Wanderers Cricket - Round 1 Wrap
October 17th, 2026.
Welcome to Season 2026/27!
Junior cricket is back for the Inner West of Sydney and the mighty Leichhardt Wanderers! Despite the shaky weather during the week, (almost) all games went ahead for round one. We also had a few instances of the PlayHQ scoring app falling before stumps - a nice reminder of why having a secondary paper scorebook is necessary! Please get in touch with the club if the e-scoring app glitches and you need to correct or finalise any e-scorecards.
We hope you all enjoyed your first round of the season, especially if you are new to the club or new to cricket! This club is all about participation in junior cricket, and the primary goal should be for the learning and enjoyment of the game - for everyone.
We put a lot of effort into our weekly newsletter during the season. The whole purpose is to keep everyone at the club connected, as we play all over the Inner West area every weekend. We want to share the fantastic stories that come out of every game of junior cricket, regardless of the result! We encourage you to read on every week and we encourage contributions from all team coaches/managers or a nominated "match reporter volunteer" every week.
Read on below for round one performance highlights and match report contributions from our teams!
Good luck for round two! 🏏
⚠️ A word of warning! The newly renovated Timbrell Park, Five Dock is back open for local cricket, with plenty of LWCC games scheduled at this venue. The renovations include new parking bays along Henley Marine Drive. These bays are "front-to-curb" parking. Please be mindful of this when parking at the ground. The local council is actively fining those who park "rear-to-curb" - fine = $144. Ask me how I know!
Patrick Thornton (U15 Gold) - our first performance of the round goes to Patrick in U15, who scored his first ever half century in a thrilling LWCC derby run chase for U15 Gold, at a sparkling Callan Park. Patrick retired with 50* off 37 balls, including 7x fours and 1x six. Congratulations Patrick!
Karthika Polepalli (U13 Girls Red) – 24 (off 34), 1x four, 2x sixes
Connie Rawson (Stage 3 Girls Black) – 22* (off 29), 4x fours
Saskia Gibson (Stage 3 Girls Red) – 20 (off 27), 1x four; 2 for 5 (off 4)
Edward Riddell (U10 Black) – 4 for 1 (off 2) Honour Roll
Sam Lord (U11 Black) – 13* (off 20); 2 for 14 (off 4)
Frederick Werner-Gibbings (U11 White) – 3 for 7 (off 2); 17 (off 12), 2x fours
Jack Thornborough (U12 White) – 23* (off 31), 3x fours; 2 for 3 (off 2)
Jack Eichholzer (U12 White) – 24 (off 30), 3x fours
Spencer Harris (U12 White) – 3 for 13 (off 3)
Henry Radford (U12 Red) – 2 for 4 (off 3); 1x catch
Elliot Hughes (U13 Gold) – 3 for 1 (off 4)
Angus Mihell (U13 Black) – 2 for 9 (off 3); 16 (off 35), 1x fours
Oliver Stoddart (U15 White) – 39 (off 47), 8x fours
James Lezes (U15 Black) – 16 (off 15), 3x fours; 1x catch, 1x run-out
Patrick Thornton (U15 Gold) – 50* (off 37), 7x fours, 1x six Honour Roll
Eamon Russell (U15 Gold) – 25 (off 31), 4x fours; 2 for 24 (off 4)
Zebulun Dunne (U15 Gold) – 41* (off 26), 5x fours, 2x sixes
Asher Dunne (U15 Gold) – 3 for 23 (off 4)
Lukas Rawsthorne (Senior D Grade) – 49, 8x fours
Stage 3 Girls Derby – LWCC Red (5-67) def. LWCC Black (66)
Black
The Stage 3 Girls season kicked off strongly, with former Pirates players Ginger, Saskia, Zoe W, Kate and Chloe, joining the Wanderers alongside exciting new signings Indi and Savvy to enable two teams. Team spirit was outstanding, with constant encouragement and support across the squad. A competitive Leichhardt Reds vs Leichhardt Blacks match went down to the wire, featuring two Zoes and two K/Cates!
Highlights included a brilliant catch by Zoe B at mid-on, superb run-outs from Ginger and Connie amongst others, classy off drive from Bella, sweet timing and glove work from Zoe W and power hitting from Saskia and Connie.
Fielding was agile and responsive… running between wicket… let’s say an opportunity for training.
Parent support was exceptional throughout the month, with special thanks to Jill and Adam for providing the shade tent at Timbrell. A special season ahead!
Coach Ben
Red
New season, a new start and a new group of girls! What better way to begin than with an exciting opening game between LWCC Black and Red, played at the newly refurbished Timbrell Park.
Black batted first and posted a tidy 66, with Connie top-scoring with a fine 22 not out. Isabella also contributed a valuable 10. The Red bowlers kept things tight throughout, with Kate taking 1-13, Saskia 2-5 and Aditi 1-20.
