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December 14th / 15th, 2024
Finally back on the park for one more weekend in 2024, with some glorious weather across inner Sydney enabling us to finish off the year properly with some actual cricket. (Shame we can't say the same about the weather in Brisbane for the third Test!).
Firstly, we'd like to thank everyone who made it down to Blackmore on Friday night for our summer party. Again, the weather was perfect and we thought it was a nice way to finish the week and the season before we break for summer holidays. We hope that those who attended enjoyed themselves and will come again next time - we plan to do more of these afternoons down at the clubhouse in future!
I'd like to take the opportunity to personally thank all of the volunteers who help make this club what it is, from our super hard-working committee members, our wonderful coaches & managers, scorers, umpires, everyone who's helped in the clubhouse for our events and all the other people who contribute to the Wanderers family in many ways! Even your support as families, and of course our pride and joy (our players!), makes this club what it is - thank you, thank you, thank you!
Reminder that our club calendar is available on our website here, which shows all the important dates, including when your season recommences after the break.
Finally, there will be one more newsletter update before the end of 2024, as we preview our return to cricket after the break with some important information to share - stay tuned!
Finally, for those who can, please get your Wayward beer orders in - this is a key fundraising event on the LWCC calendar and we greatly value your support. (Pro tip: the new Lager Lager Lager was popular on Friday night and worth a shot for those hot summer days by the pool or in front of the cricket!). A big thanks to those who've already placed their orders.
If you get your order in ASAP today (17th Dec), we will have your beer available for collection this weekend from Blackmore Oval (21st Dec). However, our sale continues until Monday 23rd December - those orders placed after today will be available for collection in early January.
Around The Grounds: Highlights & Match Reports
Performance of the Round
Connor Bubb (U12 Gold) - we couldn't go past Connor's all-round performance in his final game for the club, as he departs to move interstate for 2025. Connor scored 38 not out (29 balls) with bowling figures of 2-for-3 (3 overs) in his swan song appearance. We wish you all the best for the future and remember, once a Wanderer, always a Wanderer!
Highlights
Alejandro Protti (U17 White) - 3 catches
Arlo McNeil (U17 White) - 62 (59)
Nik Warmerdam (U17 White) - 50 (30)
Christian Paipetis (U15 White) - 44* (18)
Cate Timpany (U13 Girls) - 26* (32)
U17 Black, finishing a great season by keeping the crowd entertained with a dramatic last over victory against Marrackville!
Match Reports
U13 Girls: LWCC (5-89) def. Easts Dolphins (3-88)
What a great game of cricket! Easts batted first and played some good scoring cricket shots. However, our bowlers were fantastic, Eva K a standout, bowling her best overs for the season (1/13 off 3.5). Our fielding was tight - Connie, Sofia and Charlotte were superb - and we were able to pressure Easts for the full 20 overs and limit their total. Sharanya and Carmen were exceptional behind the stumps too.
Our innings started off really well, before a few stumbles leaving us 5 down with 30 runs still to get. Luckily, Cate (26*) and Sharanya (19*) steadied the ship, chipping away at the remainder and getting the winning runs in the 14th over.
Special thanks to Sofia R for getting out of her sick bed to give us enough players for the game (and she played well too).
We are so proud of how you’ve all developed as cricketers this season - well done. Here’s to the second half of the season in 2025.
U11 Girls: LWCC (151) def. Summer Hill CC (148)
Under 11 girls played the 3rd vs 4th final against a strong Summer Hill. We bowled first and Emily smashed the middle stump with her first ball! Despite this strong start, and some very consistent bowling, Summer Hill posted a very competitive score. Our batting was exceptional all over the scorecard. Mihrimah opened with 23. Then Emilie B and Emily M hit a 50 run partnership. Lucia and Ella batting well and then Adelaide played with ice in her veins to score the winning runs off the final over! A great win!!
B Grade: LWCC (7-200) def. St Andrews Parramatta (7-170)
Was great to get one more game in before the break after a few sad Saturdays.
B grade turned up to Rydalmere Park ready to play and posted a great total of 200. Great batting from Hardik Sethi (86) and Himanshu Desai (46*), as well as a big hitting cameo from Jackson Alexander.
St Andrews came out swinging, with some damaging runs scored off some great bowling from Deepanshu Bhanot and Joe Neely. We took wickets gradually throughout the innings with Rag Goel bagging a few, Josh, Harry and Simon taking one each too. and 5 near misses to Rick Scully (who is writing this and not sour at all).
