'Something to build off': Lake Albert secure upset win over reigning T20 champs

Lake Albert's Tim Post, left, celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss South Wagga's Nathan Cooke during their T20 win over the Blues at Rawlings Park. Picture by Bernard Humphreys

Lake Albert got the ideal start to the new season, claiming an impressive win over reigning Twenty20 champions South Wagga.

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Last season was a tough one for the Bulls, with just a single victory, leaving them at the bottom of the ladder.

While definitely not getting too far ahead of themselves, Lake Albert captain Lewis Pulver said there was a lot of excitement among the team after their win over the Blues.

"It's definitely a good start to the season," Pulver said.

"Especially coming off only one win last year, and the boys were pretty happy with that.

"We know it's only the first game, but it's definitely something to build off."

Pictures by Bernard Humphreys

Having lost the toss and been forced to bowl first, Pulver said his side performed pretty well across both innings, as they reached their winning total of 142 with an over remaining.

"We got sent into the field to start, and I thought we bowled and fielded really well," he said.

"We probably would've liked to keep them to 120, but we probably gave them 20 runs in the last five overs through misfields and dropped catches.

"But other than that, we were real tight. We bowled tight, and we fielded well.

"After that, our batters set it up at the top with Alex Tucker and Ryan Jamieson, who batted right through with a 40 not out.

"Alex Tucker had about the same, while Rowan Hoare also came in and had a quick-fire 30, which really helped us.

"That was really good for us, because we'd usually lose three or four wickets pretty quickly.

"But we went in and established ourselves."

Having already matched their winning tally from last season, Pulver believed his side would take great confidence having knocked over a quality opponent like the Blues first up.

"We spoke as a team after and said we were going to take great confidence from that win," he said.

"Because we also know we have so much to improve on, as it wasn't our best game we've played.

"There's a lot to build on, which we're super proud of."

St Michael's captain Beck Frostick celebrates with Jacob Hastie after taking a catch to dismiss Wagga City's Harrison Ockerby during their 42-run win at McPherson Oval. Picture by Bernard Humphreys

Half-centuries from Nick Cawley and Will Nicholson guided St Michaels to a 42-run Twenty20 victory over Wagga City.

After losing the toss at McPherson Oval and being sent in to bat, Cawley (59 off 34) and Nicholson (62 off 46) started the season superbly, helping the Saints finish their 20 overs at 8-186.

Also planning to bowl first, St Michaels captain Beck Frostick said it was great to post such a strong total in their first game of the season.

"We wanted to bowl first as well, so to be stuck in and put 186 on the board was way over par in our thoughts," Frostick said.

"I thought Nick Cawley and Nicho were outstanding. It looked like Nick Cawley had not had a break all winter the way he was going about things, and the same with Nicho.

"They really controlled it for us and got us to a good score."

Cawley and Nicholson were both among the top run-scorers for the Saints last season, and Frostick said it was promising to see the duo in such good form so early in the season.

"They are two important players for us, we know that as a group, and they also know it," he said.

"For those two to hit the ground running straight away is really important, not only for us as a team, but also for themselves.

"They'll be feeling a million dollars after that, and I couldn't be any happier."

With the ball, St Michaels were able to limit the Cats to 7-144 in reply, with captain Vaughn Jenkins (39) and Aaron Maxwell (44 from 27) leading the way with the bat for Wagga City.

After blowing out a few early cobwebs, Frostick thought it was a pretty solid first-up effort in the field, saying they were able to control the second half of the innings.

"I thought we were really good," he said.

"There were a few cobwebs early on, which is understandable in the first game of the season.

"I thought Davey (Garness) and Jacob Hastie started really well for us in the powerplay. We restricted the boundaries as much as we could, and we didn't let them get off to a good start, which was our main aim.

"I thought from the eighth over onwards that we really controlled the field and our bowling, and we restricted them a long way behind our total."

Entering the season as defending premiers, Frostick said it was pleasing to begin the new season on the front foot.

"We said as a group that last year means nothing if we don't start well this year," he said.

"There's still a lot of cobwebs in the group, and that was clear to see. But to get the win is the most pleasing thing at the end of the day."

St Michaels 8-186 (W Nicholson 62, N Cawley 59; A Grigg 3-36) d Wagga City 7-144 (A Maxwell 44, V Jenkins 39; J Hastie 2-23, N Fahey 2-26)

After taking figures of 4-21, Kooringal all-rounder Josh Carmody then top-scored with 51 as the Colts secured a six-wicket win over Wagga RSL. Picture by Bernard Humphreys

Josh Carmody was superb with both bat and ball as Kooringal claimed a six-wicket win over Wagga RSL to begin their Twenty20 campaign.

Electing to bowl first, Carmody was immediately a threat, removing Tom Lavender (0), Brad McMillan (21), Jarrod Byrnes (24), and Austin Cornell (3) to have the Bulldogs sitting at 5-55, and he finished with impressive figures of 4-21, as RSL finished their 20 overs at 9-116.

Carmody then got to work at the top of the order, crafting together a solid innings of 51 off 45 deliveries before being removed off the bowling of Hayden Cook with victory in sight.

"He batted really well," Staines said.

"He showed his craft, and it was disappointing not to see him finish the innings off and get a not out. His bowling was very good also; it was very smart, and he kept it simple."

The Colts got off a terrific start in the field, with 14-year-old debutant Robert Buik striking in the opening over to remove Braith Gain (0).

Staines said it was pleasing to see Buik and Carmody bowl really well in a partnership to get them off to a strong start.

"Robbie got us off to a great start, picking up a nice early wicket," he said.

"I think Rob finished with one or two wickets, while Josh finished with four-for, which is pleasing for him, because he bowled really well."

Staines said it was awesome to see Buik get some immediate success in the top grade, and he added that fellow debutant Jack Shea also showed some good signs when he came to the crease.

"We know how good he is," he said.

"It's good for him to build some confidence, and Jack also came out and scored a couple of runs.

"Those two boys didn't look out of their depth, and they're in for a good season, which I'm looking forward to watching."

While they could be forgiven for making a few mistakes in the opening game of the new season, Staines said his side was pretty sharp in the field, having taken the majority of their chances.

"It actually wasn't too bad in our first game," he said.

"I thought we fielded okay; we dropped a catch or two, but we took most of our chances.

"RSL came out pretty hard in the first six to eight overs, and they put a bit of pressure on us, but we responded by taking wickets.

"One way to stop teams going hard is by taking wickets in the powerplay to put pressure on them that way."

Kooringal 4-117 (J Carmody 51, J Staines 33no; B Willis 1-16) d Wagga RSL 9-116 (J Byrnes 24, B McMillan 21; J Carmody 4-21)

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