Wanderers Cricket - Round 3 Wrap
Updated: 1 day ago
October 31st, 2026.
Round 3 is in the books and coinciding with the increasingly popular Halloween festivities, we have plenty of treats for our readers and a couple of tricks up our sleeve!
We saw an incredible round of cricket on the weekend, with some amazing standout performances. Whilst the Performance-of-the-Round is an absolute cracker, there were several others that could have easily been chosen on any other week! Read on below for details of our player of the round (we don't want to spoil the surprise!) but honourable mentions go to Karthika Polepalli (U13 Girls Red) for her all-round performance - including a half century, a couple of wickets, plus a catch - and debut half-centuries for Oscar Rawson (U12 Red) and Oliver Sim (U13 Gold).
In addition to this, there are plenty of superb cricket stories shared below, right down to our youngest Blast juniors who are playing the game for the first time and loving it! It's always special when a young player takes their first ever wicket. A big thanks to all the hard-working coaches, managers and volunteers who put so much enthusiasm into our kids, so they can have fun every weekend and enjoy the beautiful game of cricket.
Before you crack on with all the highlights and match reports below, we'll leave you with our U12 coaches in ghostface masks..... 'nuff said!
Saskia Gibson (Stage 3 Girls Red) - whilst we had some superb performance across the parks on Saturday, how could we possibly go past Saskia's efforts with bat and ball?? Saskia blasted 99 not out, off only 61 balls, featuring a whopping 16x fours and 1x six! (And yes, there was only a single available on the last ball!) Saskia followed this up with bowling figures of 3 for 15 (off 2.3 overs), plus 2x catches and a run-out in the field, to earn double Honour Roll spots for this week. Welcome to Wanderers Saskia!
Alice Thornton (U11 Girls Red) – 22 (off 19), 4x fours; 1 for 3 (off 2)
Iluka Nowlan (U11 Girls Black) - first wicket! 1 for 28 (off 3)
Karthika Polepalli (U13 Girls Red) – 50* (off 35), 5x fours, 2x sixes, 2 for 5 (off 1); 1x catch Honour Roll
Ophelia Worsley (U13 Girls Red) – 34* (off 32), 5x fours; 1 for 10 (off 2); 1x catch
Connie Rawson (Stage 3 Girls Black) – 24 (off 34), 5x fours
Isabella Fogarty (Stage 3 Girls Black) – 24 (off 19), 4x fours
Ginger Rietdyk (Stage 3 Girls Red) – 25 (off 27), 2x fours; 1x catch, 1x run-out
Saskia Gibson (Stage 3 Girls Red) – 99* (off 61), 16x fours, 1x six; 3 for 15 (off 2.3); 2x catches, 1x run-out Honour Roll (x2)
Edgar Bradford (U10 Red) – 3 for 3 (off 3)
Eoghan Crittenden (U10 White) – 16 (off 22), 3x fours
Sasha Buckley (U10 White) – direct hit run-out!
Isaac Jessup (U10 White) – brilliant caught & bowled!
Sebastian Smith (U10 Sabres) – first ever wicket!
Carter Bell (U11 Red) – 24 (off 17), 4x fours
Hugo Sathiyamoorthy (U11 Red) – 18 (off 17), 1x four, 1x six
Frederick Werner-Gibbings (U11 White) – 32 (off 14), 6x fours, 1x six; 3 for 13 (off 3)
Joshua Bean (U11 White) – 23 (off 14), 4x fours
Reuben Garber (U11 White) – 1x catch, 1x run-out; 17 (off 14), 3x fours
Joe Gallagher (U12 Gold) – 3 for 27 (off 4); 19 (off 15), 4x fours
Oscar Rawson (U12 Red) – 53* (off 59), 5x fours; 1 for 9 (off 2); 1x catch Honour Roll
Emmett Hudson (U12 Red) – 33* (off 40), 2x fours; 1x catch
Jack Eichholzer (U12 White) – 45 (off 33), 8x fours
Oliver Sim (U13 Gold) – 57 (off 41), 10x fours Honour Roll
Flynn Sawers (U13 White) – 36* (off 25), 4x fours, 3x sixes
Patrick Thornton (U15 Gold) – 3 for 11 (off 5); 22 (off 29), 3x fours, 1x six
Max Irvine Feeney (B Grade) – 75 (off 76) Honour Roll
U11 Girls Red – LWCC (4-115) def. Summer Hill Blue (4-64)
An early start to facilitate extended trick or treating... Zoe lost the toss and Summer Hill elected to bat on what is a brand-new wicket at Hammond Park.
The team delivered the bowling performance of their season to date. Two wickets for Coco and a wicket each for Zoe and Alice, all bowled, with each ball taking the top of off. The fielding was sharp and the girls were up and about in support of each other. Summer Hill were restricted to just 8 runs scored off the bat, and 44 in total.
Fruit only at the innings break in preparation for the sugar festival to come, Reds stepped out to bat with Coco and Georgina at the top of the order. Gigi added 5 well-hit runs in her second every time at bat, and Charlotte was as industrious as ever, adding 5 herself and a dozen more for others with aggressive running between the wickets. Alice cracked four fours and was unlucky not to add a couple more on her way to a lifetime best of 22, with Adele adding 6 and Zoe 14 to close out the innings. The team finished with 115 and a comfortable victory.
A particular highlight was the calling and running between the wickets, with the team picking up 10 runs in well run singles. The season is shaping up nicely.