It was a whole team effort on a scorcher of a day and great to get back into the winners circle. Catch you next year!
U11 Black: LWCC (117) def. by Iron Cove Balmain Tigers (157)
Following two weeks of wet weather, U11 Black were excited to be sent into bat after losing the toss (again). Dilhan Clark (19) and Caleb Rohanek (7) had a strong opening stand before the powerful hitting of Felix Hagen (18) and Noah Lane (11) ensured the Wanderers reached triple figures. Some sharp fielding from the Tigers highlighted some poorly judged runs with four run outs resulting. This will no doubt provide plenty of introspection over the Christmas break and something to work on in the new year.
Down on troops today, meaning no fielding subs, the clouds conspired against the Wanderers and disappeared completely at the change of innings, with the heat proving as much of a challenge as the opposition batters. Felix (0/9) got the bowling off to a miserly start before taking over the gloves and keeping neatly in the second half. Noah again was a rock in his stint behind the stumps, using his gloves, chest and chin as required to prevent byes. Louis Lecoanet searched for his length during his spell and was unplayable when he found it. Rufus Shemmell bowled sharply without reward, with one vicious delivery rising off a good length to rattle the batters ribs. Dilhan was also unlucky not to be amongst the wickets, regularly pitching on off stump and spinning past the outside edge. Caleb really dug deep with his bowling and found great success when he hit the seam on his effort balls (2/16). Toby Maher chipped in with a wicket also, showing the value of bowling stump to stump (1-23).
As the sun rose higher, energy levels fell and fortunately there were no fines for slow over rates as the game limped towards its end. Despite losing the match, the Wanderers showed great resilience and should be proud of their efforts in tough conditions. The game was played in a generous spirit with the Tigers even lending the Wanderers a fielder for an over. Captain of the day Dilhan presented the match ball to Felix for his all around performance and positive attitude throughout the day.
U11 Gold: LWCC (72) def. by RHH Pirates Royals (175)
The U11 Gold team looked to try and arrest a minor slump after a bright start to the season. The opposition: a Hunters Hill Pirates team who were top of the table and had won every game which wasn't rained out.
Once we found our way into Bedlam (Bay), we won the toss and batted - hoping to score some runs. However, the Pirates were top for a reason - a highly organised and efficient bowling team, who give up few extras, and fewer runs and never take the pressure off. The constant barrage of fast balls on the stumps, aided by crafty 11-year old spinner, meant lots of defensive shots and no easy pickings for runs. Every time our aggressive players like Jack Roffey or Dhilan Hira scored some runs, then they were pegged back by losing wickets from a good ball, some very safe catching, or from some energetic fielding.
But the boys kept plugging away once we had a bowl. Some great early wickets from Harry Baddams, Dhilan and Elliott Hughes in their opening overs gave us hope... But it was not to be, as the heat rose our concentration was affected, and some good balls, and run-out opportunities were narrowly missed, as the Pirates kept scoring runs, and our bowling got a bit ragged in the last few overs.
However, it was a first half of the season with a lot of promise, and some good performances from all of the boys. We've already beaten last year's wins total, and a few good results in February will put us right back into finals' contention.
U12 Red: LWCC (4-146) def. Iron Cove Balmain Tigers (3-145)
The U12 Reds revenge win episode played out again to the delight of their bemused parents, knocking out the vaunted Iron Cove Tigers who demolished us first go round.
The boys bowled first in steamy Callan Park conditions, and ran into a rampant Hebblewhite and studious Palfreyman before some late welcome retirements near the drinks break brought some relief with more subdued batting in the second half and some ‘tactical’ dropped catches. Murmurs about the dropping run rate in the face of Jordan’s beguiling spin and Morello and Charlie’s line and length and some feline reflexes from Leon with ball and in the field led to a flurry of ethically questionable 15 ball retirements so that decks could be cleared for more Hebblewhite smoking of boundaries to lift the Tigers to a competitive 145 target.
