The junior cricket season is well and truly underway!

With beautiful weather across both weekends, we have managed to get through the first two rounds of the junior season. Well done to all the coaches, families and players for getting out there - especially to our new players who have been playing cricket for the first time. Our Team of the Week for Round 1 is our U15 Gold from the Sunday Div 2 competition. They won their first match in over a year!! Our Team of the Week for Round 2 is our U11 Girls with a convincing win over Ashfield CC.

Match Reports

U15 White vs Easts After a narrow and nail-biting victory in round one against Sydney Coastal Sharks (recovering from 5/27 to eventually pass the total of 142 in the 28th over thanks to Peyton and Jack's bating), we took to the field against Easts with only ten players. Sharp bowling and energetic fielding kept the score down until one of their U15 South Easern Rep squad players went after us. His score of 81 off 40 balls was outstanding, and it looked like a century was on the cards until he went after one massive shot too many and was caught on the boundary by Callum. Easts finished up on 2/183, but we felt that they were probably 20 runs short....and so it turned out. All of our batters performed well, and Nik scored his first 50 of the season. James (24*) and skipper Ethan (38*) saw us home with three overs to spare. U15 Black vs Easts Wanderers U15 Black got their title defence off to a winning start on Sunday. Alec Rodrick & Ethan Stout led the way, each with a half century. U15 Gold vs Randwick Ravens Under 15 Gold Div 2 Sunday (previously Red) won well yesterday for first time in over a year. Yep, we were winless last year in the Saturday comp but improved every week and came so close in our last 3 games. Full write up below - I’m not sure how to do this write up! It’s been a long road but maybe necessary one. We built resilience and character last year and kept fighting and enjoying our cricket. I’m very proud of the team and it’s just great to see the boys so happy after a long over due win. You deserve it. Great contributions throughout the team today - Our new players - Owen, Lachlan and Drew made significant contributions to the result today. Welcome aboard! We are working on the contracts as I write. Our strike bowlers Theo and Ben showed great signs and picked the key top order wickets. Great to see. Lachlan and Henri combined for a great run out. Evans spell was very tight as was Drew’s with Evan picking up two wickets, one with a top slips catch from Liam. Lachlan also got a wicket of his own with a solid catch from Declan behind the stumps. Sam and Owen picked up wickets and Henri’s bowling was excellent, he gave them nothing to hit Declan and Lachlan bravely held a strong opening partnership and set up Owen for an awesome 34 on debut off 45 with Drew in support. Liam blasted away and was looking in good touch but tragically fell to a mix up between wickets and all of a sudden we were looking a bit shakey. Sam and Evan had important roles to play to steady the ship and then Giacomo knew what he had to do get us over the line. He took charge, delivered the victory and took the glory. Well done !! LWCC U12 White 8/103 def. by Pirates 3/104

First game of the new season and after losing the toss and being sent into bat for the first time where your wicket counts, our openers Eamon and Archer bravely faced up to some sharp opening bowling. After an early wicket, opener Archer and first drop James L set up the innings nicely with some lovely, patient defence to some accurate bowling, and smart shot making. An unfortunate run-out to Archer off a slick bit of fielding broke the partnership, though James batted on and retired not out, top scoring with 19. A couple more quick wickets saw the innings looking a little shaky, but some quick runs from James S and a solid middle-order partnership between Christian and Fred, kept the score ticking over until we were bowled out for 103. Christian also retired not out with 17. This was a very pleasing start with the bat, given the step up with playing format.

We knew we had something to bowl to and defend. A beautiful piece of fielding at cover from James L forced a run out on the 3rd ball of the innings and we were off to a great start. However a few cobwebs with the ball in hand saw some inconsistent bowling, which unfortunately was also backed up by a few mistakes in the field, and we continued to leak runs. A fast delivery from Archer bowled the opposition opener who was batting nicely, backed up with some nice tight bowling from Jack and James L. However ultimately, we struggled to break partnerships, with some inconsistent bowling and fielding mistakes letting us down slightly. A nice late wicket from Fred, who bowled another set batsmen, though in the end the Pirates chased down our total. We all have plenty to learn after our first game with both ball and bat, and more net sessions will be of great benefit as we get into our season. A shout out to Liam playing solidly in his first ever game, and a fantastic step up into leadership for captain James L and vice-captain Eamon, with both boys embracing their responsibilities. On we go!

U12 Leichhardt Reds vs Iron Cove Balmain Tigers

Another beautiful morning at Campbell Oval saw Balmain winning the toss and electing to field.

In the shade of the generously proportioned wanderers gazebo the scorers battled with the app and finally wrestled control of the digital session from an invisible admin — and so the game began. Out into the middle strode Jacob and Bowie and started well with Jacob hitting a few fours and singles. Bowie succumbed to a fast full toss — a tricky ball to play and the first wicket was down.

Jacob put on a solid 19 before being bowled by a clever yorker and Joe added 2 to the total before being stumped off a tricky slower delivery. Austin came in with a purpose and knocked a tidy 13 but also fell to a rush of blood to the head and a slow straight one.

Hartley and Max added 4 and 3 respectively and Miller looked promising but fell on 7.

After drinks Noah and Sam returned to the crease with 15 overs to play with and added 4 a-piece to conclude the innings at 80 runs after 16 overs.

After the break and an extraordinary amount of watermelon, the boys took to the field. Sam opened the bowling and was immediately met with some beautiful straight batted fours from their opener and the Tigers were off to a flying start. Austin, Joe and Jake battled away and though the run rate was slowed, the bails remained intact and it took Noah to break through with a fast straight delivery in the 11th over.

The Tigers had already amassed over 50 runs for only 1 wicket and things were looking a bit dicey for the Wanderers. It took another couple of overs for Miller to deceive the batsmen and for Austin to take an excellent looping catch at backward point.

The game settled into an eerie lull as the runs and wickets dried up and it took the drinks break and a change in bowling to break the deadlock.

First to strike was Hartley with a full length delivery and a wicket maiden. Then came Sam with an amazing double wicket maiden and the screws were turning fast on the Tigers as they lost 3 wickets for no run on 65. Austin forced a defensive prod and Hartley scooped up a lovely catch up close.

The Tigers two not-out openers returned and the crowd leaned in as they crept closer and closer to the Wanderers total. But it was Jacob who had the final word with a beautiful yorker to clatter the stumps and snatch victory for the team.

What a game! A great lesson in never giving up, staying focused and positive — a well-deserved win.