2004/05: The Under 16s season in review

Round 1, Day 1 – October 9, 2004

At home against Flemington in the first round of the season, the opposition got away to a flier, with the openers putting on a 49-run stand before Robert Intagliata got the batsman to steer one to James Rawlinson.

Flemington put on a further 24 runs before Alexei Borrell held a sharp caught-and-bowled. Then James Rawlinson grabbed three quick wickets – all bowled and Jesse Nankivell-Sandor cleaned up the tail

Our first effort at bat was a concern, losing 5/57 after the 17 overs left at the end of Day 1. Only Joshua Maginness (right) showed the resistance required, being on 5no after 38 minutes at the crease.

Votes : James Rawlinson 5, 4; Joshua Maginness 5; Robert Intagliata 4; Jesse Nankivell-Sandor 3, 1; Jackson Clarke 3; Alexei Borrell 2; Liam Brown 2; Chris O’Haire 1.

Round 1, Day 2 – October 16, 2004

The second day of batting didn’t get any better. We lost two quick wickets to be 7/60, then were all out for 83 – six runs behind.

Flemington went back in to bat – and suddenly we were a chance again. Liam Brown struck with the second ball of his first over after Jesse Nankivell-Sandor bowled a maiden, and we were on our way. Brown came on and bowled three batsmen in quick succession and Jesse grabbed two wickets, then Iraklis Kolokithas (left) came on and took 2/0 off 1.3 overs to clean up the tail and have them all out for 14.

We lost one wicket on the way to the 20 target but then batted on, with Steven Bonfa retiring hurt on 18.

We were on the board – registering an outright win after losing the first innings.

Votes : Liam Brown 5, 5; Iraklis Kolokithas 4, 2; Joshua Maginness 4, 2; Jesse Nankivell-Sandor 3, 1; Steve Bonfa 3, 1.

Round 2, Day 1 – October 23, 2004 v Westmeadows

Up to Westmeadows to meet a team which was strong in every department, and later was moved up a grade or two. Our bowling couldn’t get a breakthrough until Joel Costigan came on at No. 6 and induced a snick to Steven Bonfa (right).

Steven took another great catch at slip off Robert Intagliata. Alexei Borrell and Jesse Nankivell-Sandor also picked up wickets, but it was lean pickings at Westmeadows finished the day at 5/253 cc.

Votes : Steve Bonfa 5, 5; Joel Costigan 4, 2; James Rawlinson 4; Matthew Cheligoy 3; Alexei Borrell 3; Robert Intagliata 2; Liam Brown 1; Iraklis Kolokithas 1.

Round 2, Day 2 – October 30, 2004 v Westmeadows

Our innings started badly, and we were quickly 4/18 and in a lot of strife. Jackson Clarke showed a lot of courage and took several hits to get us to 5/27, then Liam Brown and Jake Ferrier put in a bit of time to get the scoreboard ticking over until we were all out for 50.

Westmeadows sent us back in. We again struggled to put any meaningful partnerships together, and were quickly 5/50 before a bit of resolve in the tail – led by Robert Intagliata (left) with 15no – saw us avert an outright when time ticked over at 8/84.

Votes : Jackson Clarke 5, 3; James Rawlinson 5, 2; Jake Ferrier 4; Iraklis Kolokithas 4; Matt Cheligoy 3, 2; Steve Bonfa 1; Liam Brown 1.

Round 3, Day 1 – November 6, 2004 v Strathmore

Day 1 was washed out.

Round 3, Day 2 – November 13, 2004 v Strathmore

James Rawlinson won the toss at home and sent Strathmore in. James got the first breakthrough when he bowled one of the openers at 25, then the No. 3 two balls later. Iraklis Kolokithas then got a wicket, but Strathmore then piled on the runs before its other opener was retired for 50 with the score on 82.

Alexei Borrell and Peter Frangoulis combined for a smart runout, before Strathmore finished its innings on 5/96.

James Rawlinson (right) and Nick Kritharidis opened smartly before Nick was out for 17 with the score on 26, and we lost a couple of quick wickets before Liam Brown combined with James for a 43-run stand that took us to within sight of victory.

James was not out on 33, after a masterful 82-minute knock, when we finished up with the points.

Votes : James Rawlinson 5, 5; Liam Brown 4, 4; Nick Kritharidis 3, 2; Jesse Nankivell-Sandor 3; Robert Intagliata 2; Peter Frangoulis 1; Iraklis Kolokithas 1.

Round 4, Day 1 – November 20, 2004 v Doutta Stars

Opener Steven Bonfa looked good in the match at Buckley Park before falling at 12 with the score on 18. But that only brought Nick Kritharidis to the crease to join James Rawlinson.

Nick proceeded to smash an unbeaten 102 in 70 minutes, spiced with 10 fours and eight sixes. James continued on after the 131-run partnership, before falling for 61 in the 44^th over.

Some big hitting at the end by Robert Intagliata (22) and Iraklis Kolokithas (16no) saw up finish the day on 7/245 – our biggest total of the season. Chris O’Haire (left) finished off the day with an unbroken 18-run 9^th wicket stand with Ira.

Votes : Nick Kritharidis 5, 5; James Rawlinson 4, 4; Robert Intagliata 3, 1; Iraklis Kolokithas 3; Steve Bonfa 2, 2; Peter Frangoulis 1.

