Christmas and New Year best wishes
On behalf of the WPHCCC Executive please accept our best wishes for the break. If you are driving then take care on the roads.

Our Junior’s start again on Saturday 26th January and seniors on Saturday 5th January 2008.

Northern Districts Club Coaching Day
The Annual Northern Districts Coaching Day is fast approaching. Run over the school holidays this is a very good programme with some star coaches – Dean Gilchrist, Justin Langer and Upal Chandana (Sri Lankan ODI and Test All-rounder). Details are:
• When: Monday 21st January to Wednesday 23rd January
• Where; Waitara Oval
• Time: 9.00 am to 3.00 pm
• Cost: $190 for the full 3 days
• Contact: please contact Sportspro on 9453-1451. Details are also on the website.

We have a great relationship with ND’s and this programme is recommended.

Clubs Day
Cricket NSW is running its annual “Clubs Day’ for the Twenty/20 ‘Big Bash’ match between NSW and the Western Warriors at Telstra Stadium on the 10th January starting at 7.00 pm.

The promotion wants Junior Teams to turn up in Club colours in a ratio of 4:1 (12 kids to 3 adults) to be in the running for prizes.

If interested then please let your Manager know so that it can be passed on to Cricket NSW – we need to respond by 14th December.

Cricket umpires Training Course
For those interested, the NSW Cricket Umpires training course is coming up. This course gives a State level qualification that is sought after. Details are:
• When: Tuesday 5th, 12th, 19th 26th March with an Exam on the 4th March 2008
• Where: SCG NSW Lecture room
• Time: 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm
• Cost: $50

If you are interested then please contact David Townsend on 9339-0942 or david.townsend@cricketnsw.com.au direct.

Girls
All games were washed out on the weekend and are played next week as 1-dayers. We have a break after the 15th December for the school holidays. Games then re-commence on the 2nd February until 1st March with Semi Finals / Finals played over 8th and 15th March 2008. This gives us 14 weeks of competition plus finals.

Junior boys
The standings after Round 7 are – Round 8 has yet to be updated:
• U16s – Blue (=2nd), White (=2nd)
• U15s – Blue (2nd), Red (8th)
• U14s – White (=1st), Blue (4th), Red (= 8th )
• U13s – Gold (2nd ) Blue (7th ), Green (12th ), White (13th )
• U12s – Red (3rd ), Blue (9th ),White (=9th), Green (14th)
• U11s – Gold (=1st), White (=3rd ), Green (=3rd), red (12th ), Blue (14th )

The Juniors now go into recess during the school holidays and start again in the last week of January 2008.

Record bowling performance
Last weekend, Michael Richards took 7/2 for our U15 Blue team Vs Mt Colah. While records for Juniors have gaps this is our best recorded bowling performance (for players taking 7 wickets or fewer) in either Juniors or Seniors. Great stuff Michael.

Kanga
A few years ago our Kanga’s were used in a Milo advertisement. Our photo gallery has a record of this fabulous day. We have now been asked to support an updated ad that will be produced in early 2008 so looks like some of our Kanga’s will get their moment of stardom. Stay tuned.

Seniors

A1 87 lost to Normanhurst-Warrawee 6/113 – no play was possible day 2 after heavy overnight rain. It also didn't help when the groundmen prepared th wrong wicket. We are 1 win outside the top 4 but have the return of our big guns from next game that will make the rest of the season very interesting. Watch this spot for a run home with a wet sail.

A2 95 drew with Kissing Point – another match affected by rain causing another draw. Playing a reduced over game (32 overs) the score was more than competitive but was never tested due to conditions. James Fielder with 28 and Tim Leyshon with 23 were outstanding. Unfortunately they didn’t get a chance to bat but next round.

Colts 81 drew with Berowra did not bat – the covers at Berowra caused a delayed until 2.30 pm. Unfortunately we lost the toss (not a good move) and were put into bat. We were all out for 81 in the 27th over of a 31 over game. Josh Kleinhans 22 the only batsmen to get past 20.
Berowra commenced their innings and were 2 for 16 off 8 overs (T Scoular 2 for 9 off 4 overs) before the rain came again and stopped play for the day. This team is really making an impact – after just staying in touch with the top 4 early on they are now in place – a combination of a fabulous ‘Team’ and outstanding Leadership – well done fellas.

B1 Blue Vs Glenhaven – scores to come.

B1 Red 1/25 drew with Mt Colah 130 – you guessed it but rain came down again and took away a clear winning opportunity. In the bowling Marc Carnerio starred with 3 wickets and was well backed up by the ageless Eric Junkkari who just keeps taking wickets – another 2. Our turn to bat with only Millsy getting out the ball that the rain came belting down.