Boasting the extremely rapid Palfreyman, the Tigers spilled onto the field feeling good about their prospects. The game though started slipping fast as the brothers Mayes, techniques forged in a 120k + corridor, calmly took the opening attack apart, Morello’s 18 retired featuring a 'Bevan-esque' dab off a snorting ball that will have caught the attention of IPL scouts. Then followed a calm / vicious assault from the Ollies, both notching twelve runs before Charlie (26 ret) and Ted (29) joined the fray, punishing anything loose legside and really getting the score board bouncing. Then over to our finishers, Leo, resembling a calm Stuart Law and James with the flashing blade to get the 8 or so runs for the win.
A great win, well done to the boys and looking forward to resuming next year. Have a great break all! C’mon you Reds.
U15 White: LWCC (8-47) def. by Balmain South Sydney CC (7-143)
Nice cricket by all team members on Saturday to secure a convincing win and end 2024 on a high. Another awesome batting total of 211 put the boys in a strong position after the first innings and showcased the depth of our batting line up. Will Berkelmans opened with a strong 19* runs followed by equally strong performances from Keshev Sachdev 23*, Drew Karakaidos 26*and Bryn Hall 16. Christian Paipetis top scored on 44* and nicely closed out the innings with James Garland 17*. The fielding innings didn’t start with the same energy and we were left wondering if it was the heat or possibly end of year exhaustion kicking in. A pep talk by coach James saw the boys come out firing after the drinks break led by Hugo Hood (3-17) taking 3 wickets in the 16th over and just missing out on a hat trick. Beau Williams also starred with 2-15 and James Garland bowled an economical 1-3 in 3 overs.
Consistency and growing confidence have been the winners for the team during the 1st half of the season. The boys should be super proud of their individual efforts and contribution to the team. A big thanks as well to the amazing support crew of parents who make it all happen each week. In the words of coach James, enjoy the break and watch the test to learn from the best…. see you back in 2025.
U10 Black: LWCC (127) def. Iron Cove Balmain Tigers (62)
A terrific effort from the whole team. We unearthed a future Big Bash wicket keeper in Emmett Hudson. His diving forward catch, behind the stumps off Frederick Werner-Gibbings, demonstrated his commitment and guts to the craft. John O’Connell took 2 wickets with a very economical 3 overs 1 maiden 2 wickets for 4 runs. Well done also Kiran Chandramouli, Fredrick Werner-Gibbings and Dylan Corfield picking up a wicket each and bowled economically. It was difficult to score runs on a goat track with long grass (are you reading this Canada Bay council?). A big thanks to Fredrick Werner-Gibbings getting to the game after Foam Fest and top scoring with 14 runs and Oscar Rawson & Kiran Chandramouli 12 runs each off their 17 allotted balls. We are becoming more mature in our running between the wickets, and we will keep focusing on this each week. Thankyou Jill Rawson for scoring and President Hudson for the ice blocks and the rest of the parents for herding the kids and setting up the shade. Have a terrific Christmas. See you in the new year.
U17 White: LWCC (209) def. by Randwick JCC (6-211)
A game for the ages. Two teams battling it out for final game honours. Played at the beautiful Callan Park oval. Which in true form was made for some big match scores.
Our lads battled first against a tight bowling unit. After the loss of some early wickets the team piled on 209 runs in 32 overs. With Jack C contributing a steady 39 off 52 balls, Arlo M blasting 62 off 59 balls and Nick W bludgeoning 50 off 30, which included a massive six that avoided the parked cars and ended up in muddy waters of the Parramatta River.
Randwick came out of the blocks with their intentions made loud and clear. With only 9 players on the park our lads gave it all. It was run a ball stuff. Randwick lost quick wickets with some super sharp catching from Ethan Z, Arlo M and Alex P (3). Callan Park was living up to its reputation with its super fast outfield and short boundaries, the Randwick team were unrelenting. Final over arrived just on 5 hours of play. Randwick needed 3 to win. They hit the winning runs with 5 balls to spare. The team were spent. Shattered at the loss but proud at making Randwick earn their win.
Now for a well earned rest over the summer break.
U13 White: LWCC (6-89) def. by RHH Pirates Jolly Rogers (4-90)
A return to Westminster Park in Gladesville for a Leichhardt Wanderers home game (??) saw U13 White take on the mighty Jolly Rogers. Skipper James L wisely chose to bat first in the afternoon heat. The bowling was fairly tight for the thirty overs and runs were hard to come by, with only a modest total of 89 runs being set. However, taking the positives, pleasingly the Wanderers finished the 30-over innings only six wickets down, held together by three early retirements from opener Darcy, first drop Archer and a much-improved captain James L looking the goods. Darcy and Archer - dubbed the "Ghost Brothers" by the opposition coach for their matching Kookaburra Ghost bats - both returned to the crease, and finally some runs started to flow, with more of an attacking (albeit controlled) mindset from the pair. A blueprint for future innings, for sure!
