1st Grade Report vs Fairfield-Liverpool - Round 13 |
It's been an eventful two weeks for the 1st grade team with two of our ranks being selected for higher honours, Dylan 'Smoking' Connell taking another 5 poles as his son Reece so kindly pointed out in the sheds after Day 2; and Greg '12.4%' Lewis adding to his season tally with a patient and very necessary 75 not. Dan Smith gets some good rise out of the Lions' deck First of all, I'd like to congratulate James 'Greatos' Kennedy and Reece 'Works for you' Bombas on their Future's League and 2nd XI selection's respectively; which have come off the back of both hard work and good, consistent performance. JK is now one of, if not the most relentless and competitive bowlers every Tuesday and Thursday which is showing dividends come Saturday. Reece, although he can't make Tuesday training due to work commitments makes up for this with extra hits on the coast and with him finding himself this year has piled on the runs after Christmas. But I digress, and so onto the action from Rosedale. From memory the weather was overcast come Saturday morning and the threat of rain loomed almost the whole day, much the same all around Sydney. With a relatively dry week preceding the start of the round we were expecting a dry and overall good pitch with which our skipper could hopefully win the toss and make a positive decision. Cricket is a funny game though and ultimately it was one of those good tosses to lose, in the end Fairfield won the toss and chose to bat. Dan's unlucky not to pick up this wicket after the skipper grasses a chance Our bowlers were unleashed on what was a softer pitch than first thought and ridges lining it just short of a length. As mentioned Dylan bowled particularly well, forcing the top order into playing and missing more times than this author can count. His first wicket came from a good catch at 1st slip by Packers, our slippers practice coming into good use. Overall Dyl's 5 wickets came at a cost of 25 runs, most notably from 20 overs of effort.
Bombas in good form at the moment JK and Bomber shared many things during our stint in the field, in particular was the banter that was being hurled from gully to fine leg. If only we could pen some of their quips for all to enjoy because the boys behind the stumps had a great morning listening to it. Now there is one more thing they shared, not a lady, a pizza or even a shower but it was the number sitting in their wickets column. Banter. For our efforts we had Fairfield dismissed at tea for 127 and as the weather would have it no more play would be seen this week, with the exception of the poker played in the sheds which I'm led to believe Els cleaned up. Day 2 saw a brighter day, a slightly different pitch and another love bite but that's another story. Greg as already touched on played a very patient innings and controlled the Stags run chase in a great show in tricky conditions. Steve Colley on the other hand belted the ball to all parts in a promising stint at the crease for 29 and showed the difference a positive start can make to a run chase, particularly a small one. As a team we've noticed the warm up habits of our opponents and while the soccer game warm up remains the Achilles heel of opposition, this author learnt a valuable lesson. Teams like this are likely to have good kicking skills; unfortunately for me said opposition sent a booming penalty spot kick into the top of off. Run hard kids!
Greg Lewis stands tall to stroke the ball down the ground This week we look to Sutherland in the last two day and home game of the season. In particular week two of the fixture and the organised 1st grade coast night. I'd like to take the opportunity to announce that James Kennedy has committed to the night and Bevo is likely to continue his self confessed addiction to the amber fluid and enthusiastic love of the 'Beery'. Blair Lindsay |
1st Grade Match Report v. Fairfield-Liverpool
Like any team game such an individual performance requires support all around the ground, and at the other end we had JK and Elliot Richtor keeping the Fairfield batsmen to fewer than 2 runs per over, each picking up a wicket. Smith, although he went for a few more runs. picked up two wickets for his efforts. I think a look through the score card speaks volumes of how well we bowled to our plan, which like any other team is in that 'corridor of doubt'. All but the last wicket fell to catches behind the wicket, or by the boys sending pegs in all directions.
Packers continued Steve 'Buck's party' Colley's positivity towards his 32 and again showed positive things coming into our last two fixtures for the year. All in all a very polished performance from a team really starting believe in their ability and that of those around them, well done boys.
