2006/07 ILLAWARRA CREDIT UNION SOUTH COAST CRICKET REVIEW

Position: 4th 140pts

Road ahead: Albion Park, Lake Illawarra

Captain: Matt Meurant

Wins: 7

Comment: Competition leaders for the majority of the season. Have relied heavily on Dale Scifleet and skipper Meurant but the key element in their game has been the ability to pull together and play good cricket as a team.

Positive signs in the batting department with Jaya Hartgerink and Ben Jones putting on a 122 against Warilla in January, should see the team carry solid momentum into the finals, particularly after Meurant's unbeaten 139 against The Rail.

Went down to Jamberoo by 97 runs on the weekend on a sub standard Tom Whilloughby Oval wicket.

After a heavy loss to Lake in the first round that saw the team bundled out for 60 odd " you called for more commitment. Would you say the players have delivered?

I don't know if we have delivered the best we can yet. Players have at time but not on a consistent basis " it's been every one or two weeks here or there.

What do you see as the challenge for the team from here on in?

The challenge for us is to just play to the best of our own ability. One person consistently each week puts us in a winning position.

After four half centuries this season " were you relieved to crack your first ton?

I was relieved as it was something I had plenty of chances to do this season. Most of the fifties were in one"day games.

It is my first for the club so it was a special moment and was good getting it at home.

Oak Flats have been up and down " You played with Kerry Penfold at Campbelltown and a showdown in the semi will occur if the table stays the same. What is the key to beating them?

I don't know, a lot of them play the same way. On their day they can be two or three for 300 but if it is your day they could be out for 150.

You need to put them under pressure and not let them get easy runs or get off to a flying start.

Most of our problems come from our batting sow e have to bowl teams out for small totals.

For each team we play you do have to look at their strengths and weaknesses and build pressure based on that.

Oak Flats are all capable right to number 10 11 so there are no cheap wickets. Whereas a lot of the time (when batting) we tend to give our wickets away.

Albion Park have some momentum at the moment and have steadily improved during the season. Do you have any thoughts on them and what have you taken away from playing them this year?

For them it was always going to take a bit of time to deal with the loss of Smithy (Graeme Smith). What his loss has shown is they have a lot of other players who are good cricketers.

We have them this weekend and it all starts now with some hard semi final cricket, so when the semis come around we will be ready.

Who has been the form side in the competition?

I still think Oak Flats are the best side in the comp.

Can Kiama win the grand final?

I'd like to think we can. We have enough talent but talents doesn't win you games. It will be hard as we lose Josh Jones for the last two games as he is back at Uni but will return for the semi finals.

Message to your players?"I think they know&I guess it's time we all stood up and did it for ourselves. We have shown we can beat the leading teams so we need to stand up when it counts."

FUTURE BRIGHT FOR SPORTIES

"? Craig Bramble

AFTER having lost 16 competition points after an umpire granted permission for a replacement player to bowl " Warilla first grade captain Craig Bramble, while disappointed can still speak optimistic about the 2006/07 South Coast Cricket season.

What led to the loss of the points?

I was away in Perth that game and the stand in captain had not captained in first grade before. We had beaten Rail first innings before and a player come up from second grade. The captain asked the umpire if he could bowl and the umpire said "?In the spirit of the game " he can bowl'. Then the association got win of it and end of story " we lost the points.

All that aside " what are your thoughts on the season?

This year has been a year for giving young guys a go in first grade and we have done that.

Warilla has an abundance of highly talented 15 and 16 year olds. They are possible future under 17 NSW players and it was all about them having every opportunity and gaining experience in that environment.

Nick Maddison is only 15-years-old and scored 97 not out against Oak Flats " and they are the premiership favourites. Blake Hutchinson and Adam Zampa are also players of the future.

Can you still make the top four?

Things just haven't gone in our favour this year. We got washed out in the SCG Cup and lost the points. We have however, performed well above what we expected and we will be all the better for it next year.

Who do you feel has been the most consistent team in the competition?

Lake Illawarra " They have a really good team atmosphere. Their team suits their home ground and the conditions really suit their spinners (Craig Acton and Tony Panecasio).

