SUCC 1st - 5th Grade v Fairfield Liverpool.
SUCC Metro v RP Green.
SUCC PG's v .
SUCC Sunday League v .
City and Suburban v Knox
The "Max Bonnell Golden Pen Award" points tally
1st grade | 2nd grade | 3rd grade | 4th grade | 5th grade | 6th grade | PG's | Sunday League
The students made their way out to Rosedale Oval to face the lions on a sweltering day that promised to be a cracker with both teams at full strength although a few players had trouble finding the ground with the navman struggling to pick up reception.
With the horses off the ground the students made their way onto the park with mail loosing yet another 50/50 heads or tails. For a man that gets exciting over numbers and statistics one would have thought that he would be able to work out a strategy to win.
A new opening bowling partnership was introduced with Tommy Kierath given the nod in front of “the hero” Moran and “the angry man” Toyer. Marty “I’m a ball tamper” Paskal got the units off to a great start getting “Mufasa” Lambert caught with no hands at backward point by Tommy “solo” Kierath who has recently developed the skill of catch balls with his thigh. Things looked to be getting away from the students with “Simba” Rohrer hitting the ball to the boundary on a regular basis until the ever reliable Mail brought a mistake from Simba and the ball went high in the air… Under it was the ball tamper who looked as clumsy as a baby giraffe waiting for the ball that would have surely had snow on it if the temperature wasn’t in the 40’s. Great catch. Once warmed up Moran tore through the lions middle order with 4/22 on the m7. Kierath (3/30) and Toyer (2/37) put the lions out of their misery for a score of 174.
On a flat pitch and fast outfield a victory looked inevitable and Hay and Henry put on a steady opening stand of 56 until Henry was finally out on his 4th try for 26. Moran came to join Hay who has said “I need to be in some kind of pain while I bat so I don’t listen to the demons on my shoulders” was thriving in the hot conditions. The two whipped the team home with an outstanding batting performance and saw Hay finish unbeaten on 77* and Moran 71* respectively. The Troll Doll and Miss Brazil 2010 put in an awesome effort and was greatly appreciated by the rest of the units who were losing weight just watching.
Once again the students sung loud and proud but a certain member was still unable to remember the words and was fined a dollar.
Scott Henry
Sydney Uni 10/215 def (with 1 bonus point) Fairfield 10/120 (31.4)
Josh Ryan 85, Tim Ley 31, Mark Faraday 26
Tim Ley 3 for 49, Shashi Keshar 2 for 5 (1.4), Jimmy Kazaglis 2 for 18 (7)
On a weekend which it was great to be in an even grade, the 2nd grade boys commenced nash minus three of the big guns. It was massive win for the drinking kitty, with three of the experienced campaigners failing to allow for the early one day start. Mark “but I have been sipping coffee since 6:00am” Faraday, Timmy “your shoe tells me a story” Lee and Josh “I used to be the teams all rounder” Ryan all graciously accepted their fine, and joined the warm-up. It was a particularly sweet revenge, after Rig’s enormous late arrival celebrations and gloating the week before.
After electing to bat, the students were off to a rocky start with Larks and your scribe exiting quickly with the score at 2 for 0. Enter Josh “get me some taaaaaaaaaaaape” Ryan, who played a crucial role in anchoring the innings. He was well assisted from Mark “tell me I am wrong...” Faraday (26), James “Creepy” or “I really did get hit by a cricket ball.....look how swollen it is” Crowley (25) and Tim “the shoe whisperer” Ley (31). Worth a special mention was an effortless six in the last few over’s from Shashi “i did it to prove Faras wrong” Keysher. Incredible to watch.
Rig innings was one of his best, with some powerful shots combined with quality patience and excellent intent. A batting lesson for all.
The student’s managed 215.
The new ball was taken by Lezy along with the “bustling water sprinkler” himself, Jimmy Kazaglas. Jimmy started well with a wicket off his first ball back in twos.....cheers. Rig too was excited by “the bustlers” bustle; so much so he decided to pop a shoulder with a brave sliding effort to stop a four. Rig being the stoic character that he is, made it hard for anyone to tell he had hurt himself. .......that is if you missed the 15 minutes after the incident where he ran around a large portion of the ground reminiscent of a Mo post wicket celebration but with less of a smile and more of a moan, clutching his shoulder and stopping only for the multiple collapsing episodes caused by waves of pain. The Gator was even called on to get rig off the field.
Enter Liam “yes, I am coming out of my shell.....watch out” Robertson. He came on with his miraculous dobblers, and bowled a controlled and high quality spell. He managed 1 for 28 of his ten, but also effected an important run-out and created a number of chances.