U11 Girls Black – LWCC (7-90) def. by Ashfield CC Magpies (5-156)
This week, the U11 Blacks team took on a mature Ashfield outfit at Blackmore Oval. The scoreboard didn't reflect the improvement the team has made in such a short time. The focus for this week's match was really around bowling, fielding and celebrating our successes when taking wickets. Pleasingly we had a huge tick against each one of these ambitions - including some fun celebrating when the girls achieved their wickets.
Our bowling was on point this week, recording the lowest number of extras we had bowled the entire season and all the girls should be very proud of their achievements. Congratulations to Iluka for her first wicket.
Some really great Fielding efforts in particular. Annabelle M who saved at least half a dozen boundaries, got a run out and had an incredible attempt at a catch that came flying off the bat.
Runs were hard to come by in our batting innings as the maturity of their bowling line up was on display. Our
girls showed great courage and bravery against the pace and skill of their attack.
U13 Girls Red – LWCC (3-187) def. Easts Dolphins (59)
U13 Red girls travelled to Double Bay to play a young Easts side. Easts won the toss and sent us in to bat. Emily M and Maggie opened and got us off to a strong start. We knew the outfield was fast when Em punched a square drive and it rocketed for 4. Karthi came in at no. 3 and was brutal with anything short. Annie was playing her first game with Under 13 (usually Stage 3) and slotted in seamlessly to the team playing some cracking pull shots. All the other girls contributed, but the amazing partnership was between Ophelia and the returning Karthi. Ophelia ended up with 34 not out and Karthi hit the final ball of the innings for a single to get her 50! In truth, she tried to hit the ball to Bellevue Hill and inside edged it for one, but don’t tell anyone :)
Our turn to ball on a very narrow pitch and we kept things tight. Lots of chatter and encouragement in the field meant we were always on top. Two great runs outs from Emilie B and Hannah kept the pressure on. We also saw a fantastic catch from Ophelia. Emilie B, Annie and Ophelia all got a wicket with Maggie keeping wickets brilliantly. Then Karthi came on to bowl to top off a magnificent game with 2 clean bowled and being an a hattrick!
Another strong win for our developing team. The team spirit continues to grows with all the girls contributing and thoroughly enjoying their cricket.
Stage 3 Girls Red – LWCC (4-168) def. Easts Narwhals (89)
Playing in the shadows of the SCG against Easts Narwhals, the girls produced a magnificent performance to secure a 79-run victory in what was a truly special day on the park.
With just seven players available, things didn’t start as planned. Up against some quality bowling, we found ourselves in early trouble at 4–23, with the Narwhals firmly on top.
Enter Ginger and Saskia.
The pair came together and began a much-needed rebuild, showing patience, composure and determination to wrestle back control. By the 10-over mark, the scoreboard read 4–67, and the foundations had been laid.
Ginger retired after a composed 25 off 27 balls, having played a crucial role in steadying the innings. What followed was something special.
Over the next 10 overs, Saskia took the attack apart, while Kate played the perfect supporting role, anchoring the innings and allowing Saskia to play her shots.
After 20 overs, LWCC had powered their way to an imposing 4-168. Kate finished unbeaten on 17 off 24 balls, while Saskia was left stranded just one run short of a century on an extraordinary 99 not out.
It was an innings of effortless power and remarkable control, featuring 17 boundaries. A joy to watch from start to finish.
With our bowling stocks slightly diminished by injuries, the girls once again had to dig deep in the field. Chloe kept things tight, conceding just 11 runs from her three overs while bringing some serious pace. Charlotte bowled beautifully, finishing with 1-25 from three overs, while Zoe W swapped her keeping gloves for the ball and picked up two wickets from her two overs.
And then there was Saskia, who seemed to be involved in absolutely everything. After her incredible innings with the bat, she returned figures of 3-15, took two catches and was also involved in a run-out. An outstanding all-round performance.
To take on a quality opposition with just seven players, recover from early trouble with the bat, and then defend a strong total so convincingly speaks volumes about the determination and spirit of this group.
Stage 3 Girls Black – LWCC (6-84) def. by Easts Sixers (4-169)
The girls went to Timbrell Park at 3pm, eager to play a great game before heading off to their Halloween plans.
They started off with a fantastic fielding innings and 4 wickets. Tara took two wickets, one bowled and one caught by Sofia; Cate took an amazing catch on the boundary from Aditi’s bowling, and she got a wicket; and the whole team managed to cut down their extras by almost half from the week before, with not a single extra until the fifth over. The girls did incredibly well against some very talented batters.
Then, as a storm was rolling in, the girls had a bat, with Connie and Aditi opening. Then came Ava with some great defensive shots, keeping her in for 32 balls, and Cate, who finished not out. Congratulations to Bella and Connie for both top-scoring with 24 runs: Bella with 24 off 19 balls and 4 fours, and Connie with 24 off 34 balls and 5 fours.
While the girls unfortunately didn’t win, they definitely had a standout game that we will remember.
Overall, great energy and enthusiasm from the girls and parents. Thank you to Mike and Chris for helping to coach this game, and thank you to Olivia (Oscar) for stepping in as an extra fielder and making some spectacular diving stops.
Connie
U8 White – LWCC (80) def. by North Ryde Super Rockets (114)
The Leichhardt Wanderers put together a strong batting and fielding performance in Match 2, scoring 75 runs compared with NRSR's 64. Unfortunately, wickets proved decisive, with NRSR losing only one wicket while the Wanderers lost 10. After wicket bonuses, NRSR won 114 – 80, a margin of 34 runs.
