 Overs
http://www.smcc.nsw.cricket.com.au/common/pages/public/rv/match.aspx?matchID=2757127
The Green team won the toss and elected to bowl, on a greenish pitch, and only eight fielders. A big thank-you to the marvellous Mike Deller, who, seeing our plight, donned the whites and jumped on board. Aged sandstone buildings and Jacarandas showering their purple flowers were the perfect backdrop to the postage stamp size ground, as Corey Sherriff rhythmically ran-in to start proceedings. There was also Joel Robertson from the other end, who got the first wicket in the 11th over, a catch going to Dane Geraghty. The students were quick to pounce on anything short or wide, young Will Deller showing another side to his cricketing prowess: climbing (under and over) fences, and finding lost balls!
Just when the other opener was starting to look dangerous, Coovre caught him napping at the non-strikers end to have the students 2/92 in the 20th over. Charith came on and had the number three snicking behind, before an 81-run fourth wicket partnership ensued. Bala Mohan, sole spinner for Greens, eventually broke the partnership feathering one through to the keeper. Then a 91-run partnership occured, balls going into unpluggable gaps, some challenging half-chances, their stylish number five on a roll. Mike Deller’s terrific energy, witty barbs, and excellent dives helped lift the team, and it was wonderful to see father and son in action together. It was Mohan again who finally took the next wicket, the score 5/306 in the 49th over. Mr Stylish eventually brought-up his century, but shortly after Will Deller had him trapped in front, the Sydney Uni captain declaring at 6-330.
Coovre and Geraghty opened-up, the former pulling for four off his first ball but shortly after snicking to gully. Geraghty and Abbie Bhavsar then looked rocked solid, before the latter was castled by a mean off-cutter. Mohan, joined Geraghty who was at his laconic best, ticking over the scoreboard wherever possible. Unfortunately he fell in the final over of the day, out caught. With 281 still to get, but with re-inforcements on the way, and Mohan channelling VVS Laxman, hope is kindled.
Alexis Coovre
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