1st Grade Report vs Randwick - Petersham - Round 1 |
 First grade report vs Randwick Petersham by Matt Nicholson
A hot sunny morning greeted the mighty Stags first grade team as they turned up at Petersham Oval, now known as "The Beach" thanks to a late decision to topsoil the outfield. Much was expected of the new look side with the inclusion of Rob Edwards for the first time and Matt Michael and Julian Stephenson back in the top grade. (Rob Edwards receives his cap for his debut) All the players were naturally a little nervous leading into this first encounter. Everyone wondering what this season had in store, who would be the heroes and could we go one better this time around. A great match up for Gordon in the first round, the club champions from 07/08 and the side we vanquished in the epic semi-final at Chatswood last season, Randwick-Petersham. The skipper won the toss after a lengthy coin roll on the dry and slightly ridgy wicket. The Stags would bat first, try and get a decent score on the board and then apply the pressure.
(One of those Bevo drives) Hauritz introduced himself early and with immediate effect as he had Bev playing back and trapped L.B.W. with the score on 27. The only encouragement from this dismissal was that the ball was already turning on the dry surface. This brought Reece Bombas to the crease who immediately set about ticking the scoreboard over and getting used to the wicket. Casson was out shortly afterwards and was livid with himself after doing all the hard work only to fan at a wide one from the generally accurate first change bowling of Byrne.
(The players celebrate a great catch by Rod Hokin) The message at 2-100 after 30 was that 220 would be a good score on that outfield and wicket. Packman set about catching Bombas with some powerful pulls and lofted drives. All the while both players nudging balls into gaps to keep the board moving. Packman rode his luck as he was dropped four times but made the Randwick-Petersham boys pay with a half century peppered with class. After a patient and professional stand of 139, Bombas was unfortunately run out coming back for the second, or not as the case may be, with the score on 182. Nicholson and Packman then punished the errant "death" bowling and the last 5 overs yielded 42 runs with a tired and cramping Packman holing out at deep long on for 87. Nicholson finished 28 not out and the Stags had their 220, plus four.
(Beau and Bevo celebrate the catch to remove Semple) The plan was for a few early wickets and then let Casson and Brendan Macdonald go to work with their wrist spin on a deteriorating surface. Jackson came out swinging for the hosts, connected with a few and missed a lot but it was his partner Usman Khawaja who came unstuck first. The fledgling N.S.W. player was strangled by an immaculate spell from Connell. Eventually playing a big drive and edging to Nicholson at 2nd slip. Jackson continued to take huge risks but the board was only trickling at 3 an over, despite all the bat swinging. Both Nicholson and Connell swung the ball and looked dangerous at times but it was the introduction of Julian Stephenson that brought the next wicket. Jackson swung lustily at a slower ball and dragged it to deep backward square leg where Rod Hokin pulled in a marvelous catch, diving forward and looking into the sun. The fielding standard had been set.
(Beau in action at Petersham) Nathan Hauritz had other ideas and began mixing clever touch with power against both spinners. He was the danger man and as he passed 20 Gordon began to give him singles and pressurise the more inexperienced players at the other end. Both spinners and the fielding unit fulfilling the game plan beautifully. This strategy paid off almost immediately as Hauritz punched firmly into the covers from Macdonald and immediately called for the run. Rob Edwards who had already bowled a very tidy 5 over spell, sprang to his right, reeled the ball in one handed, threw across his body and hit the stumps directly at the keepers end. This ended the day for the stuttering Taylor and signalled the opportunity for a bonus point victory at 5-73.
(That run out by Rob Edwards) One mammoth six over long off will be talked about for a long time by everyone except Dylan. Unfortunately for him his partner Whichello couldn't provide the necessary support and was caught by Macdonald from Connell at deep, deep, deep long off. At 9-171 and only batting bunny Cockley to come, the boys were cock-a-hoop. The batsmen had crossed and next ball Byrne smoked one straight to Smokin' Rod Hokin at deep, deep cover and it was game over.
(Dylan Connell at Petersham) Onwards and upwards to Bankstown Oval next week, a notoriously hard place to win but the boys will be full of confidence after a top effort first up. Nicho |
Beau Casson and Iain Beverley took up the fight against the new ball and with anticipation in the air, went about getting gordon off to a positive start. Casson soaked up the pace of N.S.W. bowler Burt Cockley, wearing a few for the team and dispatching one short ball over backward square with a powerful pull shot. This resistance was complemented be Beverley who punctured the offside field with some lovely drives from the skiddy Whichello. 
Teetering at 2-43, Gordon needed a partnership and that is exactly what they got when James Packman came together with Bombas. Both players timed the ball well and ran hard in the opressive early season heat. Bombas played some lovely drives off the front foot and some delicate cuts from the spinners to be the first player to 50 for the season. 
After a short lunchtime speech from the Randwick Petersham president, N.S.W. and Australian great Mike Whitney, the Stags took the field for the afternoon's work. Determined to catch everything and out enthuse the opposition. The batsmen had done a very professional job and had us what we thought was a winning total in those conditions.
Semple struck some sweet drives and together with McLoughlan then took the total to 73 when the latter was trapped lbw by Nicholson. A double strike as next ball a deadly Casson googly was inside edged by the left handed Semple and snapped up on the third attempt by Iain Beverly who was unsighted and continued a fine game behind the stumps. At 4-73 and both spinners about to get into their work in tandem, the game was there for Gordon.
Hauritz continued to play a limited lone hand as Otto held out to Stephenson at mid off and Doolan was well stumped, both from the impressive Macdonald. Byrne joined Hauritz and the Stags could smell a first up win. The big wicket came when Hauritz, frustrated by the good spin bowling and limited opportunity for boundaries went for one big hit too many off Macdonald and was again pouched by Stephenson at deep mid off. 8-150 and the bonus point was within reach, Byrne had other ideas, as Connell was reintroduce he began to put on a hitting display. 
A very sound win first up, with everybody contributing. Bombas and Packman set it up with the defining partnership of the match and the fielding and catching honoured their earlier work. Randwick-Petersham played the game hard and in excellent spirit but on the day Gordon had more contributors. Using pressure to their advantage, Gordon always had the opposition behind the run rate and eventually losing too many wickets.