In reply, the Reds got off to a brisk start, led by Saskia (20) and Zoe (14 not out). With wickets falling around her, Aditi (7) kept her head and helped guide the team home.
Fielding was also a highlight, with six run-outs (3 from both teams) and some outstanding throws from the field making a real difference.
All in all, it was a terrific start to the Stage 3 season. With a squad of 18 players, LWCC will be right in the mix throughout the season.
A huge thank you to the club, administrators, parents and players who have so warmly welcomed the Pirate6 into the fold. Here’s to a fantastic season ahead!
Coach Chris
U13 Girls Red – LWCC (65) def. by Randwick Daredevils (1-66)
The U13 Girls Red travelled to Randwick to play the Daredevils at Heffron Park.
Emily won the bat toss and batted. Against a very strong bowling attack, our girls did very well. Adelaide and Karthi played out the openers. Karthi was ruthless with anything short, hammering a huge six and finished with 24. Emily M also batted well to make 13. And Emilie B made a solid 8 not out. Randwick were very good in the field, taking two sharp catches and two direct hit run-outs.
Our turn to bowl and Emily H bowled beautifully, with no luck. Emily M also bowled some fine deliveries - also with no luck. Adelaide got an early wicket with Karthi taking a neat catch. But Randwick were too strong and chased our runs fairly comfortably in the end.
A good start to the season with some very encouraging signs and some stuff to work on over the next few weeks.
# Friends for Life
U13 Girls Black – match abandoned
Unfortunately for the U13 Girls Black side there was no game in Round 1. A misunderstanding about wet weather rules (it was a glorious 22 degrees with sunshine!) and a late phone call from the opposition meant that we all arrived at the ground with no one to play!
Though there was disappointment, it was probably a blessing in disguise. We had an extremely productive nets session and used the time wisely to brush off any off season cobwebs that we missed out on doing in the prior weeks due to rain and school holidays. It also gave our beginners more time to fine tune their skills.
At one point we had three nets going between seven girls so everyone got a good hour of solid practice in. After some afternoon tea (fruit and cupcakes of course), he headed off home a little earlier than expected for the day. Looking forward to next week and our first game of the season.
U11 Girls Red – LWCC (2-86) def. South Sydney Mt. Carmel (3-74)
The U11 Reds kicked off their season against a brand-new South Sydney team at Booralee Oval in Botany. The local men's team had helpfully taken the booked oval so we sandwiched ourselves in between three other games on an outfield that was showing no signs of the recent wet weather.
Captain Alice won the toss and elected to bat first and was joined by LWCC debutant Zoe at the top of the order. The pair belted 20 between them, including two boundaries, to give the innings a strong foundation. Through the innings all the girls contributed well, with 9 from Adele on debut, a second-ball 4 for Susie and 8 runs from Sienna who was also marking her debut. The team closed with a respectable 86 from their 20 overs, with only 3 wickets conceded.
After the lolly-break the girls came out firing in the field, with the team chants ringing around the ground from the very first delivery. Charlotte and Coco bowled tightly at the start, and all the girls backed that up, with every player recording an economy rate of less than 4 an over. Adele's speed across the field delivered an excellent run out to keep the South Sydney batters in check. Overall it was a miserly performance in the field that restricted South's to 74 and secured the win for LWCC.
U11 Girls Black – LWCC (1-69) def. by Randwick Sixers (8-129)
The U11 LWCC Black team kicked off the season with a tough home game against a firing Randwick side. The day started with a lost bat flip and we were sent into bat.
Audrey and Evelina opened the batting and both played some nice shots around the park. Evelina top scored for the team with 5 runs. Annie L came in and showed the team how to score runs with aggressive running between the wickets. Newcomers Astrid and Iluka batted well against a Randwick side who did not bowl any loose deliveries. Both managed to get a couple of shots out through the field. Elise and Annie M batted out the innings and both showed some great intent to score runs with shots played to both sides of the field and fast running between the wickets.
Wickets were hard to come by at the change of innings as the girls were shaking off some rust. As the second innings went on, the team became more accurate with their bowling and new recruit Elise snagged her first wicket for the team during a very impressive over. Annie M bowled a maiden which came within a whisker of being the first wicket maiden I would have seen for the U11-Blacks. Audrey showed she had been working on her bowling over the winter as she had improved out of site, and Iluka and Astrid also bowled very well for their first game with our team.
The girls can be proud of how they started the season against a very good Randwick team. As the team gels and gets to know each other over the next few weeks, I am positive the cricket on the field will become increasingly enjoyable and competitive.
LWCC U9 White (2-92) def. Iron Cove Balmain Tigers (2-58)
The U9 Whites kicked off their first season on a flat wicket with a resounding team effort, cruising to victory over the Tigers at Blackmore Oval by 34 runs.
