G'day for the final time this season MIG fans because it's FINALS time!
Once again, this year we have been good enough to qualify three teams for the big dance. The MIGs are playing Grand Finals in 3rd Grade, 4th Grade and 5th Grade.
3rd Grade return to the GF for the first time since their triumph over Lane Cove in 2020/21. They play the powerhouse Burwood Briars on homesoil, Weldon Oval. Ruben's men are eager to make the minor premiership into a major one.
4th Grade qualify for their fourth consecutive Grand Final. Kev's men are looking to confirm the dynasty following wins over Burwood, Mounties and North West over the past three seasons. The boys are eyeing off fierce opponents Epping, also at home, Frank Gray Oval.
5th Grade, still a young 'expansion' side for Warringah, in just their second year have qualified for the first Grand Final. Our young guns are looking to bring home the Tim Creer Cup for the first time, playing Pennant Hills at Alan Davidson Oval.
Read on for a summary of all the Grand Final action! But first, it's been a big year and we know we couldn't have had the year we've had without the support of our sponsors.
Visit our sponsor's page to learn more about who they are, what they do or if you would like to inquire about our sponsorship packages for the 2023-24 season or beyond. Additionally, if you would like to learn more about who the amazing people are that make our club tick, you can do so in the Positions of Responsibility section on our About Us page.
Grand Final
Warringah
168
L Richardson 42, C McKay 30*, D Labador 30
Burwood
3d./216
C McKay 2/59, B Martin 1/49
Warringah lost to Burwood.
The big dance. The match the boys were all looking forward to against defending champs Burwood. The scene was set for a fantastic weekend of cricket. A riveting series of Vortex (endorsed by Bill’s makeshift nerf), a series where a dominant side was still yet to be found between Richo and Kuchy’s hunky teams. Kuchy’s team took out the final’s series in a tight contest, but now with bodies warm the boys were on for a big weekend of cricket.
After losing yet another toss (yes tails does fail sometimes), the green men were sent in on a good-looking Weldon deck and were set with the simple task of bat, bat and bat some more. The ever-classy opening partnership of Jimmy Downs and Toby Seward did what they did best and got the mighty 3s off to a solid start. However, losing Jimmy (3) early and then Toby (19) a couple overs later we were faced with an image we hadn’t seen too often this season, the score 2-25. With Lukas Overhoff at 3 and skipper Ruben Donato at 4, the lads looked to steady a shaky ship and set up a platform for this gun line-up to come. Unfortunately, someone missed the memo and after a play and miss, the superstar to be Lukas was walking off leaving the boys in real grief at 3-30.
Out walked the magician himself Luke Richardson. This dreamy combination stuck solid for a few overs until the skipper (16) missed a straight one, leaving the magic maker Richo with the middle order to get the green men to a defendable score. A lot of promise was in the partnership between Richo and Grand final specialist Bill Martin yet when Bill got a good one and edged off for (8) yet Bill got a good one to depart for 8. Now joined by the green machine Dusty Labador, Richo and Dust started to work Burwood to all parts and got all the boys well and truly excited on the sidelines. This partnership (43) carried the boys to 6-113 when Dusty (30) got out caught behind of a good delivery from their leg spinner. However, this pair did a great job to edge the team back in the game and set a platform for Cal McKay and Richo to continue to push on with.
This pair of legends gracefully got to 150 before Richo (42) unfortunately chipped one back to the bowler. A fantastic knock from the great man, where he stood up when the top order struggled. This left Cal to bat with the lower order where his own knock of 30 was supported by Matt Kuchel (2), Kev Godfrey (4) and Harry Burke (2) to get the team to 168. This was a defendable score however we needed to be on song to rip through a classy Burwood line-up.
One of the great opening pairs (Cal and Kev) started our bowling innings and got stuck into the Burwood blokes early. Unfortunately, Weldon took form of the M2 and they were able to chip away at our total. Cal got the first breakthrough with a cracker of a yorker to dismiss the opener, and with the score 1-36 we were in with a sniff. With Harry Burke and Bill Martin now on the scene, we continued to generate a couple of chances without any luck in the evening session until the Burwood skipper finally gifted a chance off Bill which was kindly accepted. With the score at 2-91 it was starting to look like an uphill battle. In stepped Matt Kuchel who continued to bowl at this best as he had done so many times before and got the Burwood bats chewing them at the back end of the day. This amazing pressure finally gave to a final chance of the day where Cal snicked off the 10k runs guy in the final over of the day. Burwood accumulated very effectively throughout the final session had ended day 1 proceedings on 3-128.
With a tough day on the cards, The MIG boys turned up absolutely pumped up to put in the effort of the season to generate chances. Inspired by one of the great rev ups from Kuch and a collective discussion on our approach to get the W, the green men crossed the white line ready to take these 7 wickets for under 40 runs. With a beautifully executed return runout from Cal in the 3rd over of the day not given out, spelled out the type of day it was going to be. Burwood passing the runs 3 down and with lunch forthcoming, the Burwood opener brought up a well crafted hundred. With Burwood at 3-216 at lunch, the game was conceded with the green men outplayed by a forever strong Burwood outfit.
At the end of the day congrats to Burwood for outplaying us on the day. A special mention needs to be made to all the lads that made up the 3s squad throughout the season as I’m sure I can speak for everyone to say it was a great experience to be around you all and to enjoy the time spend on the cricket field in the manner we did. And to the boys who played in the grand final I enjoyed every moment having you boys around the third-grade group this season and the love you blokes shared on and off the field remains the greatest thing gained from the season.
Grand Final
Warringah
9/152
A Boulton 57, A Gatehouse 29, J Donnan 26
Epping
122
A Caruso 6/20, B Rowse 2/20, T Walker 1/25
Warringah won by 3 wickets.
Match report to come...
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Grand Final
Warringah
3/104
C Swinney 27, L Coy 20, K Morrison 19*
Pennant Hills
103
C Dickson 3/8, C Swinney 2/12, T Bourke 2/15
Warringah won by 7 wickets
Match report to come...
Thanks for tuning into this season and our wraps. Can't wait to see you all again next season!
Don't forget to join our membership program - the Bruce Loudon Club. Learn more about it on our membership page.
Warringah Contacts
Club President
Chris Melville
president.warringahcc@gmail.com
Club Captain
Ben Cook, Lachlan Molyneux and Noah Kasmar
clubcaptain.warringahcc@gmail.com
Club Secretary
Nic Johnson
secretary.warringahcc@gmail.com
Club Treasurer
Jeff Downs
treasurer.warringahcc@gmail.com
