First Grade
Toss
Sydney University won the toss and elected to bowl first
Result
Undecided
Game scores
Campbelltown-Camden all out 132; Sydney University 1 for 131
Notables
Will Sommerville 2/7 off 9 overs; Jonte Pattison 2/10 off 9.2 overs; Greg Mail 2/20 off 13 overs; Scott Henry 38, Ryan carters 46*, Mark Faraday 45*
Report
Uncharacteristically, Greg Mail by-passed Plan A (win the toss, bat first and make heaps of runs) when the coin fell his way on Saturday. The captain’s instinct was that Plan B (win the toss, bowl first, take 10 quick wickets and bat in the afternoon) could be more effective, given the combination of some moisture in the pitch and a flamboyant opposition batting line-up.
The 10-quick-wickets part of Plan B was executed to perfection. Once again, the workload was well shared by the bowlers and fielders. Will ‘the Moa (Google it)’ Sommerville, Jonte ‘house party hot property’ Pattison and Greg ‘I love a Sunday Scrabble session’ Mail each took ‘two-fa’. Tim Ley and Nigel Cowell, who have both embraced Ian Moran’s catch cry of “I bowled well without luck,” took a wicket apiece and the two bowlers who didn’t take a wicket with their bowling, each contributed an athletic run-out to the cause (Roberston and Miller).
Set only 132 to win, Blues squad members and opening batsmen, Scott Henry and Ryan Carters, were clearly relaxed about their ability to complete the job that lay ahead. The pair chatted away like schoolyard chums as they prepared to bat, and as they ambled out through the Raby gates, they were overheard debating whether it is one sponsor’s label or two that may adorn one’s batting pads in First Class fixtures.
After breezing to 61 for the loss of no wicket, Henry and Carters’ partnership was surprisingly broken when Henry was bowled for 38. This brought Carters and Faraday together, who took Sydney University to within one run of victory by the end of play.
Sydney University’s attempt to knock off the target by the end of day 1 was, unfortunately, quite effectively thwarted by the Campbelltown-Camden captain, who amused himself in the latter part of the afternoon by finding various innovative ways to create slow play, including lobbing the ball over the bowlers head whilst purporting to return it and moving fielders millimetres at a time and back again. Hopefully there will be sufficient sun next Saturday to allow the students to tick off the two runs needed for first-innings victory and press for an outright win.
Second Grade
Toss
Campbelltown won the toss and elected to bat first
Result
Undecided
Game Scores
Campbelltown 118 & 0/13 Sydney University 6/219 dec
Notables
Josh Toyer 6/52 Alex Logan 70 Will Hay 51
Report
Students caught a lucky break Saturday, spared the once-every-two-year pilgrimage down the M5 to arrive on time at the picturesque Uni #2. The bowling unit certainly pleased to avoid the car-sickness, following up an energetic nash display to clean up the ghosts just after lunch for 118 on a traditional first-session October surface in Bruce Ross's backyard. Josh Toyer the pick of the bowlers with 6-for proving inconsistent body hair is no obstacle running through the opposition with the ease of smoothly strung C-chord, while Ben ‘Barnaby Joyce’ Joy was solid if somewhat distracted by the prospect by the task of having to pick-up at fine leg every Saturday.
Far from unsettled by some lusty late order blows from the visitors, the Blue and Golds made a decent start as Will Hay battled on with a horrific finger injury to add 100 for the opening wicket w
ith ‘Alex Logon’ Logan who was somewhat dispirited having been
unable to follow-up his heroic off-the-field efforts from the previous week. Logon putting aside his mental demons to follow in his mentor's footsteps registering his second fifty for the season, while Steve ‘knob head’ Hobson added some panache to the final total taking a liking in particular to a finger-spinner from Campbelltown registering nearly 30 without breaking sweat on his proud, bald crown.
An aggressive declaration from Tommy near day's end seeing round #2 for the ghosts end at 0-15 by stumps, leaving the good guys a case of Peroni on the grass with former team-mate Ben Burgess to celebrate a solid day's efforts. TK in fact deserving of a special from the day having taken a wicket with the first ball he bowled, before then himself being dismissed first ball to complete a hat-trick for the opposition's over-zealous opening bowler
Third Grade
Toss
Campbelltown won the toss and elected to bat first
Result
Undecided
Game scores
Campbelltown 10/237. Sydney University 0/19
Notables
Jim Ryan 4 wickets
Report
The first day of action in the Western Suburbs is always met with a mix of mild resistance for the long drive and excitement about a typically run-filled match. Campbelltown-Camden had no hesitation in batting first on what looked to be a very good batting wicket and without a cloud in the sky.
The Uni boys quickly set about the task at hand however, taking wickets at regular intervals throughout the morning session. Jimmy Ryan bowled with genuine pace and away swing with the new ball, he was simply too good for much of the opposition’s top order taking four wickets. Complimenting him was Lewis McMahon, who was miserly in his first spell of ten overs with figures of 1/19 from it.