There were some terrific moments with the bat. Arjun top-scored with 20 runs, continuing a very strong start to the season, while Jacob struck 16, including an absolute stunner to the boundary that came tantalisingly close to being a six. Esben and Theo provided two of the biggest highlights of the innings, each launching a terrific six. Esben finished with 12 runs across two batting groups, while Theo contributed 7.
The scorecard doesn't quite tell the full story of the Wanderers' effort in the field. The bowling and fielding was tight throughout, with NRSR held to only 64 runs. On a fairly dodgy pitch, plenty of deliveries threatened the stumps without quite producing the wickets the Wanderers deserved. Better luck next week and a few more of those near-misses should turn into wickets.
The fielding also helped keep the score under control. Alfie nearly produced the catch of the season so far on the boundary, getting a hand to a ball that had been smashed in his direction. It would have been a spectacular grab, but simply getting to the chance and preventing maximum damage was a great piece of fielding.
Jacob claimed the Wanderers' wicket, but several other chances and close calls went unrewarded.
And, without dwelling on it, the Wanderers might also consider themselves a little unfortunate with one or two of the umpiring decisions. Sometimes those calls go your way, sometimes they don't.
Great work everyone particularly in the field this week!
⭐ Match Highlights
💥 Arjun top-scored with 20
🚀 Jacob's 16 included a boundary that was inches away from being a six
🏏 Terrific sixes from both Esben and Theo
👐 Alfie nearly pulled off the catch of the season on the boundary
🎯 Jacob took the Wanderers' wicket
🔒 Tight bowling and strong fielding restricted NRSR to 64 runs
📈 LWCC actually outscored NRSR 75–64 with the bat
🍀 Plenty of near misses with the ball on a difficult pitch, with hopefully a few more wickets to come next week
U9 Gold – LWCC (46) def. by Concord Briars Maroon (86)
A great effort from our U9 Gold team facing an obviously more experienced team this week.
Emerson and Tommy opened the batting with a strong, patient partnership, setting a solid foundation. Hudson closed the batting and brought the energy with some big 4s late in the order, boosting our total.
A big highlight this week was our fielding improvement. Markendaya and Ernie showed their hard work put in during Friday's training paid off, keeping the opposition on their toes.
Great bowling from Remy, who kept the pressure on with consistent line and length. Raff’s bowling produced our wicket for the day - a fantastic delivery that led to a brilliant catch by Hudson.
Although it was our first loss of the season, the team still had fun, showing incredible spirit and sportsmanship throughout the game. We are super proud of how everyone played. Well done, team, looking forward to the next one.
U9 Derby – LWCC Red (258) def. by LWCC Black (65)
Red
Another weekend and another great stepping stone for the LW U9 Reds, this time in a local derby against the LW U9 Blacks!
After Spencer attended the bat flip, we bowled first, with everyone contributing brilliantly with the ball and backing it up with some excellent fielding. The tone was set by Lucy, who picked up a wicket with the second ball of the innings. In total, the Reds claimed an impressive 14 wickets from 12 overs, including a staggering four wickets in a single over from Ari, which featured three of the team's seven run-outs.
After the Blacks scored steadily throughout their innings, Leo and Spencer opened the batting for the Reds, putting on a fantastic 82 runs between them. Both players took full advantage of the powerplay zone and got the innings off to a flying start.
Ari then carried the momentum from his bowling into his batting, combining with Freddy in a fantastic partnership worth 62 runs.
Adam and Lucy were the final pair at the crease, with Adam compiling a solid 24 runs and Lucy keeping the scoreboard ticking over, scoring from 10 of the 12 balls she faced.
All in all, it was a fantastic team effort: 14 wickets, including seven run-outs, and 188 runs scored off the bat. For just their third match together, it was a terrific performance from both sides, and we wish the Blacks all the best for the rest of the season.
Black
This week the mighty U9 Blacks went head-to-head with our hometown rivals, LW Reds, in what was shaping up to be another blockbuster local derby at Blackmore!
Captain for the day, Charlie Penny, got proceedings off to a flyer by winning the bat toss and electing to bat first. His thinking? With the sun beaming down and not much grass on the Blackmore deck, it was the perfect opportunity to pile on a big score. A confident captain's call!
First pair in were Kaan and Charlie, who had their work cut out for them. The Reds bowlers came out firing and were on song from the get-go. The boys dug in, tapped the ball around and worked hard to get valuable runs on the board. There was some kamikaze running between the wickets, a few brilliant deliveries from the Reds and unfortunately a handful of wickets along the way. But the boys kept smiling and enjoyed every minute out in the middle. Shout out to the Reds for getting a team hat-trick!
Next up were Teddy G and Edgar, who walked to the crease looking like they'd just come out of a tactical team meeting. The plan was simple: TIP AND RUN! Every time the ball made contact, the boys were OFF! The Reds' fielders had other ideas, producing some sharp work and some cracking run-outs. But our boys stuck to the plan, showed great determination and kept pushing the scorecard along.
Our final pair, Jason and Aaron, had a big job ahead of them, needing to claw back some runs after we'd lost 12 wickets and our score went into negative. The boys gave it everything, playing shots all around the ground and showing great composure, losing just two wickets. We finished the innings 14 wickets down. The challenge was now clear: if we were going to get back into this contest, we'd need to take some wickets of our own!
The boys stepped up with a much-improved bowling performance this week. A huge improvement on last week's efforts, with better consistency, more balls hitting the pitch and some fantastic energy in the field.