With only four players in the team, the boys batted in pairs for 6 overs each and rotated through 3 overs with the ball, each contributing in style with both bat and ball.
After winning the bat flip and sending the opposition in to bat, Arnie kept some tight line and length to start the match with a maiden. Flynn followed up with similar accuracy in the second over to take the Wanderers first wicket of the season - a lovely ball that did the batsman for pace and hit half way up middle stump. Austen also picked up a wicket in a solid team bowling display that included plenty of energy in the field.
After restricting the opposition to 48 off the bat, the Wanderers opening pair of Arnie and Bertie combined for a stand of 38 runs for the loss of one wicket. With plenty of boundaries in the innings, the highlight had to be Bertie’s 6 over cover-point - the first of the season and earning him Player-of-the-Match in his unbeaten knock of 22 from 18 balls. Austen and Flynn came in next to guide the team home, building on a sporting partnership formed in both footy and soccer in recent years with great calling and running between wickets in their partnership of 1-42 - Austen top scoring with 27 runs that included 5 boundaries.
Overall a fantastic team effort and great start to the season. Go Wanderers!
U9 Red - LWCC (131) def. by Iron Cover Balmain Sabre Tigers (182)
The U9 Reds had a fantastic start to the season in their first game together, having only met for the first time at training the night before!
Leo was Captain for the day and won the toss. The Reds put together an impressive team total, with strong contributions right through the batting order. Adam top-scored with a brilliant 33 runs, well supported by Spencer (28), Leo (14), Freddie (12), Ari (8) and Lucy (6).
With the ball, the Reds were just as impressive. Adam produced the highlight of the match, claiming an incredible a hat-trick, a fantastic achievement in the first game of the season. Lucy bowled superbly to take 2 wickets, while Leo added another.
A special shout out to Adam, Spencer and Leo, who showed great sportsmanship by taking it in turns to help field for the opposition, who were a player down. Well done boys.
For a team that had only just come together, it was a great match of junior cricket and the U9 Reds should be incredibly proud of their first outing.
U10 Derby – LWCC Red (3-125) def. LWCC Gold (7-68)
Red
It was a local derby on Saturday at Blackmore Oval for the 10am start for the U10 Red vs Gold to kick off the new season. Gold won the bat toss and decided to send the U10 Red into bat first. Whilst Reds had nine players available Hudson was nursing some stiches from a mid-week school injury so we were eight batters only on the day. With longer boundaries and the longer 20 overs format this year, batting was decidedly tricky particularly with the new pads, box, gloves and helmets which I am sure will take some time for all to get accustomed to. Ollie, Bodhi and Mateo led the scoring with 10, 6 and 5 runs off the bat. With a number of extras, the Reds managed to post a respectable score of 92.
At the change of innings, it was time for Bodhi to step in for the first 10 overs as wicketkeeper, and Mateo to complete the final 10. Both did well to keep to the quicks, Ollie, Hudson and Drew. It was a fine bowling and fielding display with the entire team contributing throughout the innings. Edgar bowled impressively and took a cleaned bowled wicket in his very first game of cricket, joining the U10 Reds for the first time this year. Hudson bowled at pace and given he did not bat did well off his three overs to restrict the batters to 8 runs only. Ted took the first wicket of the day with a well timed runout, as did Mateo with a well taken run out as wicketkeeper. Ollie continues to bowl at serious pace and took a wicket and only conceded 2 runs off his three overs. Sam, Bodhi and Drew also all took a wicket and did incredibly well to restrict the U10 Gold to 29 runs off the bat.
Overall, this was a fine team performance to kick off the new season with the final result being a win to the Reds of 125 to 68 over Gold. We wish the Golds all the best for the season ahead as well.
Gold
The U10 Golds got their season underway against the U10 Reds in a home derby first match of the season, with plenty of promising performances across the team. Despite a strong effort, well done to the Reds who came away with a 57-run victory.
The Golds, playing just their second season with terrific new players joining the line up, won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Well done to Ethan for a fantastic first wicket of the season with a run out in his maiden over. Terrific spells also by Jack and Liam (playing his first game) and bowling a wicket each.
With the bat, great knocks by Hamish (11) and Max (9).
Well done to Max, Liam, Alfie and Aiden on their first games with the club or ever - a great start to the season and a base to build off!
U10 Derby – LWCC White (6-87) def. LWCC Sabres (10-78)
The U10 Wanderers White unit was a new and improved version of the U9 White team that played in the Blast comp last year. It was awesome to welcome two new players into the Wanderers family, and all players were nervous but excited and ready to play at Five Dock Park in a local derby against our fellow Wanderers, the Sabres.