I'd say based on consistency Lake are the favourites. Kiama and Oak Flats have had good wins this year.

Albion Park look done " it's tough without the gun players but they are still sneaking up there sot he comp is still wide open.

Message to your players&

The one thing about our club is that there is a really good club atmosphere. The guys want to promote the juniors. The success is due to our club coach and life member Mark Honeysett and our Junior Development Officer Darren Zampa. Darren spends many hours with the kids and gives them plenty of good advice.

Warilla will be a strong club for a numbers of years and that will definitely be due to those two guys.

Final thought&

"I was never going to win a beauty contest and I definitely won't now," after being hit by a Ty Cherry bouncer against Oak Flats. The hit resulted in a dozen stiches.

LAKE ILLAWARRA

"? Tony McCabe

Position: 1st 159pts

Road ahead: Jamberoo, Kiama

Captain: Tony McCabe

Wins: 8

Comment: Form team of the competition. Team bonds well together and they play hard, spirited cricket. Nucleus of the team has played together for a number of years.

Leading the comp at this stage of the year " are you surprised?

No not at all. We have finished third or fourth the last few years and this season the players have performed really well.

So I'm not surprised at all " our aim at the start of the season was to make the top two.

You tipped Oak Flats as the team to beat earlier in the year, Warilla as the dark horse. What has stood out in the competition so far this season?

It is a really tight top five and there is not much between any of us. There is a big gap in points from first to five but there isn't much between the top three.

We haven't played Kiama since the first game so we are yet to see them at their best. They have been going really well.

Has there been a turning point for your players this season?

Probably our wins against Oak Flats and Albion Park. Any time we play there seems to be only a couple of runs or a wicket or two in the match and that is good for the competition.

The thing for us this year is we bat a lot better. In previous years our batting let us down on occasions " I feel this year we are a more balanced side after having always fielded and bowled well.

The biggest thing for the team is the mental side. The last two years we have beaten the top two sides on occasions and now the guys realise they can do it.

Jamberoo and Kiama to come " any predictions?

Oak Flats, Kiama and us are all playing Jamberoo or Shellharbour in the last few rounds. Everyone will be hoping for an outright win to consolidate their positions.

You have shown during the year that you can set and chase big totals " has that been the biggest improvement in the team?

Yeah definitely, chasing 290 against Warilla " well I haven't been in a side that has done that.

Is the minor premiership secure? It's been a while since the last one " what does it mean to the club?

No not at all " we have to beat Rail first. I feel it will count on the match between Kiama and Albion Park next round. That will settle third and fourth and it should be us or Oak Flats.

I know we won four or five premierships straight around 1991-1995.

A semi final showdown with Albion Park is likely if the table stays the same " a grand final replay from last year. Any scars remain from the loss?

They played a really good game last year and we did play well. This year with no Graeme Smith or Jess Hancock I feel it is a different game.

I really respect them as a team " they can get themselves out of trouble and have a good lower order and have beaten us once this year.

Who has been the form side in the competition?

Obviously we are happy with the way we have been going.

Kiama are going very well and have beaten every team but we haven't seen them at their best. They beat us in the SCG cup and from memory it wasn't more than 15 runs or 1-2 wickets in the game.

Warilla are out if it now and are just too far away.

Message to your players&

"You have all just got to enjoy the rest of the season. Take nothing for granted " just because we made the grand final this year doesn't mean we are owed another this year. When we get there we will have to play well and work hard on the day."

OAK FLATS

"? Kerry Penfold

Position: 2nd 151pts

Road ahead: The Rail, Jamberoo

Captain: Kerry Penfold

Wins: 8

Comment: Along with Albion Park have been the other leading team in the competition for the past two seasons. Had a long campaign last year after making the final of the SCG Cup, which was taxing for the players.

Captain Penfold has been out injured and the team is used to him scoring 500 plus runs for the season. This has enabled fellow opener Col Yeaman to step up and score a mountain of runs this season.