C1 White 8/268 defeated Ku-ring-gai Chase 265 – a fantastic win over 4th placed Chase. This confirms that this talented side has the ticker to make its mark in the big games ahead. This is a big run chase on a slow ground after rain and uncut grass. Andrew Fiedler showed what we all knew that he is a quality bat with a classy 79. Apart from Michael McDowell with a typically belligerent 26 everyone else got around 20. Welcome back to Michael Sainsbury who last (A1) played in 1986/87 and hasn’t picked up a bat since with a smart innings of 17*. We got past their score just as the heavens opened. This puts us 7 points clear in 1st place.

C1 Red 77 and 105 lost to Hornsby 8/95 and 1/14 – a disappointing result with the Red losing their first game of the season. At 4/25 in our 2nd innings it needed James McBrien (34) and Sam Croft 21 (who came in under pressure facing a hat trick ball) on what was an extremely slow outfield and we were able to scrape along to 105 all out, setting them a total of 88 to win in just over an hour until torrential rain stopped play.

C2 165 defeated Normanhurst-Warrawee 141 – this is a special win to put the boys back in the winning list. This is another team with talent and ticker. After being 6/59 in our 1st innings we got a competitive score albeit on a very small ground (Les Shore 2). Our bowling was fantastic with Jaskaran 3/51, Isaac Malamel (2/30 off 18) and Jacques Visser 2/44 simply outstanding. This is a strong team who are going to give the Comp a real shake. Well done boys.

D2 1/52 drew with Galston-Glenorie 122 – what a shame- rain washed out what was shaping as our first win. A great team effort in the field, a great bowling spell from Shankar Ravi (5 for 24) and superb work behind the stumps by our quiet achiever Bruce Caldwell ( three catches & two stumpings), and a solid start by our openers in difficult conditions. This effort proved to everyone that we are so close to turning the season around. How about roger Friend – scored 27* opening and took 2 wickets bringing his career total to 99! Congratulations to Chris Bishop who also took a wicket with the first ball for our Club.

Association Ground changes
An important one to note. The Association has made the following changes to the draw for the remainder of the year:
• Round 9 – B1 WPHC Red Vs Glenhaven moved from Caterson 2 to Dural
• Round 10 – C1 White Vs Thornleigh moved from Foxglove South to Arcadia
• Round 12 – C2 WPHC Vs CHRSL moved from Gilroy to Arcadia.

Start time
During the Christmas / New Year the Seniors play 4, 1-day games. These games will all start at 12.00 noon and be played over 40 overs rather than 35 overs as is the case with the 1.00pm starts.

What about this for commitment
How about our D2’s. Yet to win a game but getting so close to turning around the season they played out most of their innings in driving rain. As Peter Westerberg says:

“I have not seen such commitment to play out a match in spite of the elements since Round 14 of 2003-04, at Glenhaven, when we were playing for a last chance to make the semi finals while our opponents, Hornsby were playing for the minor premiership. On that occasion I recall players drying out their whites during the drinks break on the gas barbecue: with some alarming results. Today the game was not finally abandoned until the pitch was actually under water!”

Great stuff fella’s.

Anyone for Gridiron
In the words of one of stars of the near future, a report from James McBrien (C1 Red):

"A funny (so I am told) moment came during my innings, when charging home for a quick single with my head down, I ploughed head (helmet) first into the back of the bowler at the stumps. He was trying to collect the ball and I was attempting to block it. I was left flat on my back nursing a huge headache, and I think the bowler will be off to the chiropractor asap after Christmas. Just as the headache was clearing, I almost did it again, this time narrowly avoiding a rather well built fielder with a quick sidestep! I have never been hit on the helmet while batting, but I am definitely glad I was wearing one today!"

Old faithful
On Saturday one of our outstanding players of the distant past (Mike Sainsbury) made a comeback to play C1 after last playing A1 in 1986/87. Mike scored 17* to see us through a big run chase but his bat was the talking point. It was a 1980’s something SS bat that is now golden in colour. As discussions evolved about this relic (the bat too) it was apparent that the bat was older than half the blokes in the team. This brings back memories of Greg Fiedler a couple of years ago when the old fella broke his old Viv Richards signed Slazenger bat. One of the young blokes asking "who is Viv Richards".

Welcome back Tugger.

Lake Greenway
Gee these A2 boys are keen. After arriving at Greenway to find it a bog at one end they played from the opposite end until more rain arrived. This involved the bowlers bowling from the drier end and the poor batters batting in the remnants of mud. The match finished as a draw but if keenness is anything to go by they will win the Comp.

Weather report and the importance of quotients
A quote from the News reports during the week says it all:

”It has been a dark and stormy month, and there is no end in sight to Sydney's damp weather.

In a rare alignment, all eight computer models used by the Bureau of Meteorology are strongly tipping above average rain for eastern and northern NSW for the next three months.

"It is looking rather promising, right through to March," the bureau's climate technical officer, Mike De Salis, said yesterday.

The bureau estimated the probability of above average rain at 60 to 75 per cent.