Wanderers White had a few players away and, it was a compact five-player unit to take on the Sabres. The small team size would be a challenge, but it was also a great chance for all players to bowl four overs each, and for our batters to spend some time in the middle. We were also really appreciative of Sabres lending us a few extra fielders to help us out. Thanks for that Sabres.
Sabres won the toss and elected to bat first. Just as the game was about to start, the police arrived at the ground… Old habits caused the coaching staff and a few parents to run and hide in the bushes… but we all soon relaxed when they saw it was Conor’s dad who had taken a short break from his shift to pop past to see his boy bowl the opening over of the season. It was well worth the effort, as Conor skidded a fast and furious delivery into middle stump with the third delivery of the day! Brilliant way to start the season Conor!
The new Kookaburra was then thrown to Sasha who was making his Wanderers debut. Sasha worked in tandem with Conor for the first few overs, with both bowlers bowling fast and on a nice full length. But it was in the 8th over that Wanderers White took things to another level… It was another debutant who created a moment of magic when Isaac effected a brilliant run out with a direct hit from mid-on! Sasha then bowled a lovely ball to hit the stumps for his first wicket a few balls later. The Whites were rolling! We played without a backstop, and Benji was outstanding behind the stumps, making several brilliant saves, before swapping the gloves with Sasha at the halfway mark.
Asher, Isaac and Benji all bowled nicely through the middle overs, keeping things tight. Asher was eventually rewarded for his efforts when he bowled a beauty that drew a top edge, with Sasha taking a brilliant keepers catch down the leg side. It was then Isaac’s turn to join the wicket-takers list when he hit the top of off stump with a peach of a delivery. Sensational!
All Wanderers players were tremendous in the field, with Conor and Asher both making some great saves. Benji then summed up the effort by running the ball in from cover to snare a run-out on the last ball of the innings. It was super-smart cricket by Benji, and Wanders White went into the change of innings feeling good about their efforts - Sabres had made a solid 58 runs, with White being boosted by taking 6 wickets. It would be a tough challenge for the young Wanderers to chase. Could they do it?
Sasha and Asher opened the batting for White… Sabres new ball bowling was outstanding, but the two young guns from Wanderers White played nicely. Sasha lead the charge reeling off two boundaries in his innings. The opening pair had started the chase in solid fashion before Isaac and Benji made their way to the crease. Isaac was terrific, using his pull shot to score a boundary of his own, with his total also boosted by a rare ‘five’.
Benji looked cool, calm and collected in the middle to finish not out in his innings which included the shot of the match with a cracking on-drive down the ground for four. Full credit to Sabres players whose out-fielding was sensational, with several diving efforts out in the deep saving a handful of boundaries. But the moment of the match was when Conor showed great courage to make his way back to the crease to finish his innings, which was supported by a great round of applause by both players and parents alike from both teams. It was great show of sportsmanship.
For all players, it was the first time playing against the hard ball, with pads and helmets, and everyone should be proud of how they played. In the end, the first innings wickets and a great performance in the field saw Wanderers White sneak home in the closest of games (87-78). As always, how the game was played mattered much more than the result, and this was a local derby played in great spirit. A huge shout out to the scorers from both sides whose mastery of the new scoring app was almost as impressive as the on-field play.
Thanks for a great game Sabres and all the best for the rest of your season.
U11 White – LWCC (11-133) def. Ryde Hunters Hill Pirates Pearls (10-132)
A fantastic team effort helped set up a thrilling one-run victory in the first round after we bowled first, with the wickets shared across the team and everyone contributing with the ball. Ryan produced the best over of the game, taking 2 wickets to steady the ship at a crucial time, while Frederick led the wicket-taking with three wickets in an excellent bowling performance. The team backed up the bowlers brilliantly in the field as well, taking four catches, which was a great effort and helped maintain the pressure throughout the innings.
With the bat, Frederick led the way with the top score, completing an excellent all-round performance and setting up the chase. Tommy, Reuben and Ted all played good innings and made valuable contributions, keeping the scoreboard ticking over and moving us closer to the target. It was a genuine team batting effort, with everyone playing their role and showing plenty of determination as the match went right down to the wire.
A special call-out goes to Ziggy, who was playing his first ever game and found himself in the middle during a high-pressure situation. Ziggy showed fantastic composure and played a huge part in seeing out the remaining overs and helping secure a narrow victory. To contribute like that in his first game, with just one run separating the teams, was an outstanding effort and a moment he should be very proud of.
U11 Red – LWCC (1-38) def. by Iron Cove Balmain Tigers (11-153)
The U11 Red took the field with all six players participating in their first-ever game of cricket!
There were plenty of nerves in the sheds (i.e. the outfield of Campbell park) but everyone put in their best effort with the bat. Highlight was Carter hitting the first ever 4 for the team while opening the batting!
In the field, the Reds had loads of fun. Carter and Freddy put in huge efforts as wicket keepers, and Oscar took our first ever wicket with an absolute jaffa.