Tim Ley returned to the top of the wicket takers list with 3 for the game and some rapid bowling. Jimmy Kazaglis managed 2 for 18 on his return and Shashi “I hit sixes for fun” Keshar proved effective as always with 2 wickets for his 1.4 overs.
A good result from the uni boys managing a solid win with a bonus point. An important return to form with the finals not far away.
The gentle sound of snoring woke your scribe early Saturday morning. The ever industrious Smash Cowan the (Much) Younger (Looking) had a late night client function with some representatives from Schweppes on Friday (a certain Mr Epsi, who had been referred by Gentleman Rig) and was somewhat unprepared for the day that awaited him. Indeed such was the level of preparation that a quick Saturday morning wash of the creams was required. However, obstacles (like hangovers) are to be overcome and a case was avoided by running a few “orange” lights down Broadway.
The gates of Fortress Pauls are marked “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here” for visiting teams, which no doubt confuses some of the new students attending the college. Unlike Dante’s Inferno however, the heat at Paul’s was quite real and not only emanating from the curry that Shervington had consumed Friday night. To misquote an English wordsmith, a man what brings he’s own toilet paper has security and Shervington was very secure.
Yet again Bertellie et al took advantage of the opportunity to parade around shirtless in front of impressionable young men and a skins team for Nash was quickly assembled. Some of the older, wiser members of the 6th grade team shook their heads at such folly. On a day like Saturday, warm-up’s (like sex) were best kept short and unsatisfying. 6th grade nash bears little resemblance to the game that I had never seen or heard of before joining the club, with the skins team foolishly running instead of letting the ball do the work. Shervington turned up approximately 15 minutes into the game. Some classic stuff.
Logs Junior (Twigs?) younger displayed some trademark forgetfulness leaving the scorebook, new ball and his rattle in his car (and by his car of course I mean his long suffering mother’s, who was unceremoniously turfed from her seat so young Logs could rest his old legs before the start of play).
Eventually,some cricket began. The game was, not unlike Dickens’ classic “a tale of two cities”, a story of two parts, their innings and then ours. A certain, unnamed 6th grade captain had declined the new ball – citing an “injured” shoulder - and retired to a comfortable position at 2nd slip so Metro (next stop wickets) and (Its not easy being) Green opened the bowling. Success was not forthcoming and some absolute rubbish chat was emerging from the younger team members.
With the new rock being unsuccessful, the scribe was quickly brought into the attack to stop the bleeding. Which he subsequently did, from slip, as the mecurial Gatt managed to break-through with the score on 90. Stern words emerged from the mouth of Captain Coin-Toss, who followed them up with a screamer at first slip off the wily Silver Fox. Unfortunately for yours truly, our fearless leader no doubt confused and alarmed by the molestation received after taking the first catch, elected to head butt a second, simpler edge towards gully rather than trying to catch it.
Low Tide (who wins the award for the shittest nickname of the week) was unsuccessful and Bertellie only succeeded in evoking tears from the RP no.4 who declared in a wavering voice that “he was just doing his best”. Eventually he and Paul bonded over their mutual fondness for biceps and the game continued unabated. Shervington’s pies were brought on once the openers had reestablished control for the good guys and, mystifyingly, he was once again rewarded with a wicket such that at lunch the game was delicately poised with the Uni boys requiring 253 to win.
Lunch was a chaotic affair with Messrs Bertellie and Shervington trying to convince the Silver Fox to bat up the order so they could come in and pongo school kids when the going got easier. With Barwick and Twigs (whose experience in pongo’ing school kids was beyond doubt) entrenched at the top of the order, the number 3 spot was available together with an afternoon in the sun away from the rubbish chat and exemption from umpiring duty. The challenge was accepted.
Unfortunately for the Students (and the young lady who was in transit to the ground to see me), neither Barwick nor Twigs troubled the scorers greatly and your scribe entered proceedings early. The day was hot and the kiwi was angry, angry with his own team, angry with the umpires and spectators and seemingly angry with life itself. A determined man can overcome the disadvantage of being born a kiwi (just look at Russell Crowe), but a man is not an island and you are not pitching rocks into the sea, direction is important. A partnership emerged between the Fox and Bertellie, whose pleas for a break from running “quick” singles were ignored, as they should be.
