Second Grade Report – Go Down Narrowly, Need to Close to Make Finals or We hit the bricks

2’s turned up to Alan Davidson with a massive task confronting them to get the points and stay in touch with the top (link to Sydney Roosters deleted) teams.  A pretty flat surface was presented, and we would have to bowl pretty well to restrict the bunnies and stave of possible outright defeat.

Skipper bez opened up with his good self as well as inform money man farmer operating into a breeze conducive for spin and drift.  Bez applied some good early pressure in the form of consecutive maidens while the bunnies top order took some delight in skipping down the track to farmer and trying to whack the ball over duck man’s head at midwicket, missing them and being stumped twice by wes.  Furthermore, when an edge to Neddy was taken and a plum LBW all courtesy of farmer we were right back in the guts of the contest at 5/41.

A short partnership followed… but after one of their bats pumped a BFBR half volley to painter at mid off and farmer got another LBW the bunnies were in some strife and the coves looking for the killer blow.  A fabulous direct hit run out from a waddling duck man made the contest even more interesting, with duck man shuffling his ned to the left, the ball bouncing off his blurt into his mits, then roasting a throw which chargrilled middle stump.

Game On.

But it was not to be… Skipper Bez, Dodds, BFBR all agonized over a third slip… opted for a short cover, and then saw the ball float through there at a nice catchable height… insert appropriate expletive here.  Skipper May and a very gutsy young bunny (had worn one at training during the week) saw the bunnies home safely and all out for around 90 with a lead.

With the 6 points gone we fluttered around in the second inning batting out most of the day, not finishing til 6.45 as the bunnies chased 111 of 11 overs without ever really being a chance of getting the 10 but ensuring a more sober afternoon than anticipated for both parties. 

Need to get act together before NWS and make sure of finals position as we are giving 7th & 8^th every chance to somersault into 6^th.

Well done to 1’s and 4’s.

Players' Points:

Farmer – 3 (Super spell mate, you are genuinely carrying us
Bezer – 1 (Cheap second innings poles, and controversial burgling of captaincy points)
Robbo – 1 (Second Innings runs, bowled well, drove me to the SCG on Friday)
Neddy – 1 (1^st inning runs saving us from complete embarrassment, good snare)

Gerard Boyle

I left the oaks at 9pm Friday Night…. Honest 
 

Third Grade: Lane Cove 127 & 5/126 defeated by South Sydney 7dec/237


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Fourth Grade: Lane Cove 4dec/116 & 0/2 defeated South Sydney 36 & 81 outright

Demps declared overnight with a lead of 80 to give the Coves a full day to bowl at the Bunnies and chase outright points.  Cox and Molloy again opened up but found the going a little harder this time around.  Molloy grabbed number one with a drive popped up to mid off before snaring two with his stock pegs delivery.  Scotty came on and picked up one almost straight away, but The Bunnies were certainly fighting a lot harder this time around and the two batsmen in managed to play a few gutsy shots inbetween a few lucky breaks to put a few runs on.  Marty Tzikas came into the attack and was immediately successful - removing the doinksman with a short ball in his first over.  Marty took wickets fairly regularly and ended up with the neat figures of 5/16 off 6 overs, with Coxy coming back on to pick up another pegulation of his own.  Souths managed 81 in 34 overs, just enough to make us bat again.

Chasing 2, the boys made hard work of it.  Dash did not attempt to hit any of the four balls he faced out of the park, while Rixon likewise disappointed by only trying to hit the last ball of the innings for four.  0/2 off 0.5 overs... boring.

Big game this week against form team NW Sydney.  We'll need to be on top of our game in this one.  Spots at the top of the tree are up for grabs.