Whilst the scoreline wasn't what we hoped for, the team finished absolutely pumped and excited for training and our next game - we have 6 more cricket tragics in the making. Hopefully some lifelong friendships started being made last weekend!
U12 Derby – LWCC White (126) def. LWCC Black (58)
White
What a fantastic start to the season for U12 White, with a convincing 68-run victory over our Leichhardt Wanderers clubmates in U12 Black!
Captain Lucy lost the toss, and we were put into bat, with the outfield still very dewy and run scoring likely difficult. After loosing an early wicket, Harry joined Jack T at the crease and they set about steadying the innings, building an excellent partnership of 54 runs. Jack T played some lovely attacking shots, including three boundaries, before retiring on 23, while Harry worked hard for his 12 before being run out.
Will kept the scoreboard moving with a brisk 13 from just 14 deliveries, including a boundary. However, we suffered a dramatic collapse, losing four wickets without adding a run either side of the break, to fall from 2-77 to 6-77. Suddenly, we were starting to look a little shaky!
Fortunately, Jack E and Oli were up to the challenge. The pair put together an excellent partnership of 47 runs, with Jack E scoring a team-high 24 from 30 deliveries, including three boundaries. Oli showed great patience and determination, scoring 13 from 28 balls, including two fours. Their partnership helped lift us to a very competitive 8-126.
With runs on the board, it was time for the bowlers to go to work, and what a performance they delivered!
Luca opened the bowling with an excellent over, setting the tone. Spencer then struck in the second over, drawing an edge for Will to take the catch to claim our first wicket of the season.
From there, Spencer and Jack T tore through the Black batting order. Spencer took two wickets in his second over, both bowled, while Jack T claimed another two, including a second catch for Will. After seven overs, we were firmly in control but knew that one partnership could bring the Black’s back into contention.
Krish then produced a brilliant spell, taking two wickets in three deliveries to finish with outstanding figures of 2-2 from two overs. At 7-42, the result was looking increasingly secure.
But perhaps the most remarkable part of the innings was still to come. Jack E, Harry and Will combined to bowl six consecutive maiden overs, conceding no runs from the bat between them. An extraordinary effort that showed just how much our bowling has developed!
Oli also impressed with the ball, conceding just six runs from his two overs, while Lucy led the team with aplomb, changing the bowlers and fielders looking for that last wicket. She also bowled four overs of her own, keeping the pressure on the opposition. Finally, Luca returned to claim the final wicket, finishing with excellent figures of 1-4 as Black were dismissed for 58.
Player-of-the-Mach goes to Jack T, for an outstanding all-round performance that helped establish our innings and then put the opposition under pressure with the ball.
A terrific team effort to kick off our first season of proper cricket. There's plenty to learn as we adjust to the new rules, but we couldn't have asked for a better start.
Well played team!
Black
LWCC U12 Black started the season with high hopes and great enthusiasm and while it was a tough start with a Derby loss, everyone was glad to be back playing with the red ball…….
LWCC U12 Black welcomed four new players to the team, Finn G, Sam W, Grayson and Jack. The weather gods had been kind and the rain held off to allow the first game of the new season to get under way. Fielding first, Rohan was given the honours of opening the bowling and delivered a terrific tight first over. Next up was Sam K, and with his 2nd ball took out middle stump with an unstoppable delivery. It felt like a great start for the team. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for a while. The next partnership put on over 50 runs and LWCC Black toiled away in the field for any hint of a wicket.
Then the game changed again in just a few balls. Jack bowled a higher delivery that was scooped up high into the air, Grayson ran in keeping his eye on the ball and took a great catch! Next ball and Jack was hooked straight to Finn in Square Leg for another great take. 2 in 2 and end of the over. Next up was Archie, passing on the wicket keeping duties to Jeremy, for his first over of the season. First-ball wicket and a team hat-trick!!!
Next over another wicket, run-out from Archie, LWCC White had gone from 2-77 to 6-77 and game on! LWCC White dug in, however, and continued to add to the run chase. Sam W, in his first competitive game bowled 3 great overs, firing the ball down from a height with some great bouncers to mix it up! Finally, Spencer produced two great delivers in the same over for his first wickets of the season to clean up the tail. A total of 8-126 Looked a good score, but LWCC Black had a chance….
LWCC Black found the batting harder than the fielding with some exceptional bowling from LWCC White. The top order tried to play on the attack but were out to some quick deliveries, either caught behind (Archie) or clean bowled (Sam). New players Grayson and Jack steadied the ship scoring a few runs and facing a number of balls. Our last paring of Sam W and Spencer frustrated the opposition by being able to block when needed and take runs when the opportunity presented, in a great final stand. Ultimately LWCC White ran out deserved winners with some impressive bowling. Debutant Finn G finished our top scorer with 8.
