February part 6 - TIME FOR ONES AND TWOS TO STEP UP AND PUT BACK IN!!!

With the 2 day competition nearing the end of regular season matches, disappointingly, first and second grade will not feature in 2 day finals. 

That said, great performances through the year have seen our remaining grades more than likely all secure 2 day finals appearances, pending results from the final round. 

Training for this week remains the same, but for the two weeks following, our first and second graders have a real opportunity to assist in helping the other grades in their quests for Two Day Premierships. For the last few years, the lower grades have been constant avenues for support come finals time. It is now time for our members to return the favour, and I look forward to seeing plenty of you around at training to make sure the rest of the boys get enough of a hit, a bowl and catch and throw enough balls. Attendance there can also be enough to help motivate, knowing the support of the higher grades is there for them!!! 

Late Mail 

And the runs finally started coming last weekend, the grounds are getting quicker and wickets flatter, and we saw evidence of this last weekend. Folds and Sudha dominated on Freebody 2, with Folds recording his first hundred for Westies (after probably 6-8 scores of 85+) and Sudha another 90 odd. Sam Wightman scored big in 5’s, 93 not out a more than impressive performance from one of our new members. In ones, Richo and Suddsy gave us the ideal start to a substantial chase, 110 for the first wicket before Suddsy was dismissed. 

And extending my praise for Brendan Duffy (Suddsy), his performance with the ball v Queanbeyan was super impressive. Sudds has shown plenty of talent for the club in the past few seasons, and his game has gone to another level in the last month or so. His hard work saw him reap some brilliant numbers last weekend, 7/52 off 15.2 overs, on a flat Freebody wicket was fantastic, and to turn around immediately afterwards for his first 1st grade 50, 62 runs off 75 balls against an attack that included Mark Higgs was great to watch. Super stuff Sudds, look forward to taking that into next summer, something the rest of us could take some inspiration from for next season. 

And that is me, done again for another month, I hope you are all enjoying the read, and remember I am more than willing to take on additional contributions for the March issue. Remember that I can’t be everywhere, and I have no doubt missed some key events and performances from the last month. 

Hopefully we will have plenty more success to celebrate for March, with finals still to come. Don’t forget that presentation night is just around the corner, Saturday 2nd April at Wests Jamison. The production for the night is in full swing, and collectively, we hope you all come along and that we are able to keep you entertained while we celebrate this years team and individual achievements. 

Ganny

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