LJ’s Randy Petes Preview Round 7 vs Blacktown + Metro

Last weekend was a tough one for the Randy Petes against Sydney, winning just the one grade game on Saturday. The First Grade T20 side restored some order on Sunday afternoon but our PG’s fell short against the Bears.

This weekend, we take on Blacktown in two-day games and three sides will be on the road. Last year we won three of the five grades against the Mounties, and this year it would be nice to improve on that result and see if we can get our first Greenwash of the season. 

Funnily enough, our record against Blacktown overall could perhaps be the best of any opponent, with a massive four clean sweeps over the years and the last of those coming in 2013/14.

1st Grade is at Joe McAleer Oval: 

A heartbreaking loss last weekend to Sydney has the Randy Petes dropping back to 4^th on the table, with this weekend’s opponents in Blacktown sitting 12^th. First Grade welcome Jamie Hemphrey into the side this week for the trek out west.

We got the chocolates over the Mounties last time out, and our overall record is fantastic with 9 wins and just four losses. With so much to play for heading into Christmas and ladder positions taken into account, the Randy Petes should be winning this one.

Riley Ayre has been dominant with bat and ball in all fixtures this season, and has been an integral part of the rich form in the T20 competition. With so much variety and experience at his disposal, he will be a big part of a potential win this round.

2nd Grade is at Coogee Oval:

A tough loss last weekend has 2s in 15^th spot and starting to need some wins to compete for a finals berth post-Christmas. After scoring 98 in 3^rd Grade last week and shaving off his sub-par facial salad, Ashley Burton comes into the side this week and will add plenty with bat and ball. The other addition is seamer Mitch O’Loughlin, who has found form with the ball recently in 3s and makes his 2s debut here. 

Over the years in this grade we have beaten Blacktown on 8 occasions, and only suffered three losses – two of those coming in the past two meetings. The Mounties are only just above us on the ladder so this looms as a very winnable game. 

After taking the captaincy reins and then missing games through injury so far in 2019, Jack Lyle has not been in the runs as much as we have come to expect from him. That should all change this round at his home deck of Coogee, and a captain’s knock can’t be far off.

3rd Grade is at Jim Hanshaw Oval:

So close, yet so far last weekend for 3^rd Grade in a tough loss to Sydney. There have been so many positives early in the season but they have only managed to claim the one victory. This weekend, they have a host of changes with Adam Docos dropping back, Luca Lopes and Tom Holland back from holidays, and Ryan Miskella, Hayden Fox and Akhter Hussain coming up from a victorious 4s outfit. 

A strong record over the years against 3s should give us plenty of confidence here, as will the fact they are only one spot ahead of us on the ladder. In 12 clashes with Blacktown in this grade, the Randy Petes have suffered just the one loss and one draw.

Adam Docos has been circuiting very well lately, and has made a couple of good scores in 2^nd Grade so far this season. He comes back here to get some runs on the board and take a few catches behind the stumps. If he gets going early, he’ll be far too good for a 3^rd Grade attack.

4th Grade is at Kensington Oval:

After they saved the club from a Tigerwash last weekend, 4s are flying high and have plenty of confidence after the hard-fought win – but they need to go on with it heading into the break. A host of changes this week with Mitch Winslade, Corey Graham and Neale Crawford back in, and the two Navy lads in Steven Sheakey and Joel Wilson making their debuts.

4^th Grade defeated Blacktown last season and like the rest of the club, our record is quite strong here with 11 wins from 12 meetings over the years. Despite the Mounties sitting inside the top six so far this season, there is no reason why we can’t claim the chocolates. 

Jaya ‘Mal’ Murdita had an unfortunate globe first up from a spell last week against the Tigers, but we expect a better effort from him here and he looms as a player to watch.

5th Grade is at Whalan Oval No. 2:

5s will make the trek out to the 8^th Wonder of the World for the next two Saturdays as they look to get their season back on track after some tough losses as of late.

Last time we played this round’s opponents we suffered a tough outright loss to the Mounties and it’s time to turn that back in our favour. Overall we still have a positive record of 7 wins and 5 losses – but the last of our victories came back in 2014/15.

Simran Sandhu was on fire with the ball last weekend, taking 4/34 and was a real shining light in a beaten side. His pace will prove a major factor in any potential win for the Randy Petes in their trip to Whalan.

Metropolitan Cup Preview by Jeremy Jastrzab:

After a few tumultuous weeks, where both Metropolitan Cup sides fought gamely against the odds, reinforcements have arrived en masse to assist the teams with a strong run into Christmas. The Golden boys get back on the park against Georges River at Marrickville Oval, who were taken much closer by Green team than the scorecard would admit. With numerous Georges River performers having been elevated to 4th grade Shires, and Gold regaining a slew of youngsters from rep duty, a more even contest is on the cards here. The Green machine were due to take on Blacktown over the next two Sundays, but the boys from Mount Druitt have requested to move the game to a 9:30am start next Sunday. Metropolitan Cup is a wonderful opportunity for younger players to take their first steps into men’s cricket, so it’s better for both teams to get on the park than not. Several Green Shield squad members will be using the game as a tune up for their season.