Our standout was Teddy G, who put in an absolute shift! Not only did he clean bowl the Reds' best player, but he also threw himself around the field, diving into the double-run zone on multiple occasions like a young Ricky Ponting. A wicket, some serious athleticism and a whole lot of commitment. Outstanding stuff Teddy G! A massive congratulations to Teddy G, our well-deserved Player-of-the-Match! A brilliant all-round performance with the ball and in the field. Taking out the opposition's best batter and putting his body on the line to save runs. A performance to be proud of!
Honourable mentions to Ollie and Ted who turned up to support their mates on a week where they were rested - that's the kind of attitude that builds great teams. Another outstanding spread from the rostered families, taking the snacks to another level with homemade sausage rolls, choc chip cookies, fruit and a lotta love. The hometown rivalry might belong to the Reds this week, but the mighty U9 Blacks will be back!
Heads up, chins up, and bring on round four!
U10 White – LWCC (3-100) def. by Iron Cove Siberian (5-108)
It was an exciting game of well-matched players down at sunny Blackmore on Saturday morning. The Siberians won the toss and sent us in to bat. Eoghan and Isaac got us off to a flying start with some great boundaries, before Asher and Sasha steadied the innings. Archie and Ruairi were slow to start but then came home with some quality fours, while Benji and Connor finished the innings strong and steady.
The Crittenden brothers opened the bowling and we kept things tight through the middle overs. Special moments included Sasha’s fantastic direct-hit run-out and Isaac’s brilliant caught-and-bowled. The spectators were treated to a nail-biter as the Siberians’ lower order fought back with some brilliant batting to edge ahead, eventually winning 108–100 in a thrilling finish. A wonderful second game, boys!
U10 Gold – LWCC (4-103) def. Concord Briars Green (6-94)
What a glorious day for cricket! A beautiful sunny day, a gentle breeze, and the Wanderers U10 Gold ready for action.
The outfield was a little on the slow side, but the Wanderers were first to bat and got straight down to business. Some excellent running between the wickets, terrific calling and solid, sensible batting. The boys defended their stumps beautifully, held their ground and made the opposition work hard, with only one batter losing their wicket to a ball hitting the stumps.
Then it was time to take the field, and what a performance!
All our bowlers were right on the money, with Jack claiming two crucial wickets. Alfie and Billy each pulled off a brilliant run out, with great support from their teammates, while Toby produced a beauty with a direct hit! Behind the stumps, Toby and Hamish were terrific, keeping things tight and putting the pressure on. And the fielding? Magnificent! Tight, clean and full of energy, with every player doing their bit.
Today’s game was a genuine team performance, with great encouragement, teamwork and determination from start to finish. Under the fine captaincy of Billy, the U10 Golds held their nerve to claim a thrilling victory by just 9 runs! And a special mention to both teams for the wonderful sportsmanship shown throughout the match.
What a terrific morning of cricket 🏏
U10 Red – LWCC (5-117) def. Concord Briars Blue (8-80)
Leichhardt Wanderers U10 Red delivered another outstanding team performance on Saturday, defeating Concord Briars U10 Blue by 117 runs to 80 after a strong display in all facets of the game.
Fielding first, the Wanderers set the tone with enthusiasm and determination in the field. The highlight of the innings, and arguably the moment of the match, came from Hudson, who claimed a spectacular catch behind the stumps while wicketkeeping. It was an outstanding piece of skill and concentration that lifted the entire team and earned Hudson the deserved Player-of-the-Match award. Hudson also bowled brilliantly, conceding just two runs from his two overs and keeping the pressure firmly on the Briars batters.
The chief wicket taker was Edgar, who produced a superb spell of 3 overs, including a maiden, to finish with outstanding figures of 3 wickets for just 3 runs. Edgar's accuracy and consistency proved too much for the opposition, and he was a close contender for Player-of-the-Match honours. Frankie chipped in with an important wicket, while Bodhi and Drew also claimed wickets of their own. Ollie bowled a very economical spell, giving away only three runs, while Mateo delivered another tidy performance with the ball. Ted attacked the stumps throughout his spell and Sam contributed with a valuable over as every player played their part in restricting Concord Briars to 80.
After an excellent effort in the field, the Wanderers batters backed it up with a determined innings that saw them post 117 runs from their 20 overs. Every batting pair contributed to the total, with strong running between the wickets and smart shot selection helping to keep the scoreboard moving.
Ollie top scored with an impressive 11 runs, including two boundaries, while Bodhi continued his strong form with 10 runs, including a well timed four. Edgar added 6 runs, while Sam, Hudson and Ted each contributed 4. Mateo remained unbeaten on 3 runs and Frankie added 2. Every player worked hard to build partnerships and support their batting partners, helping the team compile an excellent total.
What was most pleasing was the genuine team effort. Hudson's brilliant catch and wicketkeeping display provided the standout moment, Edgar's three-wicket haul swung momentum firmly in Wanderers' favour, and every player contributed with either bat, ball or in the field. Sam, Frankie, Ollie, Bodhi, Hudson, Mateo, Ted and Edgar all played important roles in a comprehensive victory.
U10 Red march on with three straight wins for the season! A fantastic all-round performance from the U10 Red team and another great example of the improvement, teamwork and sportsmanship that this group continues to show every week.
U10 Sabres – LWCC (8-119) def. Concord Briars Black (7-105)
An outstanding team performances by the Sabres on Saturday.
