Lyall’s Preview Kingsgrove Sports Twenty20 Cup Grand Final
The Grand Final of the 2023-24 Kingsgrove Sports Twenty20 Cup will be played at Coogee Oval NEXT SUNDAY 5 November 2023 between Randwick Petersham and Gordon. The match begins at 2.30pm and will be live streamed.
In the 16 years of the competition, this will be the 5th time Randwick Petersham has participated in the Grand Final. The club won each of the previous 4–three against Sydney University and one against Campbelltown-Camden under lights at Drummoyne Oval. The club has dominated the competition winning 61 out of 85 matches with 21 lost and 3 drawn. A total of 41 of those matches were at Coogee with Randwick Petersham winning 29 while losing 11.
Of the 4 preliminary rounds this season, the Qualifying Final and the Semi-Final, Randwick Petersham won all 6 matches. Gordon lost 2 of the 4 preliminary rounds but defeated Parramatta and Penrith in the finals series to make the Grand Final.
Interestingly, Gordon has been a bit of a thorn in our side in Twenty20 cricket. We have clashed 6 times but have lost the last 4. The latest was in the Semi-Final at Coogee last season when they scored a record 4-221 off their 20 overs and kept us to 7-186 off our 20. Our last win over Gordon was in 2016-17, just on 7 years ago. They have been a formidable outfit over the seasons and can’t be taken lightly.
A very strong 14-man Randwick Petersham squad has been named for Sunday’s clash. The squad is: Riley Ayre (Capt.), Anthony Sams, Jack Wood, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Jake Egan, Ben Mitchell, Max Robinson, Angus McTaggart, Ash Burton, Ryan Ninan, Connor O’Riordan, Jackson Gwynne, Jason Ralston, Luke Callanan.
Can Randwick Petersham become premiers for the 5th time in this competition? Sunday will tell the tale. It’s a huge game for the club and the players. A win would give the club its 5th premiership across all competitions in the past 5 seasons (2019-20 Belvidere Cup; 2020-21 Limited Overs Cup; 2021-22 T2O Cup; 2022-23 Poidevin-Gray Shield, ?? 2023-24 T20 Cup).
Our team goes better when we get a good roll-up to cheer them on. Come along to Coogee on Sunday, enjoy the spectacle and (hopefully) join in the celebrations!
Go the Randy Petes!!!
Lyall Gardner OAM
