Illawarra’s Cawsey shield team in extraordinary tie
Illawarra’s youngest representative team (under 12 Cawsey Shield) had an amazing game against Penrith last weekend in Cricket NSW’s Inter-Association Shields competition. Penrith won the toss and batted first to be all out for 142 in 49.3 overs after good bowling performances by Illawarra’s Brady (3/31), Silcox (2/22), Saul (2/28), Bagaric (1/7) and Moore (1/7).
In the chase for victory, Illawarra was in trouble at 7/74 despite opener Murphy’s 38. The tail began to wag but after Whittington (20) and wicketkeeper Brown (0) were dismissed Illawarra looked to have lost the game at 9/132. However Silcox backed up his bowling effort in a last wicket stand with number 11, Edwards to tie the scores on 142. In going for the winning run Silcox was run out for 28 to enable Penrith to share the points with Illawarra.
After the tie Illawarra still leads division 4 on percentages from Penrith so if it wins the last round it should be in the semi-finals next year.
On an overcast and very cold day the Cricket Illawarra WS Gee shield team (under 13s) played Georges River/St. George at Figtree Oval. After losing the toss the Illawarra team bowled and fielded very well to restrict the visitors to 7/118 at the end of 50 overs. Ben Chapman bowled very well with 3/20 and was well supported by all the bowlers including a tight spell of 0/2 off 5 overs by Daniel Baldwin.
Photo: WS Gee Shield opening batsman Chad Wilson
Illawarra took to the crease with confidence in getting the total, however suffered an early setback to be 2/3 off 3 overs. Opening batsman Chad Wilson looked to steady the ship with a hard fought 34 runs, however even Thomas O'Brien's late 23 runs could not secure the victory and Illawarra was dismissed for 102 runs in a disappointing ending to the game.
This was Illawarra Gee Shield team’s first loss. The team has the bye next weekend so it must rely on Sutherland having a narrow win or loss against Bankstown next weekend to top division 4 on percentages and thereby advance to the semi-finals.
In the Moore Shield (under 14) Bankstown proved too strong for Illawarra scoring 6/145 in the 52nd over to pass Illawarra’s 8/143 from 60 overs. Best performances came from Illawarra’s openers who put on 68 with Moore compiling 43 and Brown scoring 27. The under 14s are out of the running for the play-offs.
In the under 15s (Weblin Shield) Central Coast proved too strong for Illawarra who could only manage 124 in response to the Coast’s 174.
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
Redman’s ton and Coughlan-Ryan’s bowling give Dapto outright
Last weekend, Dapto’s under 14A team scored an outright victory over Helensburgh in the Illawarra-South Coast junior cricket. Outstanding performances by batsman B Redman and bowler A Coughlan-Ryan led Dapto to its comprehensive win.
Redman scored 101 not out in Dapto’s 9/220 while Coughlan-Ryan took 3/5 in Helensburgh’s first innings of 21 and 5/13 in the second innings score of 42. Also in Helensburgh’s first innings Dapto’s Gervalis took 4/5 while in the second S Bonnie supported Coughlan-Ryan with 3/4.
For all the results of all grades in Illawarra Junior Cricket go to: http://www.cricketnsw.com.au/ijca/
Hurley completes amazing round the world swim trip in 23 days
Illawarra’s Robert Hurley has just completed an amazing World Cup swimming short course series over the last 23 days. Beginning with breaking the 50m backstroke world record in Sydney on October 26th he followed up with strong performances in Singapore, Moscow, Stockholm and Berlin.
The final leg of the series in Berlin saw some amazing performances especially in the men's 50m and 100m backstroke events with the two powerhouse USA sprinters of Peter Marshall and Randall Bal both clocking the fastest times ever for the 50m as well as Marshall lowering his own world record for the 100m
Continuing the trend from Stockholm a few days earlier, Hurley again finished 3rd behind the USA pair, taking bronze in both the 100m backstroke (Saturday) and the 50m backstroke (Sunday). A little later on Sunday he backed up to finish 2nd in the 200m backstroke final behind Japan's outstanding Ryosuke Irie coming with a brilliant last 50m after being 4th at the 150m mark.
Hurley finished his World Cup campaign with a total of 5 gold, 6 silver and 6 bronze medals. As well he broke 1 world record (50m backstroke in Sydney), one World Cup record (100m backstroke in Singapore) and returns with two Australian records and one Commonwealth record.
Robert finished 4th overall on the men's points score an outstanding achievement against a large number of the world's best swimmers reflected by the fact that there were 5 Olympic champions and 9 world record holders competing in the final leg of the series in Berlin which witnessed another 4 world records being established (2 of those in Hurley's events!!).
Unfortunately for Hurley, during the final Berlin meet it became public that his Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) coach Vince Raleigh had been sacked by the AIS. It now transpires that Swimming Australia is negotiating with the AIS to see if this decision can be changed.
For past stories on Hurley’s World Cup performances 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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