At one stage the Ghosts were reeling at 5/60 odd and Uni were thoroughly in the drivers seat. But as the day wore on and the wicket flattened out, Campbelltown were able to claw their way back into the contest as their middle and lower order managed to apply themselves in a far more patient manner at the crease. Moodliar (38) and George (46) fought to get the score their score up over 200.
University was left with an awkward 3 overs to face before the end of the day’s play. But it proved to be relatively fruitful as Ed Arnott took to some overpitched leg-spin to push the overnight score to 0/19.
Although the boys may feel as though they let the match slip somewhat in the afternoon session with some wayward bowling and missed chances, the toil of the bowlers on a hot an relatively unrewarding day should not be underestimated. Equally, chasing a score of 237 on a good batting wicket and lightning outfield is a task that they will approach with confidence. It should be a good contest on day
Fourth Grade
Toss
Cambeltown-Camden won the toss and elected to bat first
Result
Undecided
Game scores
Cambeltown-Camden 242, Sydney Univeristy 2/42
Notables
Will Clayton 6/70, Jono New 3/45
Report
Day 1 vs the Ghosts hardly started off favourably 4th Grades self proclaimed ‘Club Pest’, Will Clayton. Will owes the boys a case of premiums for turning up late, but that was to prove his second best contribution of the day. Will was the stand out performer on a tough day in the field, claiming 6/70 – his first bag of wickets for the club.
After being put into the field by the Ghosts, Will and his fellow opening bowler Tom Hill took a few overs to find their rhythm (perhaps Tom was still pondering whether being 18 years old makes him U/19). Once settled in to their spells, the pair bowled well in partnership with Will picking up 3 early wickets and Tom unlucky to finish his spell without a pole.
Jono New, Pete Eakin and Culks toiled hard in the middle overs for little reward on a pitch (and a Ghosts team) that punished anything short or wide.
The return of Clayto to the bowling crease saw the big quick pick up a further 3 wickets (claiming 6 out of the first 7 wickets) whilst Stu McLean kept it tight down the other end. SUCC went in to tea with spirits high having the Ghosts 7/150.
Following tea we failed to capitalise on our solid performance in the morning, with some wayward fielding and bowling allowing the Ghosts to sneak up to 242 all out. Special mention goes to Jono New who toiled hard in the later stages of the innings picking, ending up 3 wickets.
In response, our top order started strong and loosing two wickets did not reflect the positive start we had in chasing the runs. At 2/42 on a good batting pitch with a fast outfield, 4th grade are in a solid position to claim their first 6 points of the season.
Fifth Grade
Toss
Sydney University won the toss and elected to bat first.
Result
Undecided
Game scores
Sydney University first innings, all out 239, Campbelltown-Camden 2/49 after 10 overs
Notables
Jarrod Waterlow 85, Joseph Dorph 51.
Report
Game 2 of the 2013/14 season saw a parade of students head west to Raby Oval for day 1 against Campbelltown-Camden. Some arrived later than others, resulting in one more cases being added to the team drinks kitty. After the long drive, team morale was low and blow-ups were heard across the grounds with Harry ‘Dunkin’ Donuts’ Watt expressing his delight with the trip to the outskirts of Sydney. However, a win in nash by the top 5 followed by the news of the ‘dents batting first lifted the teams spirits, dodging a long day in the heat.
Dunkin was unimpressed with the hot weather and left the students 1 down early on. He was soon followed by Stu ‘Lampard’ ‘I work at Imax, I can get you in for free’ Hastings where Sydney Uni slumped to 2 for 34 before the opening bowlers had been given a rest. This brought Joseph ‘Dorf’ Dorph and Jarrod ‘forever 5th grade captain’ Waterlow to the crease. The pair looked hesitant early on, however, they began to build an innings. ‘Snow White and the seven Dorphs’ took it to the bowlers, his solid off-season preparation paying off, surpassing 50 for, hopefully, one of many times this summer. Soon after, however, he fell for 51, but not before steadying the student’s innings and building a three-figure partnership with the Captain.
Jarrod also surpassed 50, leading from the front, as a true captain should. As he batted on, his bat couldn’t handle the pressure and split beneath him. This forced the rest of the team on the sidelines to raid what was seemingly the team kit provided by Kalindu ‘There are a lot of letters in my last name’ Kayarawasam. The new bat unfortunately didn’t do the trick but Jarrod’s 85, guided the team to a respectable total on what was a decent wicket. After arriving at the crease 2/34, Watermelon left at 5/208, a performance he should’ve been proud of, despite the language that was heard as he left the field.
The student’s tail failed to wag and soon after we all found ourselves on the field to defend 239 with one day and 10 overs remaining in the match. Campbelltown-Camden refused to sit tight for these 10 overs and came out swinging. Naturally this lead to the downfall of a few. A wicket to both Kalindu and Toby ’flashback to the fifties’ Wheeler ensured Uni left the field in a strong position with Campbelltown finishing the day at 2/49. A dropped chance on the last ball of the day off the bowling of Anthony ‘I just wanted to nap’ Lown almost had the team in a commanding position, but it was not to be.