Back in your box

Last weekend, Sean Clarence (A1) scored 100* in what was described by the A1 boys as a Masterclass against the 2^nd best attack in the Comp – ours is the best. As context, to quote the Match report from last week:

“99 not out, 9 down. Sav tips one to mid-off and takes off for a suicidal single. A clean pick up and he’s out – fortunately that was not the case. Sav bringing up our second ton of the year and the Clubs 637^th overall. It was accompanied with one of the mutest celebrations – a half bat raise to the crowd and a small shrug of the shoulders. I’ve celebrated singles in a more enthusiastic way before.”

Sean (aka Sav – short for Saviour), one of the most modest players in our Club, was asked about his low-key celebration and what was his best-ever ton. When pushed, he confirmed that it was a Premier 1^st Grade ton against St George where the bowling attack included Trent Copeland, Josh Hazelwood and Moises Henriques.

The response was a classic:

“Must have been small boundaries” (Tom Hando)

“Have you played there, at Hurstville Oval!?” (Sav)

“No Sav, our Mecca is our home ground – Berowra Oval.” (Tom)

Photo: Sean batting in the A1 Semi Final at Parklands Oval – 4^th March 2023

Our latest Premier 1^st Grade debut

Congratulations to our latest Premier 1^st Grade debutant to play for the Northern District – Cam Tunks (Player #471) who debuted against Manly. Cam joins current fellow West Penno Juniors – Daniel (#417) & John (#437) Anderson and Danielle Chivers (Women’s #163) at the top level. Add to this, Dan Friedrich (#363) who is now Team Coach we have a great representation at the elite level.

Cam played for us from Junior Blasters through to U16s and made his A2 debut in 2019/20. Cam has represented NSW through the Age Divisions and represented Northern Territory in the U19 National Carnival as an underage player. Well done Cam.

Photo: Cameron Tunks with John Coulthard (left) and Rob Hanich after winning the Junior Player of the Year Trophy – 30 March 2019.

First-up Captains

Over the years we have been told that experience is something that can’t be short-cut. This season that theory has been turned on its head with new Captains leading us in the following Grades:

• A1 (Cameron #25) – 2^nd
• A2 (Campbell) – 3^rd
• B1 (Ryan ‘Birdcage’) – 4^th
• B2 (Todd) – 1^st
• C4 (Hiresh) – 6^th

Our Top 4 Grades all finished in the top 4 and are playing in the Semi’s with more to come as Day 2 of the Semi’s looms.

Photo: Cameron & Campbell – Turramurra Oval – 19 November 2022.

Achievements

With 5 x Senior Teams playing in the Semi’s plus A2 playing an Elimination Round for the Final the number of opportunities to achieve significant achievements is much reduced. But we had a big one – Dean Carlin (A2) took his 200^th wicket for our Club to move him into the prestigious ‘200 Club’ and with it to number 46 in the all-time wicket-takers list.

What is also a little known fact about Dean is that he also has 2 x hat-tricks and only 4 players have achieved this amazing results:

• Andrew Driscoll x 3 (2000/01 to 2018/19
• Eric Junkkari x 2 (1995/96 to 2021/22)
• Val Smyth x 2 (1967/68 to 1970/71)
• Dean x 2 (2013/14 to current)

Photo: Dean Carlin after taking his 2^nd Seniors hat-trick and 3rd (including Juniors)  – 11^th March 2017.