Player-of-the-Match to Spencer: 2 wickets in the over to finally bring an end to LWCC White’s innings.
U12 Derby – LWCC Red (0-53) def. LWCC Gold (8-52)
Red
Round one at Timbrell Park. Lost the toss and sent into field. How good is it to finally be playing club cricket again? It was great to play LW12-Gold in their first season of stage 2 cricket. The game was played in the expected LWCC spirit.
It was a joy to meet the new boys and parents. The new boys coming up from Stage 1 cricket gave me insights that U12 Red will go deep this season. Wickets to Emmett H, John O, Dylan C (2 wickets) and 2026 Wanderers Medalist Henry H with the extraordinary figures 3 overs 2 wickets for 4 runs and nil extras (and a catch).
Congratulations to our top five batters all retiring and keeping the scoring sheet clean including new recruits Adam S and Arek M. Although I did not see him keep, reports back that Max A, filled in great for Emmett H our regular keeper. I was also certainly impressed by Adam S and his straight bat and Axel F with 2 run-outs.
Special call out to families Malalasekera and Watsons for the team spirit in getting their boys to the game after school sport commitments. And super mum Jill for the scoring and Pres. Hudson for coaching the team today. I’m super excited to see us at training next week and play our next opponent.
Gold
A local derby to kick off the 2026/27 summer of cricket with the U12 Gold’s hosting the U12 Reds at Timbrell Park - the ‘Home of the Nonsensical Parking Fine’.
After being invited to bat first, with some Red’s players coming later, Captain Jack B and Jonah P got our score off to a start of the second ball off the game.
With clear instructions to bat out as many overs as possible, Jack B opted to get bowled for a duck off his second delivery, unlucky Jack - it was a pearler of a delivery - blame the coach! This meant that the ever-enthusiastic Rory P came to the crease and with a run here and there Jonah managed to be our first batsman of the season to ‘retire’ off his allotted balls. Joe G joined Rory at the crease and after a few nervous moments, Rory was run out after risking a second run on a very slow outfield... bad luck Rory!
Hamish L, in his first ever game of cricket, strode to the crease and soon got himself his first runs of the season (3 in total) – Hamish would hold out to retire as well, nice work mate! Joe G decided to ‘open the shoulders’ and hit hard but was caught off a screaming catch by the Reds… gotta stop picking out the fielders Joe!
This meant it was Dorian A’s turn with the bat and unfortunately Dorian underestimated the pace and was bowled out on his third delivery. With Harvey B and Samuel B’s turn at the crease, both batsmen held on stoically before Harvey too was bowled out. It was now down to Sam B and Gianluca F to steady the ship – both players in their first ever game of club cricket, Sam managing a team high score of 7 runs, before being retired - great job, you are moving up the order!
Bringing Rohan S to the crease in his first ever game for U12 Gold team, just as Gianluca was caught short and he too was run out. Soon Rohan fell by getting stumped, it was now Reef R’s turn with a returning Jonah to hang on for a few more overs - unfortunately, Reef R was initially warned and then given out for LBW ending our innings.
Bowling and tight fielding was now required to attempt to defend our small total and with some superb wicket keeping from Captain Jack B the byes were held to a minimum. But alas with all our bowlers trying hard but not managing any break throughs the Reds cruised to victory with some clever running between the wickets and managing their batting innings more efficiently than we did. Congratulations to the Reds!
For our boys, we had three players in their first ever game of Club cricket, Sam B, Hamish L and Gianluca F and all should be very proud of their efforts, I can easily see all three players enjoying their cricket as they improve their skills and settle into playing at this level. Rohan has been a welcome addition to the squad as his bowling/batting and general enthusiasm for the game really shines through.
A big shout out to Jonah P, he took our first Player-of-the-Match award for this season (nominated by our Captain Jack B), not only retiring after opening the batting but his backing up and energy in the field is the standard that the Gold’s need to set for all future games. Great effort Jonah.
Rory, Dorian, Joe, Jack, Harvey and Reef all showed sound effort in the game and I know the boys were a bit disappointed with how the match unfolded and am sure that the team will bounce back having learned a lot from the experience of this new format and working in with their new teammates.
Onwards and upwards boys - go Golds!
U13 White – LWCC (6-67) def. by Ryde Hunters Hill Pirates Black Beards (7-328)
Captain Owen called correctly at the toss, but the Black Beards won and elected to bat first. We came up against a formidable team packed with representative players who opened both the batting and bowling.
We fielded during the hottest part of the day and, despite our best efforts, they managed to get away from us at times. After spending three hours in the field, our players showed plenty of determination and fought hard with the bat right through to the final wicket. It was a good first match of the season and proved that we can compete at this level. Now we know we can stand in there and play. Let's go!
