January part 3 - From The Den

On the home front, a great effort yesterday [31/01] by our boys in the T20 Division 3 final, beating Boomanulla by a single run. After making 128 from our 20 overs, a tight fielding and bowling display by the lads saw Boomers struggle to get close to the total. From all reports, recent 100 gamer, Steve Luby took a great running catch. The chase left the Boomanulla side with 24 to win from the last over, and 7 to tie from the last ball. Jimmy duly threw one up for the batsman to have a crack at, knowing that all he had to be was straight, and behind the line to ensure a Westies victory. The six off the final ball meant that our mob won by a single run, and have started the filling the cabinet for the 10/11 season.  This columnist apologises for not showing his face, wedding anniversary for me and the better half, and I value my plums too much to have ventured out.

The Ones boys have also maintained some form and have made finals for the one day competition, for the first time in a number of years. It is likely that we play Tuggeranong, (who are hot at the moment, after beating Queanbeyan in yesterdays Konica T20 final) for a place in the grand final.

Kingston presented first grade with possibly the worst wicket I have seen in 13 years in Canberra, a grassless, slow, dusty deck. That said, we lost the toss, and had a bowl on it first. Oaks picked up an early one, but a few partnerships, some poor bowling by yours truly and some collectively poor fielding (aside from Hewy’s run out) saw Eastlake scramble their way to 201. We again struggled to ‘finish’ them off again, taking the last few wickets has been a challenge for us this season, something to work on!!!

The chase was punctuated by the loss of regular wickets, and on a deck that was not easy to score on, we struggled despite the early efforts of Wheats and Sundo to stave off the Eastlake bowlers. We got to a position after 30 odd overs where we needed a run a ball in the chase. Important partnerships from Oaks and Cheads (before he was unluckily run out backing up ) and then Oaks and Duffy saw us scrape home with 3 wickets in hand and 4 overs to go. It was a great performance especially from the latter two, scoring on a tough wicket at 7 an over for the last 10 overs. Great job boys, you showed real Westies spirit in tough conditions.

I think we all acknowledged we had dodged a bullet on Saturday, and we will need to be sharper come Sunday against a quality Tuggeranong side. See all you boys at training for some real yards this week, let’s knock Tuggies over and give ourselves a chance at some more silverware!!!!
I will also take this chance to remind you all of the last of the social gatherings for this season (before preso night obviously). Wests Trivia night will be held Saturday 12^th February at Jamison from 7pm, $15 per person makes for a very cheap night, and generally, the night concludes in the Moose corner, liquored up and loose!!!!

The following day, Sunday February 13th is the second Annual six-a-side comp, and after last years dominance by the Old Boys, it is time to put the legends to the test again!!! See myself and Ajay for details of these functions at training and make sure to RSVP to both as soon as you can. You lads and ladies can make things easy for us all by committing early!

I would also like to wish big Dekka all the best, the affectionately known ‘Fossil’  has been struggling with his health of recent times, we send our best wishes to the man himself, his lovely wife Anne and their extended family.

Well that is me done for January, I am going to try and get something in every month now, so keep your eyes out for it!!! If you have anything you want to add, or think needs mentioning for February’s issue of ‘The Rant’, give me a buzz or shoot me an email and I will try get something together for you lot!!!

Ganny