From Behind The Stumps – Whitewash wins for Year 9s

From Mr John McCallum, Convenor of Cricket

There were many close and highly exciting matches last weekend, including an amazing tied match for the 7C and a whitewash of wins for all Year 9 teams! Many teams demonstrated improved batting from last week, with the 3rd, 10A, 8B, 7B and 7C teams all reaching their highest team total for the term – with batsmen looking for more singles and being wiser in their shot selection. Both the Year 5 and Year 6 1^st XI teams also were highly impressive in great wins and all-round performances, so momentum is building strongly for many of our youngest teams.  This week sees most teams play Cranbrook and continue to enjoy our attacking brand of Cricket.

There were many wins from the Waverley boys around the grounds, including all Year 9 teams.  The 9As bowled St Aloysius’ out for 68, with captain Sam Connolly claiming 5 wickets for 7 runs in his first spell of bowling in 4 matches. He was ably supported by all bowlers, including Harry Schultz, who took 2 wickets and then scored 20 not out as Jackson Dodd also took to making a swift chase.  The 9B team followed a similar pattern of great attacking bowling to leave a comfortable chase, with Noah Mitchell and Edward Sullivan producing fantastic spells to take key wickets. The 9C team had an exciting last-over win as they successfully chased the target of 86 in a determination team effort.

Other highlights included an elegant 68 runs to Luca Derbyshire in the 8B team’s strong total of 145.  The 7B team can be congratulated with a strong batting total of 125, only to narrowly lose, while the 7C had the first tied match in the last 6 years – with both sides locked on 88 runs. Peter Fragias was strong with the bat, before Reece Emmins led the bowling effort to restrict St Aloysius’ and get a great result. The 7A team did brilliantly with the ball to bowl out St Aloysius’ for 69 – with fielding again a highlight with athletic catching and ground fielding. Scott Swinburn took 3 wickets with excellent pace bowling as all bowlers did a fine job. Sadly this week the batting didn’t get any momentum as wickets steadily fell to see us fall 10 runs short.

Last Friday evening saw Mac Jenkins from Year 11 receive a Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Blue and Honours Award for Exceptional Performances in selection in the Australian U16 side as the only CIS player. This follows Mac captaining the NSW U15 side to the national championships and finishing as leading wicket taker with 9 scalps from his left-arm spinners – congratulations Mac of some fantastic achievements. Mac and the Australian U16s play a one-day series against Pakistan U16s in Melbourne in April.

All players and families from Years 5-12 are warmly invited to attend the end of season Presentation Evening – set for Saturday 12 March after the final round of senior school matches. This will be a fantastic way to celebrate achievements and friendships formed throughout the year, while welcoming many new boys and families.  The presentation will run from 7-9pm in the gymnasium, and include a sausage sizzle, raffle, games and awards. The Cricket Supporter Group are putting on this great event with tickets on sale from this week, and are requesting any donations of raffle prize items – please email Convenor jmccallum@waverley.nsw.edu.au with any donations, as any contributions would be appreciated.

Ryan Connolly sends one down

1^st XI V SAC Round 7

Coaches Mr J Boyd and Mr G Elliott

Bowling first, Waverley made a promising start with two maiden overs. Thirteen overs had passed, with many near misses, when the first wicket fell to skipper, Ryan Connolly. This became 2 when Lachlan Forrest induced a false shot. Ryan Connolly claimed the 3^rd wicket with 73 on the board off 30 overs and Waverley seemed well on top as the 4^th wicket fell to a run out, the result of a fine throw from Jack Hardwicke-Owen and a smart pick up by keeper Rory Doyle to have SAC at 4 for 89 off 34 overs. This unfortunately was where the wheels fell off for the Waverley team as no fewer than 6 catches went to ground until Benjamin Scarf finally hit the stumps and late catches by Cameron Shearer and Harry Whiteman saw Benjamin Scarf finish with 3 wickets. Unfortunately, the SAC total had climbed to 8 for 196 at the completion of the 50 overs.

After the lunch break the innings was off to a disastrous start with Reid McNamara falling in the first over LBW and Oliver Ruse bowled in the 2^nd over to have Waverley at 2-5. Jack Hardwicke-Owen and Alex Ferrara began to steady the ship and after 13 overs the total was well on track at 2 for 56. However, the 14^th over saw Jack Hardwicke-Owen playing at a wide delivery only to nick off to the keeper. Worse was to follow when Skipper Ryan Connolly called for what should have been an easy single only for his ball watching partner not to respond with the throw finding the skipper short of his ground, Waverley now 5 for 61. Jacob Tomasiello started in good form lifting a huge six over long-on and was looking set with 24 to his name, when he attempted to turn an arm ball to leg only to lose off-stump.

Lachlan Forrest played a short cameo innings and at 7 for 140 off 42 overs Waverley was still a chance. This was not to be as Benjamin Scarf couldn’t repeat his innings from the game before and was caught behind for 2, Cameron Shearer followed in the 45^th over and the final nail was driven when Harry Whiteman was run out in the 47^th over with the final total on 154. Alex Ferrara remained 40 not out in a very uncharacteristic innings. Trinity had a win and this victory over Barker secures them the CAS title, however Waverley must now strive to remain in 2^nd place on the ladder by winning the final 3 games. This Saturday sees the team away at Cranbrook.