More recently all rounder Rob Hill has chipped in with two fifties and Darren O'Connell has hit form at the right time.

Is the side struggling at the wrong time of the year?

I wouldn't say we are struggling at all. We played some really god cricket early and maybe peaked too soon.

The last two years we have had a SCG cup hangover, with no time off. I do feel we will get better.

Your SCG Cup run came to a quick halt on a wet wicket in Tamworth " is that a blessing do you feel?

No it is still a long trip. We peaked before Christmas and just after went down hill.

We will rise again " I am pleased, the season has been pretty good.

Having played all teams " who is the one that stands out heading into the finals?

Any of the four sides can win the comp.

Is this the year for Oak Flats?

If we can peak at the right time.

Lake is a bogey side for the Rats and Park are SCDCA champions for the last two years. Any concerns with that and what does it take to beat each of them?

It's 2 all with us and Lake at the moment this year. I wouldn't underestimate Albion Park " they are a really good side.

The team that holds their chances will win. Fielding and peaking at the right times is important and I am expecting a good contest when the finals come around.

All it takes is one good spell of bowling or one good innings.

Where is the biggest area of improvement for your side?

Going back to being consistent again. With the outright in the Shellharbour game I am pretty happy with our run into the semis.

Who has been the form side in the competition?

I would have to say Kiama. Matt Meurant has done a great job coaching and is having a great year.

Can Oak Flats win the grand final? How?

Win the semi and do what is best four our team. We are not worried about any other side.

Like I said all it takes is one good innings, or a good effort in the field.

Message to your players&

"They know what to do."

ALBION PARK

"? Steve Milgate

Position: 3rd 142pts

Road ahead: Kiama, Warilla

Captain: Steve Milgate

Wins: 8

Comment: Real improvers of the competition so far this season. Picked themselves up after the loss of Graeme Smith and Jess Hancock.

They are a tight knit group of players and club, which means they will want to be around eachother in pressure situations.

This will serve them well in the semi finals.

How is the team sitting heading into the finals Steve?

It is important for the team to take things week by week.

For the players the important thing right now is to keep doing the little things right and take their chances.

They are definitely two tough games ahead for us. Warilla are no doubt after our spot.

What are your reflections of your teams season to date?

They year has been a good opportunity to give a few others an opportunity in first grade.

Jason Kast has been a very consistent bowler for us after coming up from second grade. The start of the year we weren't consistent enough " we are now.

Showing steady improvement during the year " was there a turning point that led to that consistency? Not so much a turning point. For us it has just been not relying on any one player " we beat Lake by a few runs and had a close game against Kiama so any of the top four can win.

Who have been the most consistent team this year? Lake Illawarra

What is the feeling within the team at the moment? We are just 11 mates out for a bit of fun on a Saturday afternoon. There are no internal issues and the club is in very good shape.

WINNING CAVS FORMULA

ONE man well placed to judge whether the 2006/07 season really is the "?Year of Kiama Cavaliers', is fast bowler Josh Jones.

It is widely known that Kiama boast one of the leading bowling attacks in the competition and Jones feels this is the year.

"We can bowl any team out and there is a lot of depth " we can beat any team on our day," he said.

"We outplayed Oak Flats in the two dayer and the team are really relaxed, which is a good advantage.

"Matt (Meurant), Dale (Scifleet) and I have all played higher cricket and it is South Coast Cricket and it's not the end of the world.

"I think we have probably tried too hard the last few years " so it is not as serious this year.

Jones has just passed a significant milestone at Kiama, with 200 first grade wickets to his name. Although proud of his achievement, he prefers a simple formula.

"I never thought about it before. I don't look at personal milestones, I just turn up and play and enjoy playing with mates."

One mate in particular " Illawarra Steelers and NSW State of Origin halfback " John Simon, has had a positive impact on Josh.

"It is awesome playing with John. I always went to Steelers games in the 90s and he was my idol. Now he is just a normal, top bloke and is good for a laugh.

"Johnny Simon is great to have around, he just has that old sports head on his shoulders."

This relaxed atmosphere around the Cavs could prove to be the winning formula come finals time.