MacKenzie and Crawford fire up Illawarra under 16 cricket team

An opening stand of 154 by captain M McKenzie (129) and G Crawford (71) for Illawarra’s Watson Shield team (under 16)) resulted in an overall score of 3-253 against Parramatta last weekend. Parramatta’s chase began badly with three run outs until Milne (90), Smith (28) and Bennetts (35) steadied the innings to put Parramatta back in the game. Parramatta were 8-246 and looked on track to take the game but then lost two quick wickets to be all out for 246 in the 57th over of the 60 over match.

After three rounds no team in Cricket NSW’s Inter-Association Watson Shield is undefeated with four teams Illawarra, Parramatta, Central Coast and Camden having won two games from the three rounds played. The last two rounds to decide the winner of the division and semi-final team are to be played on November 16 and 23.
The only undefeated Illawarra team in Cricket NSW’s Inter-Association Shield competition is the under 13 (Gee Shield) representative team which has now won three from three.  It now leads division 4 of the competition and is well placed for the semi-finals with two rounds to play.

The team played Bankstown at Figtree Oval last Sunday and won in a close game. After losing the toss the Illawarra boys took to the field and bowled Bankstown out for 145 runs. Opening bowler Kyle Brockley bowled impressively with figures of 3/26. Kyle was well supported by Ben Chapman 2/24 & Tyler Edwards 2/34.

Illawarra began the run chase in impressive fashion being 2/54 at the 20 over mark. Ben Chapman then batted well to score 38 runs and provided a good platform for Kyle Brockley (16 not out) and Daniel Baldwin (10 not out) to steer the team home for a great win to close at 8/146.

In the under 12’s (Cawsey Shield), Illawarra had its first loss in the three rounds going down to Parramatta by 105 to 9/133. D Constable top scored for Illawarra with 37 while K Jennings took 3/17. Illawarra is still in with a chance of making the semi-finals as no team is undefeated in division 4.
 
In the under 14s (Moore Shield), C Magennis top scored with 43 in Illawarra’s 122 which was not enough as North Shore compiled 4/126 to take the match. In the 15s (Weblin Shield), Penrith’s 8/263 was far too much for Illawarra who were dismissed for 122.

For more information on Illawarra’s performances in NSW Cricket’s Inter-Association Shields go to:  http://www.cricketnsw.com.au/shields/hgchome.cl?PT=&C=ILL

McCrae’s century as Edwards just misses out in junior cricket

On the first day of a two day under 16B match last Saturday, Helensburgh’s H McCrae has scored 100 in his team’s 8/253 against Thirroul Black. In the 14As Tyler Edwards just missed out on a century with 98 in Wests score of 8/255 against Corrimal on the first day of the two day round.

In the under 12s J Moore scored 77 in Wests 7/233 against Thirroul White. Also in the 12s Wests Blue’s N Bagaric scored 78 not out in his team’s innings of 9/185 against Dapto.

In the under 11’s Helensburgh’s J Heselhurst took 4/14 to restrict Thirroul to 9/96. Unfortunately Helensburgh could only compile 66 and lost the one day match.

For all the results of all grades in Illawarra Junior Cricket go to:  http://www.cricketnsw.com.au/ijca/

Hurley wins two golds in Moscow as well

After breaking the 50m backstroke short course world record in the Sydney World Cup meet, then winning the 100m backstroke in the Singapore leg (see stories in previous columns), Illawarra's Robert Hurley has now won again in last weekend’s event in Moscow.

The competition is really hotting up as some Japanese swimmers have now joined the World Cup circuit in Moscow along with a large contingent of Russians and swimmers from neighbouring countries.

Last Saturday: 100m Backstroke and 400m freestyle
Hurley won his heat but qualified 5th overall in a strong line up. Then he won the final (from lane #2) in 50.51 secs marginally slower than his World Cup record set in Singapore last week (50.27 secs). However, the time was still his second best time ever and the second fastest time ever registered by an Australian.

Hurley also competed in the 400m Freestyle on the first day. Again he won his heat but qualified 3rd overall for the Final behind a Russian and the incredible Oussama Mellouli (who won the Final).  Hurley finished 5th in the Final which was swum quite soon after his 100m backstroke event.

Last Sunday: 50m and 200m backstroke
Hurley qualified fastest for the 50m backstroke and then won final in 23.54 secs - the same time as he recorded in Singapore - not far away from his world record of 23.24 secs.

In the 200m backstroke Hurley qualified 3rd fastest then finished a good 2nd in the final behind the Japanese winner. Hurley was back in 4th position more than a second from the leaders until the last 50m when he finished strongly to be beaten by just three-tenths of a second. Hurley's first 100m was relatively slow for him but he finished off the final 100m in good time. His AIS team-mate Ashley Delaney, who holds the Commonwealth and Australian records for this event, led clearly until the final 50m before finishing in 3rd place.

The team travels to Sweden for the next round of the series in Stockholm on Tuesday (11th November) and Wednesday. Then it's onto Berlin for the finale on Saturday/Sunday. A really hectic schedule!
For past stories over the past two years on Robert Hurley’s rise to international prominence click on: http://wollongong.sportslive.com.au/index.pl?page=1798

Results of Round 1 of NSW SURF PREMIERSHIP at Towradgi

For all the results of Round 1 completed earlier this month click on: http://www.surflifesaving.com.au/www/463/1001127/displayarticle/1003569.html
Entries for the NSW Surf Premiership Rounds can be completed online at the SLSNSW
Competition Registration website: www.registration.surflifesaving.com.au

Round 2 is to be held at Wanda SLSC on November 29, while round 3 is at Redhead SLSC on January 3, 2009. Round 2 entries will close at 5pm Wednesday 19 November 2008, while Round 3 entries will close at 5pm Wednesday 24 December 2008.

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