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The Slab Road Cricket Club's players and supporters enjoyed a
"Big" Saturday night which continued onto Sunday and Monday, when celebrating Grand final wins in both "A" and "B" Grades -- but were ever mindful of the Club's "C " Grade team who put up a tremendous performance to just go down to top side Margate in their Grand final.
"A" Grade put in a magnificent team effort to go "Back to Back" Huon and Channel Cricket Association's Premiers when they defeated the Kingston Crows in the Grand Final played at Lightwood Park.
The Crows won the toss and batted with Slab Road's opening bowler Damien Clark claiming two early wickets, courtesy of a fine slips catch by Damien Coad and a brilliant outfield catch by Nathan Clark.
Knott and Elliott had taken the score to 110 when David Griffiths had Knott smartly caught by Justin Jarrett in the gully.
A bowling change brought Nathan Clark into the attack, with immediate success, having Elliott caught behind by Mathew Cane.
Damien Clark then skittled Treptow clean bowled and the Crows went to drinks at 5/122 off 37 overs. Outstanding catches to Damien Coad and Jason Clark off the bowling of Damien and Nathan Clark had the Crows 7/162.
Damien continued a magnificent spell of bowling to see the Crows dismissed in a total of 185.
Damien Clark took the bowling honours, returning the brilliant figures of 9.1 overs for 7/37.
All bowlers gave splendid performances. Nathan Clark claimed
2/54 off 10 overs, David Griffiths claimed 1/30 off 10 overs, Jason
Clark bowled a fine spell of leg spin bowling of 10 overs for 0/35, while Aaron Cherry bowled nine overs for figures of 0/27.
There was a buzz in the Roadies supporters' camp, some from the sun, some from the stubbies being consumed and a real belief that the Crows score of 185 was a very gettable total.
Daniel Watson and Stuart Clark opened the Roadies innings and looked comfortable, taking the score to 42 before Townsend was brought into the attack with immediate success, claiming Watson 27 and Coad 10 in his first over.
Clark went caught behind first ball off his next over and we were suddenly 3/44.
Justin Jarrett looked in ominous form but was dismissed on 34. Then Jason Clark was out for 7 and Slab Road had slumped to 5/98.
Bradley Watson then joined Cherry and, after a few nervous strokes, began to bat very well before being run out for 22, the score being 6/133.
Aaron Cherry, who had occupied the crease for many overs, was dismissed for 23 and this left the Roadies at 7/145.
Matt Cane looked good before falling to a brilliant catch by Knott for 8. We were then 8/156 off 45 overs.
Needing 30 to win, David Griffiths strode to the crease to join Damien Clark, and he raced to 22 not out and, along with Clark 15 not out, secured a thrilling Grand Final win for the Roadies in the 49th over.
This meant "Back to Back Flags" for our "A" Grade and Huon Channel Cricket Association "Champions" for 2008/09.
In a great team performance, Damien Clark was named "Man of the Match" with a brilliant bowling performance of 7/37 and 15 not out with the bat.
Cricket was the big winner in Saturday's Grand Final, but Grand Finals are not won during the week or on Friday night, you win them out in the middle on the Saturday. Congratulations to first-year Captain, Stuart Clark, and the Roadies team, which included Damien
Clark, Jason Clark, Nathan Clark, Bradley and Daniel Watson, Damien
Coad, David Griffiths, Aron Cherry, Matt Cane, Justin Jarrett and Corey Polley.
"B" Grade made up for being Runners-Pp last season when they defeated the Southern Tigers in a low scoring game at the Franklin Oval to be crowned Huon Channel Cricket Association Premiers for 2008/09.
It was a remarkable performance as the team lost its first six games of the season and scraped into fourth place on the ladder at the end of the roster games.
The home side won the toss and sent the Roadies into bat.
Opening batsmen Paul Cowen (3) and Bradley Clark (9) went cheaply and when Grant Clark was caught behind for 2 we were 3/29.
Marcus Boks batted sensibly to reach 25 but, with his dismissal, he was followed quickly by Coad 14, Daniel Walter 4 and Mitchell Direen 2.
