Light Pass Cricket Club

There was a strange mix of emotions around the club on the weekend on a day that only delivered one win for the club. The excitement of the A1’s reserves who secured the minor premiership against the odds, relief from the Wanderers as they scraped in to their first finals series for some time on the back of other results, there was a hopeful vibe around the A3’s who nearly pulled off a big come from behind win heading in to the finals and disappointment as both the Junior Baggies and the Bucket Greens narrowly missed out on finals action after failing to win their last matches of the season. All of those feelings now need to be put aside as the focus shifts to the major round where three of the senior sides (possibly four if the A5’s shield is revived this season) will be representing the club. What has occurred during the season means absolutely nothing in the finals and the players will need to focus on playing for the moment and enjoy being tested at the pointy end of the season if they hope to produce the results all of the Baggy Greens supporters are praying for. More so than ever the clubs catch cry of “Don’t give up, Don’t give in, Never lose the dream!” will need to be at the fore front of the players minds, finals is what it’s all about and this is the best representation the club has had in many years so lets all get motivated. Play for the Club and colours, play for your team mates and play for yourselves, make the clubs 75th anniversary a season one to be remembered for all the right reasons.

A1 res – The first XI played Lyndoch in a reduced overs match at the Docklands on the weekend. The lads had a few overs to bat after the rain last week and put them to good use pushing the total to 8/209 by the end of the innings. Steve Hill continued his innings and scored 70 runs before being run out, meanwhile Steve Gallasch anchoring the innings while other batsmen took on the bowling, Steve made 28 runs in an important innings. Mick Braunack put some icing on the cake with 38 very quick runs pushing the total past 200. An early wicket to Dimi Camilleri set the tone for the defence but Lyndoch rallied and were in a half reasonable spot at drinks but Mick Braunack and Craig Todd’s introduction to the attack killed off any hope the Dockers may have been harbouring as they destroyed the rest of Lyndoch’s batting order taking the last 8 wickets for only 59 runs rolling Lyndoch for 138 and achieving something that is very rare at the Docklands…Silence! Mick ended up with 5/19 while Toddy and Dimi took 2 wickets each. An unlikely victory to the ERCCer’s against Greenock handed the land the minor premiership and an automatic ticket back into the A1’s next season. The man of the match was Mick Braunack.

A2’s – The Wanderer’s were chasing 176 for victory and a certain finals berth at Stocky main on the weekend in their match against top side Angaston. Marty Gallasch and Nathan Koch had gotten the score to 41 before the end of play last week but unfortunately neither could go on with it this week and the early wickets put pressure on the batting line up. The rest of the top order tried very hard to consolidate but in the end the result was a very low run rate and the wickets still fell. Bradley Hunter and Jimmy Miller finally broke the shackles and provided a glimmer of hope taking the score past 100 before Bradley was dismissed for 16. Syd Miller joined his brother at the crease and the partnership provided some of the only highlights for the day with both Miller boys hitting boundaries. Jimmy finished the innings not out on 25 but the lads fell short by 40 runs. There was 7 overs available to be bowled in the days play and Angaston batted again rather than give the lads a shot at the second innings points and at the end of play the Wanderers had them 3/44 with Syd and Simon both picking up a wicket. After a tense wait at Stocky pub the lads got conformation that Tanunda had lost by a mere 4 runs and that meant that they had held forth spot and booked a rematch against Ango next week. Mick Baumann was man of the match.

A3’s – The 3’s had a huge job on their hands chasing 252 for victory in their match against Angaston at Moculta Oval. The lads got off to a modest start with Gary Sims batting well for 24, but it was a 73 run partnership between Nick Liddell and Tim Rowbottom that gave the side a sniff. When Nick was trapped LBW for 47 the momentum shifted and when Tim was caught behind for 37 it looked as if the resistance might stop right there. Tommy Gerlach had other ideas and went on the attack batting aggressively and taking the total past 200. With 5 overs remaining the boys in the baggy green still needed 6 an over and only had one wicket in hand. A match winning partnership between Tommy and Nigel Koop would have become Light Pass folklore but it was not to be as Tommy was bowled for 87 chasing the runs in the dying overs. In the end the total was 10/230 and Tommy Gerlach was man of the match.

A4’s – The A4’s played Tanunda black at Stocky No.2 on Saturday and after losing the toss fielded first. The first 20 overs were fairly positive and the lads restricted the Blockies to 1/70 but after the break Tanunda unleashed and the total was blow out to 4/231 by the end of the innings. Mitch Laubsch was impressive with the ball again this week taking 2/27 and Justin Sparks picked up 1/49. The batting did not go as well as last week and the less said the better. Tanunda fielding an above average side were simply to good considering the total they were defending and the lads went down swinging all out for 46, Jimmy Braunack made 15 and Mick Gerhardy was 15 not out. Jimmy Braunack was awarded the man of the match.

Remember all subs are over due and must be paid immediately or you will not be eligible to play in the finals please contact Mathew Mattner if you need to make an arraignment. The Junior Presentations are coming up on the 9th of April at Stockwell Park clubrooms, the evening will be starting at 6:30 with presentations beginning at 7:00, please bring a plate of supper to share and BYO drinks, lets make an effort to support our junior players and the volunteers that work so hard to keep our junior club so strong. The Senior Presentations will be held at Stockwell Park clubrooms on Saturday the 10th of April, Tickets cost 25 dollars but if you have paid your subs your ticket is free, please RSVP to a committee member ASAP as catering needs to be finalised, come along for a good feed and to celebrate season 09/10 and hopefully a few premierships. Till next week, Yip Yah Light Pass Duckpond Bill