The takeout for us is that there are likely to be a lot of games that do not finish or get on. This means that the team quotients become even more critical in determining not just who makes the Finals but ultimately who wins should the game end in a draw. What does this mean? Apart from trying to win, look for any opportunities to keep wickets lost to a minimum and take as many opposition wickets as possible.

Top 10 run scorers
1. Nick Bennett (Colts) 399 @ 133.00
2. Michael McDowell (C1 White) 280 @ 70.00
3. Dan Moye (B1) 222 @ 55.50
4. Taylor Paton (Colts) 219 @ 54.75
5. Dom Bourke (B1) – 231 @ 33.00
6. Geoff Starr (C1 Red) – 211 @ 52.75
7. Tim Starr (C1 Red) – 204 @ 25.50
8. Ross Anderson (C1 White) 198 @ 39.60
9. Peter Taylor (B1) – 180 @ 45.00
10. James Makin (A1) – 179 @ 89.50

Top 10 Bowlers
1. Ben McNamara (C1 White) – 18 @ 12.50
2. Isaac Malamel (C2) – 16 @ 15.31
3. Bran Ramachandran (D2) – 15 @ 18.47
4. Jacques Visser (C2) – 15 @ 22.47
5. Nick Bennett (Colts) – 13 @ 8.69.
6. Andrew Joyce (B1) – 13 @ 12.38
7. Peter Stott (A1) – 13 @ 13.46
8. Dylan Brogan (Colts) – 12 @ 9.33
9. James McBrien (C1 Red) – 12 @ 14.17
10. Jaskaran Singh (C2) – 12 @ 14.58

Club Championship
At the half-way mark we are doing very well and are on track for back to back Club Championship wins. The table at the end of Round 6 is:

1. WPHC 896
2. Kenthurst 687
3. CHRSL 666
4. Hornsby 650
5. St Ives 618
6. Norm-Wee 531
7. Berowra 529
8. ARL 527
9. Kissing Pt 493
10. Galston-Glen368

Points table
Just a reminder that you can get this info from www.cricketnsw.com.au/hkhdca - the table as at the end of Round 8 is:

• A1 – 19 points (= 6th)
• Colts – 29 points (1st)
• A2 – 30points (3rd)
• B1 Blue – 30 points (2nd)
• B1 Red – 19 points (6th )
• C1 White – 40 points (1st)
• C1 Red – 38 points (2nd)
• C2 – 37 points (1st )
• D2 – 7 points (7th)

Personal achievements

Watch the following big ones coming up:
• Matt Dawson – 2 wickets off his 200 wickets
• Roger Friend 1 off his 100 wickets
• Chandana Jayasekera – 25 off 1,000 runs.

Name Grade Achievement
Sean Doohan A2 100 wickets Vs Kenthurst Semi Final 17/3/2007@ Turramurra Oval
Nathan Fathers C1 1,000 runs Vs Hornsby @ Montview West 27/1/2007

Jacques Visser C2 50 wickets Vs Hornsby

Ross Anderson C1 7,000 runs Vs ARL

Ryan Cherrie B1 150 wickets Vs Mt Colah

Andrew Mills B1 2,000 runs Vs Normanhurst-Warrawee

Simon Smyth A1 200 wickets – Vs Berowra

Adam Walter A1 100 wickets Vs Berowra

James Makin
A2 • 3,000 runs Vs Kenthurst
• 339 wickets – 11 wickets to 350
Kishore Rampersad
C1 • 250 wickets – Vs Castle Hill RSL
• 3,858 runs – 142 to 4,000 runs
Matt Dawson A1 • 2,954 runs – 46 off 3,000
• 200 wickets – Vs Normanhurst-Warrawee
Steve Baker C2 839 runs – 161 to 1,000

Roger Friend D2 99 wickets – 1 to 100

Lachlan Gill B1 Blue 963 runs – 37 to 1,000

Chandana Jayasekera B1 Red 975 runs – 25 to 1,000

Bruce Poehlsen B1 Blue 874 runs – 136 to 1,000

Alistair Rayment
B1 Blue • 182 wickets – 18 off 200
Peter Whitehead A1 47 wickets – 3 to 50 career wickets

Craig Willmott C1 1,919 – 81 to 2,000 career runs

DCA website – points table
Now that the season is well underway anyone can track how their teams are going in the Competition in Both Seniors, Juniors and Girls by accessing the following website: www.cricketnsw.com.au/hkhdca and then just go to WPHCCC and then your team.

Alternatively, just go to Links on our website and it is the first entry.

Probably worth locking this into your favourites and checking after each game for the standings.

Website developers and graphic artists
We are privileged to have Peter Lees do all the website work for our Club. However, it is run by volunteers and we always need to involve others to share the fun.

If you have abilities in Perl scripting, graphic design or other web-related skills, and would like to contribute to your Club, please contact Peter (AT) wphccc.org

Posted by Ross Anderson on December 23, 2007 06:34 AM