Bowling
The Sawers brothers, Lincoln and Flynn, took the new ball and did an excellent job restricting the run rate early. However, any loose deliveries were quickly punished on the small square boundaries. Owen made the breakthrough in the 10th over, claiming our first wicket with a fine catch by Milosh. At that stage, the Black Beards were 1-97 after 10 overs. Flynn produced a brilliant second spell, clean bowling a batter in the 16th over with a superb delivery that hit middle stump. The score moved to 2-177.
Our bowling tightened considerably, and Flynn claimed his second wicket with another bowled dismissal to make it 3-185. This was quickly followed by Owen's second wicket, a superb caught-and-bowled effort, reducing them to 4-189 in the 20th over. As the long afternoon wore on, fatigue began to set in. Emerson then claimed our fifth wicket in the 28th over. The opposition were 5-286 before their opening batters returned for the final overs and helped them finish at approximately 6-320. Please note: E-scoring failed and was not finalised at the time of publication.
Batting
Unfortunately, we were down to only seven available batters. Benji was injured, while Lincoln and Paddy had conflicting commitments and were unable to bat. Despite this, every player stepped up when called upon.
With the opposition opting to start with their strongest bowlers, Xander and Flynn volunteered to open the batting. Both boys acquitted themselves well, standing up to some quality pace bowling and finding runs before Xander was unfortunately run out.
Emerson came to the crease and immediately made his intentions clear, finding the boundary multiple times, forcing the fielders back. Unfortunately, he too was run out for an impressive 21 just as he was building momentum.
Owen came in next but was dismissed by a superb yorker that clipped the base of off stump. Jack joined Flynn at the crease and helped steady the innings. Flynn continued to score freely before being bowled for 21. Milosh then joined Jack, who batted confidently before being caught while trying to increase the scoring rate on 21. This left Milosh as the final wicket to fall, bowled for 3, with Sebastian remaining not out at the other end.
Bowling Highlights
Flynn Sawers - 2 wickets
Owen Sharkey - 2 wickets
Emerson Newton - 1 wicket (his first wicket for the team)
Batting Highlights
Flynn Sawers - 21 (2 x 4s)
Emerson Newton - 21 (2 x 4s, 1 x 6)
Jack Malone - 21 (1 x 4, 1 x 6)
Well done to Wanderers White for fighting right to the end on a very hot day. Congratulations to Pirates Black Beards on the victory and the spirit in which the match was played. Our team stepped up and proved that we can compete with strong opposition. The effort, determination, and resilience shown by every player should give us confidence for the rest of the season. I can't wait for training and next week's game. This result bodes well for the season ahead.
Go Wanderers!
U13 Derby – LWCC Gold (8-89) def. LWCC Black (75)
The U13 Black team showed their enthusiasm for the cricket season returning by arriving early and getting a solid fielding session in with Chris before the start of play.
Captain Felix had done his homework, sketching out bowling lineups and fielding positions and his preparation paid off when he won the toss and elected to field.
Playing in the afternoon is new to the team (possibly a positive for the parents??) and it was a pleasant change to avoid the dewy grass and slippery ball and the team got to work. Improvement in the field was obvious to see with more movement (walking in with the bowler and backing up throws) meaning more active and alert fielders which showed by four catches safely taken.
Wickets came steadily and were well shared across the attack with Angus (2-9) and Finn (2-12) on debut with the team, leading the charge. Noah did a great job keeping things tidy behind the stumps and overall things were looking pretty good at the turn getting the White team all out for 89.
The outfield was slow, but confidence was high with all of our top four batters getting a start. Caleb and Dilan opened up steadily, absorbing the pressure of the new ball before both falling for 7. Angus (16) and Felix (14*) then set the standard with excellent running between wickets and stroke play. Both retired to come back at the end if needed - and it turns out they were after a mid-innings collapse set things up for a tight finish.
Some excellent throwing and straight bowling had the White's rattling the stumps at both ends and it proved decisive and saw them home with a well earned 14-run victory.
A very good effort from the team, with everyone contributing and the game was played in a fun, positive spirit from both sides.
U15 Black – LWCC (89) def. by Concord Briars Black (3-207)
LWCC Black took on a well organised Concord Briars Black outfit over the weekend, a side carrying strong continuity and confidence from last season. With some new players in the Wanderers lineup, the group entered the contest with intent and a commitment to compete throughout the day.
Concord began assertively, capitalising on early looseness from the LWCC attack and building momentum through consistent scoring. The breakthrough arrived via Linus’ wicket - a well executed delivery drawing the edge - followed by a sharp slip catch from Ronav. The moment lifted LWCC’s energy and produced a strong passage of disciplined bowling.
Despite these positive patches, Wanderers struggled to maintain consistent lines and lengths, allowing Concord to post a commanding total.