Shervington entered next and holed out trying to hit his 3rd ball over the smallest fence on the ground. Still it is rare to see such a well compiled 1 and the sparse crowd loved the entire minute of his innings. (Whadda you know) Joe entered next who, but for his height, freckles and general appearance is a dead ringer for the sham-wow guy. Unlike the other person in the club who resembles the sham-wow guy (Gentleman Rig, who more closely resembles the sham-wow remix – chop, chop, chop, chop), Joe started sedately but eventually he too got jack of hitting singles and started to play over the top.
Unfortunately he departed, leaving the skipper (whose mysterious shoulder injury had disappeared during the luncheon interval) to elevate himself above the remaining recognised batsman and enter the fray. Several agricultural swings later he departed and lower-middle order specialist Waterlow entered the picture.
He was lucky to survive an early shout and was at one stage groping like a teenager in the back row of a cinema. The Angriest Kiwi in Australia made the mistake of pitching short however and was dispatched into the carpark with what was undoubtedly one of the finest shots not played by your scribe that day.
Ominous rain clouds had begun to encircle the ground blowing a cool refreshing breeze onto the stumps every 2nd ball. Play was held up for several minutes so that Bertellie and Shervington could be brought out some maxi pads and comforters. However some of the students were made of sterner stuff and had the measure of both the weather and their opponents, running out easy winners, chasing down the required 254 in the 44th over. Waterlow not out 50, your scribe 126no.
No fines meeting was held, saving Logs Snr from mortgaging his home to pay for his son’s outrageous chat. The victory party was well attended, with your scribe yet again the only metro cup player to make it. The fact that half the team cannot legally drink is no excuse.
Once again wides tipped in a handy performance for both teams and some of the more directionally challenged bowlers will no doubt welcome a return to the longer form of the game next week. The 6’ers remain undefeated since your scribe’s debut for the club and despite not wanting to take ALL the credit, clearly this credit is well deserved.
City and Suburban
Match report, Sydney Uni C & S v Knox Old Boys
Sun 31.01.10, Gillespie Field
Knox Old Boys have traditionally been a tough team to beat in the C&S competition, and this weekend’s game was no exception.
Events started off early around 10:00am when the Knox skipper phoned Greg Aird with the bad news that their groundsman had forgotten to put the covers on the night before, and consequently the game would be called off. This prompted a flurry of phonecalls, swearing, grinding teeth and loudly outspoken views of general incompetence. Knox must have had a sixth sense, with the Knox skipper calling Greg back with the news that they would reconsider their position after viewing the wicket. Finally at 11:30, we had confirmation of a game.
Knox won the toss and elected to bat on a very spongy, green wicket that was rapidly drying out in 28 degrees of sunshine. Fizpatrick and young Tom Hill opened the bowling, both getting movement in the air and off the wicket. Both bowled tightly and by the 10th over we had them at 1-26. Between the 10th and the 18th (when drinks were taken) they upped the run-rate and they came in for drinks at 1-66.
Special mention to Tom Hill who finished with 0-15 off 8 overs. Scotty finished with 0-50 off 8, but it was only in the last two overs when their opening bat, once he had passed 50, began to open up his shoulders, Scotty’s figures suffered. Newcomer Mike Rose, Aird (2 wickets) and Freeman also rolled the arm over, but it was Sanjeev Singh and young 13 yr old Dural Dassanayake, bowling well flighted offspin, who did their best to contain their middle order. Sanjeev finishing with 0-29 off 5 and Dural finishing with 4-53 of 8, which included 3 stumpings. As usual, the aerobatics and sharpness of gloveman Granza was a telling part. The last 8 overs was a back breaker for Uni, with Knox piling on 104 runs in this period, and consistently clearing the boundary with some powerful clean hitting. Carmody fielded well in the deep, but this 8 over period is best forgotten. Knox finishing up at 8-217 off their 35 overs.
Being a challenging target to chase down, Uni started off well, with Carmody (19) and young Govender (12) keeping the run rate up against some tight bowling to reach 1-37 after 10 overs. Singh coming in at No. 3 reached 22 quickly, after clearing the boundary twice. The middle order needed to fire and fire quickly to get on top of a rapidly climbing run rate. At the halfway mark, we were 4 for 70 after 18 overs, down - but not out. Feeling the pressure (especially the expectations placed on Mike Rose after being confronted by the emergence of his family, just prior to walking out into the middle), the middle and lower orders folded (Le Couteur – 14, Rose – 0, Granza – 8, Freeman – 0, Fitpatrick – 3, Hill – 0 and Dassanayake – 9) and it was left to the attacking approach of Aird (6 Not Out) to take us into 3 figures.
Uni all out for 100 off 30 overs.