We were sent into bat and got off to a solid start in the first 10 overs. With our opposition only managing to take 2 wickets. The rest of our innings was filled with some nice running between wickets. We managed to post 87 with the bat.
Ball in hand, we got 3 wickets in the first 10 overs and we knew it would be a close finish. With a great team effort we got another 5 wickets. With all our wickets spread throughout the team.
A wonderful moment was Sebastian S taking his first ever wicket. Then taking another in the last over of the game. Everyone on the team was more then happy to give him our Player-of-the-Match.
U11 Red – LWCC (9-219) def. by Ryde Hunters Hill Pirates Black Beards (6-240)
Our goal was to crack 100 runs and on Saturday we got there! From 38 in the first game to where we are now has required a huge effort from the whole team. All parents should be super proud - as are the coaches!
On a slightly smaller-than-usual ground in Gladesville, Hugo hit our first 6 of the season, and Carter hit an impressive four fours. Oscar and Yanai also hit their first fours of the season, meaning everyone on the team has hit one.
In the field, the smaller boundaries meant lots of fours. Although it was hot, the boys didn't wilt in the heat and they put in a full effort despite the steamy conditions - lots of chasing leather and great efforts in the field. Jude took his first wicket of the season via a sensational catch on the boundary and we had 3 great run-outs too.
Special call outs to Hugh and Oscar who really upped our 'keeping game this week.
The huge cheer that went up when we scored 100 made the training worthwhile. Next goal is to get our first win!
U11 White – LWCC (7-204) def. Ryde Hunters Hill Pirates Buccaneers (9-143)
The mighty U11 White enjoyed an excellent all-round performance on Saturday, finishing with a convincing 61-run victory over fellow ladder leaders the Pirates U11 Mixed Buccaneers.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, the Wanderers produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Pirates to 143 runs from their 20 overs. After a wayward first over, Frederick tightened his lines and managed an impressive 3 wickets for 13 runs. Reuben, Ziggy and Ted also chipped in with a wicket each. Despite the raucous cheers of the opposing fans, the team worked hard in the field to keep the runs under control.
In reply, the Wanderers put together an outstanding batting performance, managing an impressive 204 runs. Frederick led the way with a superb 32 after Joshua (23), set the early groundwork. Huxley (19) delivered a great late order contribution. While Reuben (17), William (16), Ryan (10), Thomas (11), Edward (8 not out) and Ziggy (7 not out) all chipped in with valuable runs in a whole team performance.
In the top of the table clash, we took the cane out of the cupboard and gave them a damn good thrashing. It was a terrific team effort, with contributions throughout the batting order and wickets shared across the bowling attack. Congratulations to all the boys on a fantastic performance and a well-deserved win.
U12 Derby – LWCC Red (2-148) def. LWCC White (8-96)
Red
Halloween ghosts be-devilled the toss, and the Blood Reds were sent in to by the White Witches.
A top-of-the-table clash against our fellow Wanderers had all the ingredients for a Halloween blockbuster. With two ghouls arriving late from Hogwarts, it was vital that our top order survived long enough to retire to the safety of the crypt.
And survive they did.
The Six Hounds of Hell, Henry the Magician, Dylan the Crucifier, Adam Skull, Johnny Orc, Emmett the Horrible and Oscar the Rotten, all retired after casting their spells on the White Witches' bowling attack. Emmett the Horrible returned from the underworld to finish unbeaten on 33, while Oscar the Rotten terrorised the opposition with an unbeaten 53, swinging his mighty axe through anything loose. The Blood Reds finished with a frighteningly good 2-148.
However, everyone knew the White Witches possessed dangerous magic of their own, led by the mighty Jack Evil, son of Dark Lord Sauron.
The Reds took the field eager for more Halloween mischief. Dylan the Crucifier struck first, before Johnny Orc joined the party. Then came Henry the Magician, producing a spell worthy of Hogwarts itself with 2 overs, 2 maidens and 1 wicket. Even then, Jack Evil refused to leave his broomstick.
Oscar the Rotten added another scalp before our travelling Hogwarts students, Jacob Wolfman and Arek Monster, arrived fresh from a game of Quidditch. They unleashed thunderbolts from both ends but still couldn't break the magic protecting the Son of Sauron. Adam Skull reached into his bag of mystery spells and promptly removed two witches with two wickets.
With Jack Evil still causing trouble, it was time for the ultimate weapon: Max the Axe. After several brave attempts by the Reds' Dogs of War, Max the Axe unleashed his secret Halloween delivery. This time the magic failed. Jack Evil's excellent 45 came to an end and the cheers could probably be heard all the way back to Mordor. Max the Axe. wasn't finished there, cleaning up the tail as the Blood Reds claimed a memorable victory and moved clear at the top of the leaderboard.
The Reds may have won this battle, but they know the White Witches will be back. In ten moons' time, another epic showdown awaits.
🎃 Jokes aside, this was a terrific game played in the true LWCC spirit. Both teams competed hard, showed great sportsmanship, and represented the club brilliantly.
Coach Lord Voldemort
White
A tough day for U12 White against a strong U12 Red side, but plenty of positives to take from our first loss of the season. The match was played in great spirit between two good teams who know each other well.
Captain Jack E won the toss and sent the opposition in to bat. Both teams were in for a spooky surprise as the Halloween match commenced, with two umpires appearing in Ghostface masks and carrying scythes! Despite some determined bowling and fielding, Red got off to a strong start. Krish was economical, conceding just 10 runs from his three overs, while Harry, Jude and Lucy were given the difficult task of bowling to well-set batters. Each rose to the challenge, bowling some tough overs and working hard to keep the scoring under control. Oli also delivered a maiden over of his own as we refused to let the opposition get too far away.