Lance

Players' Points:
3 - Cox
2 - Molloy
1 - Tzikas 

Fifth Grade: Lane Cove 225 defeated by Warringah 4/229

 LCCC’s Finest battle Warringah Pups for a finals berth in the Tim Creer Muppy Cuppy
                                          “Go…………….Green Men” 

Nothing but the best for Lance Cove’s finest as the Sky Muppets tilt at finals glory was moved to Manly Oval against Warringah’s Men in Green. That’s riyyyeetttt trendsetters,  Manly’s first grade oval. Hmmmm…..Delightful.

Great facilities at Manly Oval. Even better scenery too with many a passer-by having Lance getting rather hot and bothered. Not sure if it was the Eff-Me pants or not but it certainly was entertaining. So – another scorching belter of day had Lance’s men praying for the Fat Schnitzenegger to win the toss and have a bat. No one felt like bowling in 40 degrees. However, the cagey Schkip felt we had a better chance with our strong bowling attack to hopefully skittle the Green Men early doors and chase down the total using the fast outfield.

Well, that didn’t damn well work did it. Lance’s finest could only manage 4 wickets as the Men in Green absolutely PILED on the runs in what was the highest total against the Sky Muppets in a long time. To be fair, they batted really well and have quite a few talented kids in what is their development side. Well batted lads. However, it must be said that at times we bowled and fielded like absolute cane toads. Utterly disappointing. I’ll stop there…….

So – the Green Men amassed 229 from their 45 overs and the Sky Muppets were faily well knackered after that  experience in the heat. Awesome tea provided by Warringah (thanks folks – muchly appreciated) at the change of innings allowed the Coves to regroup and tackle the task at hand – if we wanted to play in the finals we needed to chase down 230 for victory. Wowee.

Cracking start for the Men in Green early doors with Lance Cove losing his 2 openers. Fat Secretary (who burgled just the 1 pole Dodds) didn’t notice the deck was a road and drilled one to mid-on whilst Spruce Willis was still in love with everyone from his 11pm-6am Techno Dance-athon Disco Biscuit thingy and missed a slow straight one.

Slow straight ones do a job Phil….. 

This had the Guvnor and Papa get going until Matty Donegan, in a display of absolute sportsmanship, walked when he edged one down leg side to the keeper. Well played Matty. Some will argue to never walk, however it's the way Lance likes to play his cricket and its why Lane Cove is continually acknowledged in the Spirt of Cricket.

So Papa was holding it together as Sharples, Fat Schnitzenegger and Push-a-car fell around him. He then had to retire at 60 as per the rules. Thinks looking good for the Green Men with Lance at 6-100 odd chasing 230. Then some Coves really hunkered down. Benny Broyd (39), Clarkey (31) and Trums (34) got us to the last over need a run a ball.

With the field spread and Papa back in we were looking a genuine chance in an absolute nail biter. What ever was going to unfold in those 6 balls had already seen 2 great sides put on over 450 runs in the day in great spirit and tenacity. If we get these 6 runs the Sky Muppets move into 4^th and are a red hot chance to make the finals for the 2^nd year in succession. Sadly Muppet Lurvers, the fairy tale was not to be and we fell agonisingly short.

The frustrating thing is that at times we showed an immense amount of ticker with the bat (Papa, Clarkey, Trums and Broydy in particular) – however at other times we let ourselves down with either bat or ball. Any McHoo, heads up lads. All is not lost – we’ll just need to win the last 3 games and hope the results go our way. Role on the Bunny Boilers this Sunday @ Tantallon and get down there and ride your favourite Muppet.

Phil Spruce Willis

Still Poppin’

Disco Biscuits: 

3 – Papa. Really, really well batted lad.
2 – Trums – batted himself back into form and took 2 poles. Solid.
1 – Clarkey – showed a lot of ticker as usual. Batted and bowled well.

Full nameJohn Harpham

Born May 3, 1984, Johannesburg

Current age 26 years 295 days

Major teams Netherlands, Easterns, Easterns Under-15s,Easterns Under-19s, Easterns Under-23s

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm offbreak

Fielding position Wicketkeeper

Batting and fielding averages

Bowling averages

Career statistics

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