Very sportingly, the Pirates kept their gun batters on ice to allow some time in the middle for their lower order, which gave us a good opportunity in the field and a chance to take some wickets. We bowled reasonably well and took four wickets, spread around with one wicket each to Anton, Darcy, Archer & James L. Though unfortunately, our fielding was good in patches and poor in patches. With only 89 runs to defend, the Pirates chased us down to win fairly comfortably. Credit to Harry for donning the WK gear in the afternoon heat, and a special cameo in the field from Emmett, filling in from U10s!
All-in-all, we aren't scoring enough runs to win games against some quality competition, with most batters simply looking to survive - a key focus for 2025 will be to keep the scoreboard ticking over!
U12 Gold: LWCC (109) def. RHH Pirates (87)
Connor Bubb Shines in Farewell Match as LWCC U12 Gold Defeats Pirates U12 Buccaneers
Saturday morning at Campbell Park brought perfect cricketing conditions for a spirited encounter between LWCC U12 Gold and the Pirates U12 Buccaneers. The Buccaneers, winning the toss, sent LWCC into bat, setting the stage for an entertaining contest that served as a farewell to the irrepressible Connor Bubb, who played his final match before moving back to Victoria.
First Innings: Bubb and Johnson Deliver with the Willow
LWCC Gold started cautiously, losing two quick wickets with just 13 runs on the board. But the early wickets brought Connor Bubb to the crease. What followed was a typical Bubb innings in his final match for the club. Connor, with his trademark controlled aggression, led the scoring with an unbeaten 38 from 29 balls. This included a return after retiring from his first 20 balls. His innings featured six composed boundaries, each met with cheers from his teammates. Joining him in the rescue mission was Harry Johnson, who delivered his best innings of the season. Harry, steady and resolute, retired after his allotted 20 balls with a well-crafted innings. Together, the pair forged a critical partnership that shifted momentum and anchored the innings. Contributions from Will Barratt (18 off 23) and Archer Gannon (11 off 21) bolstered the middle order, allowing LWCC to post a solid 8/109 in 23.5 overs—a challenging target for the Buccaneers.
Second Innings: Connor Leads with the Ball
Defending their total, LWCC came out with purpose, led once again by Connor Bubb. Opening the bowling, he was nearly unplayable, returning exceptional figures of 2 for 3 off three overs. His spell, full of guile and control, set the tone for a commanding bowling performance.
The wickets were shared across the team, a testament to LWCC's depth and determination as well as the tactical acumen displayed by Captain James Day:
Patrick Thornton: 2 overs, 1 maiden, 6 runs, 1 wicket
Will Barratt: 2.5 overs, 2 maidens, 1 run, 1 wicket
Grayson Cranny: 2 overs, 12 runs, 1 wicket
Oscar Green: 2 overs, 13 runs, 1 wicket
Kasper Arnmark: 2 overs, 2 runs, 1 wicket
Harry Johnson: 2 overs, 32 runs, 1 wicket
The Buccaneers fought valiantly but LWCC's disciplined bowling and sharp fielding proved too strong. The Buccaneers were bowled out for 87 in 21.5 overs, sealing a memorable 22-run victory for LWCC.
Farewell Picnic for Connor
The match concluded with a lovely picnic to bid farewell to Connor and his family. LWCC U12 Gold players and parents shared warm words and frosty beverages, celebrating Connor's contributions on and off the field. His performances with both bat and ball on Saturday were a fitting testament to the talent and spirit he brought to the team. His absence will be keenly felt, but his legacy will undoubtedly inspire.
Looking Ahead
With this win, LWCC U12 Gold is well-positioned to make a strong charge towards the semi-finals when play resumes after the Christmas break. For now, the team can revel in a strong performance on Saturday capped by a bittersweet farewell to Connor.
The Leichhardt Wanderers Cricket Club would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy New Year, as well as a fun, relaxing and safe holiday period. We look forward to continuing the cricket for the second half of our season in early 2025!
All the best to you and your families,
Chris Hudson
LWCC President
We are Leichhardt Wanderers Through and Through!