The first weekend of April is my favourite weekend of the year. Forget the Australia Day long weekend or the Bank Holidays that many of the elder statesmen of the club would enjoy - Grand Final weekend is the best of the year for a cricketer.

There is a palpable excitement in the air around the club. This time of the year is the reason why we play this game - this wonderful, frustrating, beautiful game which can turn the calmest and rational of men into animals baying for blood to be spilt on the pitch. This is the point where all of the sweat and tears of the pre-season become worth the pain that the S&C coaches inflicted upon us ("go to dark places boys!"). The past 6 months of up-and-down performances and ’90% days’ become less relevant - this is the chance to stand up on the big stage.


There are some certainties that this weekend will bring. The Nashball finals will be the most fiercely contested of the year. All bets are off and bragging rights will be on offer for whomever comes out on top. There will be some dubious adjudications made by the (old) referees on the park to ensure victory goes to the rightful team. And if you can avoid incurring injury from a certain raging bull, you can count yourself lucky.

 

There will also be serious anticipation about what will be on offer for the last (and usually best) afternoon teas of the season. No matter what the state of play in the game is, when the clock strikes 3:10pm the boys will head hungrily over to the spread and try in vain to curb their enthusiasm for whatever delights are on offer. And if you are hoping to indulge in any ‘little boys’ which may be on offer, you’d better hope Will Hay isn’t around.


Sitting in the sheds with your teammates, there is a strong faith in each other and a trust that has formed over the course of the previous 6 months. There is comfort in the knowledge that no matter what previous form has brought, someone will be good for it when it’s required. I attribute this factor to much of the success that SUCC has enjoyed during the past decade. Thinking of just a few:

  • Hector Pascal's 6-for at Hurstville in '07/08 which broke the back of Bankstown…
  • The final Sutherland wicket being taken by Tommy 'Two Plates' Kierath to send us through to the semi in '08/09 (a nickname also inspired by that year’s Grand Final)…
  • James Crowley's innings in '10/11, facing a barrage of Coyte bumpers and abuse, but remaining steadfast at the crease with Scooter Henry and helping us to a defendable total…
  • Adam 'Ship' Theobald cover-driving ND's into submission in ‘11/12…
  • Kevvy Desai’s crucial supporting role at the crease with TK, which buried Manly in ‘11/12…
  • Hilly's mammoth 500-ball, double-century innings against Mosman in '13/14, which doubled his season’s run tally…

There are countless other moments which may have been less spectacular, but no less crucial towards another etching onto the Belvidere and Albert cups for SUCC.

Finals cricket presents great challenges for the players both on and off the field. Many a relationship has been tested in the top grades when reality dawns that "yes, the match really goes for 3 days". The tension only increases with the realisation that the celebrations last for the same duration and intensity. However, it is only once the beers start to flow that the players can truly reflect with each other on the year that was, and this will continue well into the early hours and following days.
 

In my view, this weekend is a significant one for the club because for the first time in a decade, neither first or second grade are competing on the final stage. Instead, Smash Cowan and AJ Grant will be leading the 3s and 4s onto the field for a shot at the Mitchell and Reid premiership cups. We have the opportunity for both those teams to take out the grand prize - the best in recent history. There will be no state representatives on the field, but there is a great mix of experience and youth preparing to take on the Dolphins and the Panthers. Many of the boys will be playing in their first GF, and it is exciting to see how they will seize their moment when it arrives.

Finals cricket also inspired the birth of the famous Uni Army. Its origins arguably began with Smash, Hilly and Ben Joy on the hill at Manly Oval, cheering on Sydney Uni amongst a wave of colourful Manly support (some might call abuse). It has grown exponentially in recent years to become a source of vocal support for our boys, ready to provide a crucial lift for Sydney Uni when required. Whether you consider yourself part of the Uni Army or not I hope you will get down to number 1, or out to the west, to support our Blue and Golds this weekend. Without doubt this weekend will inspire the moments that we will talk about for years to come, and I can't wait to be a part of it