The breakthrough eventually came from Jack T, who bowled one of the opposition batters to finish with excellent figures of 1-8 from four overs. Luca then produced a sensational direct hit run out with only one stump to aim at! But Red's two leading batters proved difficult to contain, as they reached 148 from their 30 overs.
Facing a challenging target, Jack E and Luca opened the batting and got us moving. Jack E produced an outstanding innings, playing with confidence and attacking the bowling whenever the opportunity presented itself. He reached his retirement limit before returning later in the innings, eventually finishing with a magnificent 45 from 33 balls, including eight boundaries. It was his highest ever score and an exceptional performance against a strong bowling attack.
Will showed plenty of determination, retiring and then returning as he occupied the crease for 27 deliveries and finishing unbeaten on seven. Jack T also contributed seven runs, including a boundary, while Krish produced his best batting performance of the season so far, scoring nine runs from 16 deliveries and hitting his first boundary of the season. A terrific milestone!
Oli showed the importance of practice, putting into action the work he's been doing at training by committing to moving his feet to the ball. He was rewarded with six runs, including a boundary from his first ball. Despite never letting the required run rate get away from us, we eventually ran out of wickets, finishing on 8-96.
Player-of-the-Mach went to Jack E for a superb batting performance. His 45 runs were a fantastic demonstration of attacking cricket, combining confident stroke play with the determination to keep the good ones out against quality opposition.
While the result didn't go our way, there was plenty to be pleased about. We saw some excellent individual performances, important milestones and evidence of players putting what they've learned at training into practice.
Two wins from three games is a terrific start to our first U12 season. We'll take the lessons from this one and come back stronger next week.
U12 Black – LWCC (59) def. by Concord Briars Green (2-129)
A scorching 30-degree day at Queen Elizabeth Park saw the boys take on a very strong Concord Briars Green side, who came out firing with an impressive batting display.
Despite the heat and some quality opposition batting, our boys kept at it. Sam K applied great pressure with the ball, picking up a well-deserved wicket in the 7th over. While Sam W playing in just his third game, caused plenty of headaches for the batters, delivering some serious bounce and claiming a fantastic LBW!
We missed a few catching opportunities in the field, something we can work on at training, but overall there was some great improvement in our fielding and plenty of effort from everyone.
With the bat, conditions were equally tough. Runs were hard to come by against a very pacey Briars bowling attack. Archie B and Sam K stood tall with two solid innings, while Rohan and Jack also did well to support. In fact, the whole batting line-up deserves credit for standing up to some seriously quick bowling, including arguably one of the competition's fastest bowlers, Jaideep C.
Plenty of positives to take away, with some clear improvements on last week. A few things to keep working on, but great determination, resilience and team spirit all round.
Well done, boys! Keep up the great work!
U12 Gold – LWCC (69) def. by Concord Briars Black (155)
A sunny morning at Five Dock Park saw our Captain Harvey B win the toss and send the Briars into bat first.
Joe G grabbed the new ball and struck early to bowl their opener with the score still on zero - wicket maiden - great start Joe!
Rohan S, wanted to get into the action and did not disappoint taking consecutive wickets off his second and third deliveries – the stumps were getting smashed over left right and centre with this attack and alas the magic hat-trick did not eventuate, with the Briars breathing a sigh of relief. Joe ripped into another batsman in the fifth over of the match as the Briars steadied the ship against Reef R and Dorian A and after an unlikely catch off a no-ball the better Briar batsman set to their task off the bowling of Jonah P, Hamish L, Harvey B and Jack B.
It was not until the 18th over where Jack B struck with a pearler of a delivery and the batsman chopped onto his stumps - first wicket of the season for Jack B, well done. Finally, Joe G ended their innings in the 24th over nabbing a plumb LBW.
It was the turn of Jonah P and Reef R to open the batting for the Golds, and a steady start was required by our openers and unfortunately Reef R popped up an easy catch and was out for just 2 runs. Captain Harvey B came to the crease and set about steadying the ship with Jonah P who soon retired for a well-earned rest. Harvey B was next to fall, off another easy catch. Dorian A failed to trouble the scorers and Jack B also bowled by some straight ‘stump to stump’ attack. Hamish L was stoic but got caught by their keeper after a nasty bump ball caught him on the glove.
It was up to Rohan S and Joe G to salvage some U12’s Gold pride and both batsmen showed the way with some big hitting and tidy boundaries – Unfortunately, Joe G fell to a crafty ball and was easily caught. With Rohan S and GianLuca F, our only hope to get some more runs on the board - luckily, Rohan S made it to retirement and with Jonah battling on bravely but it was only a matter of overs before Jonah P was bowled and GianLuca F was caught behind.
Both Rohan S (13 runs and 2 wickets) and Joe G (19 runs and 3 wickets) showed the team what can be done with some determination and practice.
It was a close call, but Joe G was named our Player-of-the-Match by our Captain Harvey B with Rohan S a very close second.
Always a tough game against the Briars, and our boys should be proud of the grit and determination that they all showed throughout the match - with more practice and attention to details at training the boys will continue to improve in all aspects and enjoyment of their individual game.
Go Gold!
U13 Derby – LWCC White (3-134) def. LWCC Gold (8-132)
Gold
Russell Park was the scene for the Halloween Trick or Treating palate-cleanser on Saturday - with a slightly earlier start due to the desire to hunt for lollies.
