 Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way
Thirds avoid respectable draw with a win while fifths affected badly by holes in the covers at Cahill Oval.
With one round to go fifths were looking to consolidate their third position on the table after scoring 278 last week, however found a wet wicket square at Cahill and after many deliberations were unable to convince the umpires to start play. With this match being the only game in fifth grade not played we now drop to 6th place and only one point ahead of 7th with a one dayer next Saturday.
(Ed Howitt celebrates an important wicket in thirds)
This match is against Sydney Uni who are in 8th position and two points behind Gordon. At least Sydney Uni will want to play next week as they need to win to jump over us.
Third grade
The thirds arrived to a wet Harold Frazer with the rain getting under the covers particularly at one end, where according to the players “it always gets wet at that end”. With blowers at the ready, however they were able to dry the wicket and play got underway at 2pm. Ed Howitt declared overnight in what proved to be a masterful declaration and set St George 198 to win in 72 overs.
The talk in the dressing room was around the St.George website comments about last weekend when they commented, Quote:
"In what could only be described as a dour days play in Third Grade, Gordon finished with a modest 197 in 80 overs but for the loss of only 4 wickets. Perhaps Gordon are in search of that elusive respectable draw !!!”
Unquote.
 The play started with the Gordon openers, Adair and James Kidd bowling good lines and Adair was rewarded with an early wicket with a smart catch in close by Michael Dalrymple. After 10 overs the score was 1/16 and the pressure was building for St George. Ed Howitt brought himself on early and was getting spin and bounce on a drying wicket. The bowlers maintained good lines and with good support in the field including a smart run-out and wickets to Charlie Bangs and Ed, the Stags were on top at 4/65.
(Adair Durie during his 3 wicket spell in Thirds)
Saints then produced a good 5th wicket partnership to get back into the match and at the final drinks break the match was in the balance at 4/110 with after 54 overs at a run rate of 2 runs per over. It appeared Saints were playing for a “respectable draw” and interestingly were taking just as long as Gordon to score their runs. Maybe the bowling had something to do with it in both innings!!
Saints realized that had to do something and the run rate started to pick up. The wickets however started to fall with Adair Durie picking up another two and Charlie Bangs and Alex Campbell contributing as well.
It all came down to the last over with Saints needing 4 runs with one wicket left. A dangerous attempt at a run was taken on the second ball of the over, a run out followed and Gordon came away victors.
Thankfully a respectable draw was avoided.
Third Grade scores
Gordon 4-197 (Damon Livermore 73, Michael Dalrymple 34, Nick Dowsley 23, Brett Rosen 23, Ed Howitt 16*, Hugh Smith 16*) defeated St. George 194 (Adair Durie 3 for 44, Charlie Bangs 2 for 44, Alex Campbell 2 for 35, Ed Howitt 1 for 51)
First Grade
Again the Saint website said it all after last Saturday with their comments: Quote:
“With all state players back on deck our First Grade bowling attack boasting the likes of Copeland, Hazlewood and Henriques had little trouble tearing through the Gordon batting line up. The Stags were dismissed after lunch for a meagre 98 at Hurstville Oval”
 It’s tough playing against Quote: “the most successful club in the Sydney Grade competition”, but I think it was fair to say that the game was decided with the toss and that Gordon were then outplayed by a very professional St George side consisting of the best pace attack in NSW.
The young inexperienced Gordon side fought hard for most of the game, played on a very bowler friendly and lively Hurstville pitch. James Packman again was the pick of the bats, ably assisted by Blair Lindsay, after losing the first two wickets for 2 runs. Special mention must go to the middle order of Beverley (32), Richtor (19), McDonald (29) and Kennedy (36) for rear-guard knocks that took the score from 66 to 175.
(James Packman in action on Saturday)
James Kennedy took his much improved practice form to the crease for a 109 minute innings, that all observers commented was a really mature, excellent knock that hopefully will be followed by many more 1st grade runs.
First Grade scores
Gordon 98 (James Packman 32*) and 175 (James Kennedy 36, Iain Beverley 32, Brendan McDonald 29, James Packman 25) were defeated by St George 6 dec. for 188 (James Kennedy 3-65, Dylan Connell 2-29, Brendan McDonald 1-41) and 1 for 89 (James Campbell 1 for 19)
Second Grade
 Chasing the massive total of 411 from last week and with the ball swinging around it was always going to be tough. The promising opening stand from last week was broken early and wickets fell at regular intervals. Ian Higgins batted resolutely but wickets fell around him and the innings concluded on 142.
(Ian Higgins during his 40 at Chatswood)
Gordon were put back in and reached 1-37 at tea when the game was terminated by the captains. St George were much the better side and hopefully the Stags may have learnt something from the game.
Congratulations also should go to the Chatswood Oval groundsman who produced an excellent wicket on both days and our dedicated volunteers who started at 7am with the super soper to prepare the outfield for a start on time at 10.30am. This was not withstanding the comment by an arriving Saints second grade player who said we must have been on the mower all week, referring obviously to the fact we were chasing 411. Perhaps he should be given the ground responsibility at Harold Frazer and Cahill rather than comment about our ground that is cut to exactly the same height by the Council every week and was in perfect condition.
Second Grade Scores
St George 7 dec 411 defeated Gordon 142 (Ian Higgins 40, Henry Carmichael 28) and 1-37 (Harry Evans 16*, Justin Avendano 16).
Fourth Grade
 Losing the two wickets at the end of play last week was very important in the scheme of this game. The Killara wicket while hard, seamed a bit from the previous day’s rain and the humidity meant the ball moved around all day. Three wickets fell before Tjaard Tait and Anthony Sherman got together for a measured partnership that at least offered a glimmer of hope for the Stags. However when the next wicket fell, the end was nigh and Gordon was dismissed for a disappointing 86.
(Tjaard Tait during his innings against Saints)
Following on, the unlikely plan was to rack up enough runs to give St George a chase. However, with a good, steady bowling attack to overcome, this was never really on.
Mitch Kleem and Hugo Anderson got the side off to a good start. A couple of wickets fell before Shayne Lin played an enterprising innings which looked to get the side out of any further troubles. However on his dismissal, just short of his half century, the following batsmen lost their direction and, for a while, the side looked like collapsing completely and giving St George an unlikely outright.
Fortunately, Adam Cubbage had the wherewithal to understand the situation and he helped the score out of the danger zone, remaining not out when stumps were drawn.
So, unfortunately, the 4ths are out of the running for the semis, but still need to make a strong showing against the Students next week.
 Fourth Grade Scores
St George 210 defeated Gordon 86 (Anthony Sherman 30, Tjaard Tait 27) and 9-157 (Shayne Lin 48, Mitchell Kleem 28, Adam Cubbage 23*, Hugo Anderson 18).
(Anthony Sherman during his 30 at Killara)
The season will conclude next week against the Students so let’s put our best foot forward and show them our true colours with Fifths making the preliminary semi finals and the Club finishing in the top 10 in the Club Championship. Maybe not to the standard of the best club in Sydney, but after 105 years of representing the district with players like Charlie Macartney, Victor Trumper and Bert Oldfield, we are still one of the most passionate about our club and its great history.
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