The SquizLog

Another Triumph for My Boys

Revenge for their defeat last season. Their third premiership in the last four seasons. Last Sunday the Central Coast Under 14 cricket team, which I have the privilege to coach, won the final of the NSWDCA Moore Shield competition.

Central Coast 5/105 (M Coombs 55 not out, T McDonald 34) beat Parramatta 103 (J Elder 5/14, D Tonkin 2/14, C Soper 2/18).

After their skipper lost the toss Central Coast soon had the visitors in trouble, reeling at 4/23. Soper made the early inroads, dismissing both openers. Tonkin and Dusting followed up with a wicket each. Elder snared a brilliant catch in the gully, an early sign that this would be a day for him to remember. Parramatta made a recovery of sorts and at the morning tea break were 5/88 with Graham, their number 4 batsman looking dangerous, having already hit a couple of straight sixes.

Enter Elder, the leg-spinner. He enticed Graham to attempt a six over cow corner with the resulting skied ball held by Soper running in from cover. That was the clincher. Elder claimed the remaining four wickets in quick succession in a beautiful display of leg-spin bowling that would have warmed the heart of "Tiger" Bill O'Reilly. Elder: 9.4 overs, 2 maidens, 5 for 14. Parramatta all out 103.

Central Coast was undeniably in the box seat but, at the risk of repeating a cliché, Parramatta had the runs on the board and we had to get them. When the total teetered at 3/14, the coach started pacing around the oval, nervous but still confident in the boys' appreciation of the importance of partnerships. And what a partnership the next one proved to be. McDonald, the captain, and Coombs, growing more confident with every innings at this level, calmly and patiently picked off the singles and dispatched the loose balls. They combined for a partnership of 71, simply huge in the context of chasing a small total in a final.

Coombs was there at the end as Central Coast scored the winning runs with 10.5 overs to spare. Another triumph to go with their Cawsey Shield (2003/04) and Creak Shield (2002/03) victories!

This Sunday the boys play the final of the NSW Country Under 14 competition against Riverina. Which brings to mind a promise the coach made earlier in the season in an unguarded moment. As the boys are keen to point out, if they win this Sunday the coach's beard must come off!

Posted to Cricket by Keith Pitty