We were, to say the least, in all sorts of trouble at 7/91.
David Bone at this stage of the innings was playing a lone hand and just needed a couple of batsmen to stay with him as he looked in ominous form.
However, that was not to be and his courageous knock came to an end when he was the last man dismissed for 59 and the Roadies were all out for 137.
"Not enough runs on the board," some Southern Tigers supporters commented, but this was the Grand Final and in the Roadies huddle was the statement, "we've got to get 'em."
Two early wickets to the Roadies' Darris Fahey, and a run out to Daniel Walter, had the Tigers 2/17.
Tight bowling had the Tigers under pressure.
Bone took a spectacular catch. Then Adam grabbed a wicket and suddenly the Tigers were 4/39 and 137 looked a long way off.
Youd and Barry put on a good partnership before Darris Fahey had Barry caught behind and the score was 5/86.
Julian Direen dismissed dangerman Youd and Captain Short and the opposition were 7/114.
David Bone was thrown the ball and, in the second over, dismissed Thorpe at 8/122.
The game was at fever pitch and the score progressed to 132 before Captain Daniel Walter claimed the big wicket of Martin Elliott, caught behind.
This was the final score in a Grand Final nail biter.
David Bone bowled Flakemore to secure a brilliant win for the Roadies in a low scoring game and, yes, 137 proved to be enough.
David Bone with 59 runs, two wickets, and the catch of the season, was a deserved "Man of the Match".
Congratulations to Captain Daniel
Walter and all the team on being Huon Channel Cricket Association Division B1 Champions for 2008/09.
Team members were Paul Cowen, Bradley Clark, Grant Clark, Marcus Boks, David Bone, Adam Coad, Julian
Direen, Mitchell Direen, Daniel Walter, Darris Fahey and Rhys Synnott.
The Slab Road Cricket Club just missed out on grabbing three Premiership Flags when its C Grade narrowly went down to Margate by 11 runs.
Home side Margate won the toss and elected to bat.
Opening bowler Daniel Webster was on fire and soon had the home side on the ropes at 3/7.
A mini partnership saw the score reach 32 when Webster grabbed his fourth wicket and finished with figures of 4/21 off 10 overs.
Ian Coulson and Tyler Cowen both grabbed wickets as Margate tumbled to 6/54.
A good partnership took Margate's score to 92.
Peter Kenna grabbed three wickets in quick succession to have the home
side all out for 112.
In the run chase we lost openers Ross (3) and Jennings (10) early, then Harley, Kenna, Cracknell and Cowen barely troubled the scorers as the score slumped to 7/43.
Coulson was dismissed with the score at 61 and, with Wilcox's dismissal, we were almost down and out at 9/78.
A brilliant effort by Daniel Webster
With 21 not out and Kane Neilson (3) got the score to 101 before the final wicket fell and there were a lot of disappointed boys.
Again, in a Grand Final a low score proved to hard to reach.
Congratulations to first year Captain Jeremy Cracknell and his boys for nearly pulling off an impossible victory from fourth on the ladder -- a great effort. Be proud of your efforts as everyone else is.
Team members were Peter Ross, Rhys Jennings, Jonathon Harley, Ian Coulson, Peter Kenna, Colin Roberts, Tyler Cowen, Daniel Webster, Cameron Wilcox and Kane Neilson.
It was a magnificent season for the Slab Road Cricket Club with A Grade, B Grade and the Under 13s all being Premiers, C Grade being Runners-Up and the Club's Under 15s being finalists. Not a bad effort from a small town.
Many thanks go to the players, the supporters, sponsors and awards sponsors -- the Roadies again thank you for your outstanding contributions for the season 2008/09.
To Maureen and the Huon Valley News -- your coverage of Huon Channel Cricket Association's senior and
junior cricket has again been tremendous, as well as the printing of Club Notes -- the Roadies express their gratitude and thanks.
The Slab Road Cricket Club's Annual Dinner and Trophy Night will be held on Saturday, 18th April (in the Club's Cricket Nets Pavilion).
-- "GO ROADIES, 2008/09 HCCA CHAMPIONS"
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