Waverley hosts Rockhampton Grammar
From the Convenor of Cricket, John McCallum
All teams have begun the Summer season positively, with enthusiastic training and Waverley look towards having a highly enjoyable and successful season ahead.
There have already been many highlights in a number of trial matches throughout the recent holidays, while the 1st XI began strongly in their Round 1 2-day match against Knox. The highlight of this match was a superb score of 90 from Jack Hardwicke-Owen, and Waverley will be bowling this week and aiming to take 10 wickets to claim victory. A coach’s report appears later with more detail.
May I thank very much our coaches – Mr Boyd, Mr Elliot, Mr Bryant, Mr New, Mr Rowlings and Mr von der Heyden – for their excellent work throughout the holidays in working with their squads to help prepare them for the season.
Waverley teams played St Patrick’s Strathfield in 1sts and 2nds trials, going down in both in pursuit of the annual Berg-Murphy Shield. Oliver Ruse (80) and Jacob Tomasiello (50 not out) batted strongly, while Alex Ferrara took 4 wickets.
Waverley billeted twelve boys from Rockhampton Grammar school for three nights, enjoying great fun and building friendships with these boys from country Queensland. On the field, Waverley won the 3-match “State of Origin” series 2-1, with a last over thriller in the final Twenty20 match. Harry Whitaker took 5/10 with great swing bowling, while Ryan Connolly took 4 wickets in game 1. Alex Ferrara opened the shoulders for three consecutive starring roles with 33, 80 not out and 54.
Waverley also played host to four matches against touring NZ schools; two each against St Bede’s Christchurch and St Patrick’s Wellington. The strong Kiwi sides put together some great performances with the bat to win each of these, though the experience and enjoyment of these opportunities will prepare our boys well for the challenges of the CAS competition. Jackson Dodd from the 9As took and impressive 4/38, Nick Quinn scored 35 not out, while Lachlan Forrest also scored 43 against St Josephs.
Current Year 12 student Jason Sangha also scored a sparkling 164 not out last weekend in the Randwick 1st Grade match against North Sydney, and we wish Jason well as he pushes in his goals to have a ground-breaking season.
For this weekend, boys are enjoying their first matches for the summer and are asked to be punctual, wearing the Waverley Cricket uniform with hat and ensure adequate sun cream and drinks are used. With teams for this week, please remember that coaches are always looking for boys displaying a great attitude, work ethic and performing and improving weekly – so opportunities for moving into higher teams can be possible.
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A positive start to Round 1
1st XI Report: Round 1 v Knox – from Coaches Mr J Boyd and Mr G Elliott
Waverley’s captain Ryan Connolly won the toss and elected to bat. Newly promoted opener Benjamin Scarf had the scoreboard moving with a classic cover drive for 4 early in over one. He and partner Rory Doyle carried the score to 25 in the 8th over, when Rory Doyle lost concentration playing an uncharacteristic shot and was bowled for 4. Oliver Ruse helped move the score to 44 before Ben Scarf played the wrong shot and was bowled for a very mature innings of 30. Jack Hardwicke-Owen and Oliver Ruse then set about building the Waverley score and at the lunch break the total had progressed to 2 for 85.
This pair continued after the break and the score was 126 when Oliver Ruse was caught behind square for a very well compiled, patient, 120-minute innings of 45. Reid McNamara was off the mark early but played at one outside off stump only to nick through to the keeper. Alex Ferrara was next to the crease and immediately looked to take control. Unfortunately, his aggressive running saw a direct hit from the short side of the ground find him just short of his crease for 11. This had the Waverley total at 5 for 161. Skipper Ryan Connolly joined his vice-captain Jack Hardwicke-Owen at the crease and this pair batted till tea taking the score to 185 with Jack Hardwicke-Owen on 84.
After tea the pair moved the score to 209 and with his score on 90 Jack Hardwicke-Owen played the only poor shot of his 183-minute innings and was bowled. Waverley then lost the wickets of Harry Whitaker 2, Jacob Tomasiello 4, Lachlan Forrest 0 and Harry Whiteman 0 with the addition of only a further 17 runs to be all out 226. Ryan Connolly remained not out 25.
This left Knox 35 minutes to bat before stumps. Benjamin Scarf was very fired up and let fly with some very rapid deliveries and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket. At stumps on day one the game status is level with Knox at 0 for 16. Saturday will hopefully see the Waverley attack bowl good areas and put the Knox batsman under scoring pressure to produce a positive result.