The Goldies won the toss, and elected to bat, hoping to see out the early gremlins from the new ball. Unfortunately, a lot of the top order played with a sugar high and a sugar rush and tried to force the runs rather than playing balls on their merits, with good catches being taken in the deep to see off Liam, Jack, and Ben.
Luckily, we had Oli, who seemingly had eschewed the sugary treats for good old fashioned WeetBix. Playing with a skill, determination, and good sense, Oli decided to try and win the game on his own, scoring 44 before having to retire after 25 balls. Unfortunately from his position at the non-strikers end, he saw a succession of partners lose their wickets - some to good catching (Daniel and Leo), some to good bowling (Dilhan), and some to poor running decisions (Xavier).
Luckily Soto and the Black team allowed us to take early drinks, allowing a late-arriving Elliott to bat as Hugo is still recovering from a broken arm - thanks to them for that. Elliott held up his end as Oli completed his 50 - a first ever half century for the Goldies! - before eventually departing for 57 with a screamer of a catch, and a total of 132 all out.
Pre-innings, this seemed like it would be a competitive total, but the Blacks had other ideas. Their top order punishing anything that was too wide or on the body, and the Goldies fielding like zombies by dropping too many catches, and bowling too many extras.
Although some wickets eventually did fall, it was too late to really put pressure onto the Blacks, and they ended up knocking off the 132 total in the 18th over for the loss of only 3 wickets. Congrats to the Blacks on the win - their batting thoroughly rewarded them, and it was right for them to take home the choccies.
Congrats once again to Oli on his 50, and a well-deserved Player-of-the-Match award. Next week he'll get to captain the side as a reward.
White
Captain Paddy lost the toss, with LWCC Gold electing to bat first. Cloud cover kept the heat at bay as the Wanderers took to the field. Our bowling was much improved, and with sharper fielding and catching, Gold's wickets fell steadily throughout the innings. Six of their eight wickets came from catches, highlighting the hard work the boys have been putting into their fielding at training. Despite a spirited last-wicket partnership that added more than 30 runs after the drinks break, the boys did an excellent job of keeping Gold's total within reach.
In reply, LWCC Gold bowled with discipline and fielded tightly, restricting our scoring early. However, our batters showed great patience, protected their wickets, and gradually built momentum. Several strong partnerships followed before we passed the target in the 18th over, bringing an entertaining Halloween contest to a successful conclusion. It was another great match for the boys as they continue to develop their skills and confidence each week.
Paddy opened the bowling with two tidy overs, setting the tone early. The breakthrough came with Emerson Newton taking a fine catch off Benji's bowling, to leave Gold at 1-4. Lincoln claimed the second wicket thanks to an excellent catch by Jack , reducing Gold to 2-22. Oliver began scoring freely for Gold, but Emerson Newton struck next, with Jack again holding onto a sharp catch. At 3-42, our catching practice was clearly paying dividends.
Owen then produced a classic caught-and-bowled to claim the fourth wicket and leave Gold at 4-87. From there, the White seized control. Paddy bowled the next batter, a sharp run-out followed, and a catch by Benji off Jack’s bowling.
Suddenly Gold had collapsed to 7-101 in the 13th over. With one Gold batter still to arrive, an early drinks break allowed time for him to join the match. Gold fought bravely, adding another 31 runs before Milosh claimed the final wicket with the third ball of his over, well caught by Sebastian. A fantastic team effort from our bowlers and fielders to close out the innings.
With an earlier start than usual, Paddy was able to have a hit before heading off to basketball. Opening alongside Flynn, the pair weathered Gold's best bowlers before steadily building the innings without loss.
Flynn retired not out after another impressive innings and was replaced by Emerson. Paddy then accelerated the scoring, making a quick 20 before being dismissed by a quality delivery. At 1-44, Whites were well placed and on track.
Unfortunately, Emerson was unable to get going before being dismissed, but Owen continued the good work and next man up mentality. Owen retired not out on 25 from 25 balls, keeping the scoreboard moving. Benji was unfortunately run out before Sebastian and Jack combined to guide the team past the target. The Whites finished on 3-134 in the 18th over, securing a well-deserved victory and producing another strong performance for the second week in a row.
Well done to LWCC Gold for competing right to the end despite being short on players. Congratulations to LWCC White on another excellent team performance. It was particularly pleasing to see the boys bring the skills and techniques practiced at training onto the field. The continued improvement from week to week is exciting to watch, and this result bodes well for the season ahead.
Go Wanderers! 💙🏏
U13 Black – LWCC (7-46) def. by Concord Briars Black (0-47)
A short round 3 update for a short game.
The U13 Black team won the toss and elected to bat first. Felix (10) got off to a quick start with two boundaries in the first over but was unfortunately run out soon after. Noah came in at three and whacked three fours before falling for 14. Finn continued his excellent form from last week finishing on 9* , but before we knew it we were bowled out in the 14th over with a total we suspected wouldn't be enough.
The Briars openers must have had a Halloween party to get to, with one scoring a blistering 41 off 17 balls with no delivery seemingly safe from being dispatched to the boundary ( or over it) . The run chase ended in the fourth over and that was that.
Spirits remained positive though, with this game highlighting a few improvement areas to keep working on - running between wickets and playing with a straight bat at the top of the list.