LWCC’s chase began with intent, though an early setback came with the dismissal of Ronav in the first over. Noah and Xavier rebuilt steadily, rotating strike and settling into the innings before Concord claimed the key wicket of Xavier, halting the developing partnership.
Austin joined Noah and looked to lift the tempo immediately, showing positive intent and keeping LWCC in the contest. Hartley later provided a bright moment with a cleanly struck boundary over long on, reflecting the team’s determination to fight through the innings.
A notable late effort came from Linus, who showed resilience with the bat, attempting to stay until the end and hold the innings together. Despite his fight, wickets continued to fall around him, and LWCC closed the innings at 89, finishing short of the target.
LWCC Black displayed encouraging signs across both disciplines. While Concord’s experience proved decisive, the Wanderers’ effort, emerging partnerships, point to strong improvement ahead. As the new lineup settles and bowling unit sharpens its consistency, LWCC Black will continue building towards more competitive performances in the coming rounds.
U15 Derby – LWCC White (9-172) def. LWCC Gold (5-161)
The bats a bigger, bodies stronger, and the outfield of Callan Park fast, so a high scoring match was the expectation.
Batting first was the task for the Whites after losing the toss.
The Gold’s bowling was straight. Charlie was stoic as an opener to score 7. Jack was unlucky, with a ball going down leg deflecting off his pads and disrupting his stumps on the first ball of season. James, Archer and Harrison all got in, each scoring between 16 and 20 at more than a run a ball, displaying mixture of glorious strokes and big hitting, but fell to well-taken catches. Oliver S was the exception, top-scoring with 39, a great effort noting he hasn’t touched a bat or ball for three weeks due to an injury. Oliver B and Max were each bowled by jaffas - even Matt Renshaw would have struggled. The score was 8-117 after 21.4 with Gold in the dominant position and about to get two more scalps and end the innings with the Whites’ score well under par. Then the resurrection came, with Ted (16), Arjun (26*) and Jacob (16*) finishing at more than a run per ball.
The target for Gold was 173. The four seamers Charlie, Arjun, Ted and Archer opened proceedings. Their tight bowling restricted Gold to 3-42 after 12 overs, with Charlie, Arjun and Archer the wicket takers. Oliver B’s fielding was excellent. But Gold put on 70 runs in the next 12 overs with the loss of just one wicket (a run out by Harrison and Jack), picking up the tempo and applying the right level of risk in their shot making. The score was 4-112 after 26 overs. The Gold batters were hitting big and on a roll. Getting another 61 in the last 4 overs was looking likely. That was until excellent ‘death bowling’ by James, Harrison, Max and Ted. Their variations in bounce, flight and pace were too difficult to handle. The Whites had a win, with Gold falling 11 runs short after a spirited display of excellent short-format batting.
The momentum swung many times in this game. Everyone at Callan Park agreed it was a pleasure to watch.
Senior D Grade – LWCC (143) def. by Christ Church Gladesville (4-185)
A loss for D grade on the weekend, but a much more enjoyable game for everyone involved and all played in good spirits. We let Christ Church Gladesville bat first, as they only had five players at the start of play. They got going early with a few nice shots before I took our first wicket. Callum bowled unreal, keeping the batters guessing with every ball. Before Harry finished off the innings bowling 6 straight to restrict them to 180. Harry picked up 2 wickets, while Callum and myself each got 1.
Our innings got off to a bit of rocky start, coming up against one very good opening bowling who was swinging it a mile. Nik was looking good with a few quick boundaries and a big six over mid on before copping the ball of the day to fall for 16. Myself and Harry began to swing the moment our way before Harry fell for 18. Charlie then joined me at the crease and proved their captain wrong smoking boundaries all over the ground before going for one to many and falling to a good catch for 21. We were still in the game coming into the last couple overs needing around 8 an over before I frustratingly chopped on for 49.
We ended up all out for 143 but was nice to see a multiple good contributions with the bat. Who knows what could have happened if leader run scorer Lachlan had shown up for the team instead of leaving with us 10 so he could go to the races. He’s agreed to go bat pad on Saturday as punishment.
Captain Lukas
Other match results:
U10 Black – LWCC (13-118) def. Iron Cove Balmain Tigers (7-71)
U11 Black – LWCC (5-86) def. by Ryde Hunters Hill Pirates Buccaneers (8-130)
Senior B Grade – LWCC (8-153) def. Balmain (151)
A note regarding uniform order collection. After a huge pre-season with several events arranged specifically for uniform collection, we are no longer providing large-scale "collection windows" - whilst we mean this respectfully, it is simply an inefficient use of our volunteers' time. Therefore, to collect any remaining orders which are yet to be collected - or for any new orders placed - collection will need to be arranged directly with the club. Please email leichhardtcricket@gmail.com to ask how this works.
