Manly had another solid weekend against Penrith, winning 2^nd, 3^rd and 5^th grade, while 1^st grade had a 2^nd innings tie. With one round remaining, 3^rd and 5^th grade are entrenched in the top 6, while 1^st and 2^nd grade will need to win and hope a few results go their way in order to qualify. As a club we are coming 6^th in the Club Championship.

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Player of the Week – James Munting

Munter had an unbelievable day on Saturday, taking 12 wickets for the match including an amazing 8-29 in the 2^nd innings. This spell has kept 1^st grade’s season alive and was just brilliant to watch. James now has 42 wickets for the season which is an outstanding effort. Well done mate!

First Grade Report VS Penrith – Jack Ritchie

We arrived at Cook Park needing to take 9-90 odd to win on 1^st innings. We kept things tight early and the wickets began to flow. With Penrith at 9-140 needing a further 11 runs to win, we thought we were home but unfortunately some good lower order batting and a bit of luck not going our way saw us miss out on the points. With 47 overs left in the day, we decided to have a quick hit and set them a total. Crossy batted well for 49 as we set them 96 off 30 overs. We were back to the scenario presented to us at the beginning of the day, this time needing 10-90 odd to win outright.

Wickets fell at pretty regular intervals, and with Munter absolutely on fire from one end, we were all confident of pulling off this miracle victory to keep our season alive. Unfortunately we couldn’t quite pull it off, having to settle for a tie. It really was a bizarre day of cricket, with emotions running high throughout. Although we didn’t come away with the 6 points we needed, we are still in with a shot at finals cricket if we beat Wests and a few results go our way.

Second Grade Report VS Penrith

Report Pending

Third Grade Report VS Penrith – Craig Little

We arrived at Rance with 272 on the board and Penrith 1/8 at stumps on day 1. We knew that if we turned up to play and bowled well, backed each other up and took our chances we would win.

However we didnt start well. We bowled to wide, short and our fielding was not even close to the standards that we set ourselves. Penrith’s batsman to their credit batted well and put away the bad balls, took singles and really frustrated us. Genie was the first to strike, removing their opener with a fairly ordinary LBW decision that went our way. Prowsie and Genie bowled in a partnership and Genie struck again with another LBW, which the batsman thought he hit but clearly didn’t and we were on our way.

Prowsie then got some reward when he dismissed their number 5. After slogging Prowsie over backward point and deciding to mouth off at our bowler and captain before the next ball was bowled he was quickly reminded that after the way he carried on last week he should concentrate on batting rather than talking. Also that he had better make sure he didnt throw his wicket away. What happened next was comedy gold. He tried to play the same shot, only to hit it above Mezzas head at point. Mez leapt high with one hand, parried the ball up and caught the ball on the second attempt about 6 inches off the floor. The boys went mad!

We stuck at our jobs and continued well until tea. After our ordinary start early on we turned things around thanks to a steady flow of wickets with Penrith 8 down at the break.  Parko did his job really well, supporting whoever is at the other end with him as always. Parko finished the day with 3 wickets, but could have been better. A couple of dropped chances and probably not the best day with the ball in terms of how he bowled personally [something im sure he would agree with]  there is some really good signs coming from our strike spinner.

After tea we bowled well. Mez got some rythym back which he has been missing for a few rounds. Penrith however batted extremely well after tea. Their skipper combined with young bloke coming in at 7 [i think] did a very sensible job in batting their team back into the game. Luke Grant then produced a run out out of nothing after originally miss-fielding a straight forward stop at mid off, only to turn, chase hard and return the ball to the bowlers end and get the breakthrough that we were so desperately after.

We eventually bowled Penrith out for 214. Parko 3/55 and Genie 4/52 the main wicket takers. Reece with 1, Prowsie with 1 and Lukes run out the other wickets.

I am proud of the way we conduct ourseleves on and off the field. Semi finalists for the last 2 seasons and Minor premiers last season says alot I feel.

This rounds game against Penrith had alot on the line for both teams. Us another win and a chance to be on top of the table, Penrith a win to stay in the hunt for the semis. Emotions can run high when your season is on the line.

So...

There was one incident on Sat where one of my players went out of their way to give an opposition batsman a send off after he was dismissed. This was dealt with immediately by myself and an apology issued to the umpires by me, before they even had the chance to discuss the issue together. So, to the Penrith batsman, my player and myself apologise for his actions. It was unacceptable.

To be honest there were a few ordinary decisions that went our way on Saturday. But, we feel there was one that went against us the previous week. This is cricket though and surely is something that we all must expect throughout our careers, as we all know that the officials can make mistakes. What I find unacceptable is that every time there was a decision given by the umpires there was a cry of disbelief from the opposition camp, which was square of the wicket mind you, that was clearly able to be heard from everyone in the middle. Now whether the decision is right or wrong is beside the point. We are entitled to appeal. The umpire makes his decision on what he sees from his vantage point. i.e. straight down the wicket.

As the captain of this Manly Third X, I am shocked to find out that my side was labelled as cheats by an opposition batsman upon his dismissal and arrival back in the pavillion. What is even more shocking for me to hear is that he and other members of the opposition camp then decided to verbally abuse and harass our team manager, who helps us weekly out of the kindness of his heart and cleary has no influence on any decisions made on the field by the officials, to the point where he felt threatened and intimidated to be around our section of the pavillon on his own. Not one word was mentioned towards him while my side was off the field. Which to me makes the practice of abusing him while on his own even more disgusting.

After playing for Manly for 13 years I have learnt to accept what happens on the field stays on the field. So please, lets look after the generous people who help our clubs run off the field. As they really don’t control any decisions that we as individuals make during the game.

Thanks again for all your help Wrighty. Always appreciated by your team mates.

Fourth Grade Report VS Penrith

Report Pending

Fifth Grade Report VS Penrith – Dave Farrell

5th Grade got back to winning ways with a solid performance against Penrith. Day 1 saw the Tah’s batting first on a good deck, with mid 30 temperatures. A good toss to win.

Our batsmen were determined to get their heads down after a disappointing showing the week before and a great talk with Manly legend Rowly Alexander at training.

Partnerships developed all day against a decent attack. Everyone got in, showing patience and eliminating high risk shots. Thicky’s (26), Toby (30), Louis (42), Butch (30), TK (41), Jim Ritchie (32), Rabs (28no) & Ash (30no), provided a great team effort to post 7 for 271 overnight.

The conditions on Day 2 favoured bowling, so we put them straight in. Winga talked to the bowling group about partnerships and bowling plans and we went out with purpose to put it into practice. Arshdeep continued his good form at Benson’s grabbing 2 in his first 6 over spell. Esky Ash also grabbed 2 to have the Westies 4 down for not many at the first drinks break. Pughy then entered the game, coming off a duck with bat and bowled beautifully, ending a couple of promising partnerships. 3 wickets in his 8 over spell proves his new found ability with the ball and gives the side another option for the games ahead. 7 down at tea.

A good partnership from the Penrith captain and their No.9 was broken by the return of Esky. 2 classic left arm ortho wickets (1 stumping and 1 catch behind) were his reward for some great lines and big spin from a good batting deck.

Butch grabbed the last wicket to bowl Penrith out for 163. Esky finished with 4-36, Pughy 3-24 & Arshdeep 2 for not many, to cap a very good team effort. Rabs was superb behind the stumps, having his best game for a few weeks, with runs, catches & a stumping.

A one dayer next week will determine our position in the semis. A home final is the carrot on offer and we are determined as a team to achieve it.