U15 Gold – LWCC (70) def. by Concord Briars Gold (133)
It was a terrific effort in the field from the U15 Gold side against a strong Briars team. Batting first, Briars were cruising at 99 at the drinks break, but the boys lifted after the break and bowled them out for 133. Patrick led the attack with an outstanding 3-11 from his five overs. Asher was just as hard to score off, taking 1-9 from five overs, while Zebulun and Oscar chipped in with a wicket each.
The fielding was the real highlight. Oscar and Archer combined for two run outs in a single over, the second a direct hit by Oscar from about 20 metres that Ponting himself would have been proud of. Grayson added another direct hit later in the innings showing shades of Jonty. James took two good catches, including a diving effort he had to run a long way to reach.
Unfortunately the batting couldn't quite back up the work in the field, and we were bowled out for 70. Asher was the standout with a patient 24 from 40 balls. Patrick capped off a fine all-round day with 22, including three fours and a six. Zebulun showed plenty of grit to finish 6 not out from 26 balls. There's lots to take from the bowling and fielding performance, and if the batting can build some partnerships, the results will follow.
U15 White – LWCC (56) def. by Concord Briars Black (2-57)
Batting first at Edwards Park was the task for the Whites after losing the toss. It is a venue that is difficult to score at. Anything over 100 is decent. 140+ is often enough to win.
The Briar’s bowling was good. Ted was top scorer (15 of 45 balls), Oliver S played with the most freedom (11* of 16), but most others fell to simple mistakes or poor choices of shots. Arguably the best innings was from Oliver B (1 of 20), who gave the bowling the respect it deserved and saw off the quickest bowler in the district. It was impressive to watch.
Our bowlers needed quick wickets. Eamon and Archer put on an excellent partnership in the opening six overs but only got the one (bowled by Archer). They were unlucky to not have claimed two or three more. Several false shots went between fielders or just over head. One more coat of varnish on the stumps would have seen the bails removed on two occasions. Our other bowlers tried their best too, with Charlie claiming a wicket, a well taken catch by Jacob.
There is a lot to learn from this game, especially around having the right attitude when batting, the effectiveness of consistent line and length when bowling, and making half-chances go our way when stopping a run or taking a catch when fielding.
The boys will be better cricketers because of the experience.
U15 Black – LWCC (109) def. by Concord Briars Maroon (9-149)
LWCC Black showed encouraging signs despite a 40-run loss, with noticeable improvement in both bowling and fielding compared to recent weeks.
The bowling unit worked hard throughout the innings, sharing the wickets around and doing a much better job of creating pressure and taking chances in the field. The team's energy and commitment were evident, reflecting the hard work being put in at training. While there is still room for improvement in consistency and execution, the overall effort with the ball and in the field was a positive step forward.
Chasing 150, LWCC Black found it difficult to build partnerships and convert starts into substantial scores. Batting form remains an area of focus, with the side unable to maintain the momentum required during the run chase.
A highlight of the innings was Harrison's determined 27, played with intent and positivity. It was pleasing to see Harry take the game on and show the value of backing his shots. If the batting group can bring the same determination and confidence to the crease together, there is no doubt the team's batting performances will continue to improve.
While the result didn't go our way, there were plenty of positives to take from the match, particularly the improved fielding standards, collective bowling effort and the fighting attitude shown throughout the day. The team will look to build on these positives in the coming weeks🏏
Senior B Grade – LWCC (9-233) def. by Concord Briars Maroon (4-278)
A tough but somewhat rewarding day for B grade yesterday.
Dave lost the toss for the third time in a row and clearly can only win with coins on Anzac Day. We got sent into the field in gloomy conditions, but the opening spell was only gloomy for the batsmen. Simon and Carlos bowled what has to be one of the best opening spells I have seen in my time at LWCC. They toiled very hard and kept the scoring incredibly low - Simon 0-20 from 4 and Carlos 0-26 from 7!
The wind picked up and so did the ball. We worked hard but had very little reward, with two batters just having a day out and the wind assisting every six they hit. We shared the bowling around and tried some different fields, but in the end only managed to restrict them to 278. A couple of great catches from Max and Tom, and some all-round top fielding from the team. Spirits and runs were high!
We then went in to bat, and Max (75) and Dave (37) got us off to a great start. At 2-151 we had the game to win, but some luck then went against us. Tom (31), James (24) and Carlos (18*) made some great contributions, but Chris pinged his hammy and had to come off, and we fell short, finishing on 233.
233 is a great score for the boys, and it's great to see Max settling in and getting a couple of scores early.
Onto the next week!
Other match results:
U9 Sabres – LWCC (1-64) def. Concord Briars Black (7-64)
U10 Black – LWCC (6-77) def. by Concord Briars Gold (5-88)
U11 Black – LWCC (2-35) def. by Ryde Hunters Hill Pirates Scallywags (6-138)
U13 Girls Black – BYE
Senior D Grade – LWCC (4-117) def. by India Avenue Super Kings (5-296)
For the 2026/27 season, the Honour Roll will be celebrated for the season for individual achievements, as follows:
Batting - Mixed: Stage 1 (U10 & U11) / Girls: Stage 1 (U11) & Stage 2 (U13): 30+ runs in an innings
Batting - Mixed: Stage 2 & 3 (U12+) / Girls: Stage 3 (U15+) / Seniors: 50+ runs in an innings
Bowling - 4+ wickets in an innings, or a hat trick
Fielding - 3+ dismissals in the field: any combination of catches, run-outs or stumpings
(Variations for batting honours reflects realistic achievements as adjusted for ball and over limits across the stages).
Please send details to us at leichhardtcricket@gmail.com highlighting any individual achievements that meet this criteria!
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.