Round 4, Day 2 – November 27, 2004 v Doutta Stars

The boundaries looked a bit smaller than they did last week – but we knew we had to bowl straight and try and protect them from the big shots.

And Doutta Stars were going for the big shots. We didn’t stick to our game plan – keeping the ball on off stump and well pitched up – well enough for long enough, and they passed us seven wickets down in the second-last over of the day.

Best of the bowlers were Nick Kritharidis (right) (2 wickets), and Iraklis Kolokithas, Joshua Maginness, Matt Cheligoy and Joel Costigan with singles.

Votes : Nick Kritharidis 5, 4; Joel Costigan 5; Liam Brown 4; Iraklis Kolokithas 3; Joshua Maginness 3; Matt Cheligoy 2, 1; Steve Bonfa 2; Jackson Clarke 1.

Round 5 – December 4, 2004 v Taylors Lakes

Taylors Lakes won the toss at our home ground and elected to bat. We had the wood on them at 1/17 after 10 overs, but they then got going. We were still well placed when we had them 5/55, but an unbroken 43-run stand got them to 5/98 at the close.

The wickets were taken by James Rawlinson, Chris O’Haire, Steven Bonfa, Matt Cheligoy and Nick Kritharidis.

Nick got us off to a great start with Joshua Maginness, and we were 1/32 and then 2/50 in the 12^th over of the 24. We then lost quick wickets to be 7/71 in the 21^st, before it looked like Peter Frangoulis (left) and Jake Ferrier would get us home. But a couple of quick runouts saw us finish four runs short with an over to go. It’s the game we should have won.

Votes : Nick Kritharidis 5, 5; Peter Frangoulis 4, 3; James Rawlinson 4; Joshua Maginness 3; Chris O’Haire 2; Steve Bonfa 2; Jake Ferrier 1; Matt Cheligoy 1.

Round 6, Day 1 – December 11, 2004 v Aberfeldie

It was down to Maribyrnong Park, where Jesse Nankivell-Sandor won the toss and sent them in to bat. It was a great call, as they batted at a snail’s pace and we had them 4/14 in the 17^th over, after great accurate bowling by Jesse, Nick Kritharidis, Steven Bonfa, Iraklis Kolokithas and Matt Cheligoy.

Jake Ferrier (right) then took two wickets in his second over to have Abers reeling at 6/50 after 31 slow overs. He got two more in quick succession to finish the innings with 4/6, before Joel Costigan wrapped things up with a caught-and-bowled.

We had to face nine overs on the first day, and Matt Cheligoy and Liam Brown got us off to a flier – on 1/37 – chasing the target of 61.

Votes : Jake Ferrier 5, 5; Nick Kritharidis 4, 1;Matt Cheligoy 4; Chris O’Haire 3, 3; Joel Costigan 2, 1; Alexei Borrell 2.

Round 6, Day 2 – December 18, 2004 v Aberfeldie

We had a couple of stutters during the run chase, but solid knocks from Matt Cheligoy (left), Steven Bonfa and James Rawlinson got us the points. We pushed on as Iraklis Kolokithas and Jake Ferrier hit out, and declared with the total on 112.

We got three breakthroughs – from Alexei Borrell, Iraklis Kolokithas and Jake Ferrier – but were unable to push any further for the outright win when Aberfeldie blocked out the remainder of the 24 overs.

Votes : James Rawlinson 5, 5; Iraklis Kolokithas 4, 4; Alexei Borrell 3, 3; Steve Bonfa 2; Joel Costigan 2; Jake Ferrier 1, 1.

Round 7 – January 29, 2005 v Greenvale

We travelled up to Greenvale on a bleak, drizzly day – and it was even more bleak when we called a halt to proceedings around 10am.

They spanked 101 runs from our 16 overs for the loss of only two wickets – to Matt Cheligoy and Jake Ferrier. We failed to find any line or length with the bowling, and the only bowlers to go for less than five runs an over were Matt and Iraklis.

The way we played, we were fortunate to get three points for the draw.

Votes : Matt Cheligoy 5, 5; Jake Ferrier 4, 3; Liam Brown 4, 3; Alexei Borrell 2; Peter Frangoulis 2; Robert Intagliata 1; Iraklis Kolokithas 1.

Round 8 – Day 1 – February 5, 2005 v Doutta Stars

Back at Buckley Park for the second time this season. They won the toss and elected to bat, and Iraklis Kolokithas quickly had then 2/5, after a clean-bowled and a sharp catch by Alexei Borrell.

We had them 5/28 when Alexei (right) came on first change, and was on a hat-trick in his fourth over. The appeal for LBW on his hat-trick ball was well worth a shout.

They pushed on for 40 runs until Jackson Clarke was introduced into the attack and sent down a wicket-maiden, clean-bowling the No. 7. Peter Frangoulis took a good catch to give Jackson a second wicket one run later.

Robert Intagliata took two wickets in his first over to reduce Doutta to 9/82, before Iraklis wrapped up the innings on 105. We finished the day 0/1 off three overs.

Votes : Iraklis Kolokithas 5, 5; Jackson Clarke 4, 3; Alexei Borrell 4, 3; Peter Frangoulis 2; Jesse Nankivell-Sandor 2; Chris O’Haire 1; Robert Intagliata 1.

Round 8 – Day 2 – February 12, 2005 v Doutta Stars

We lost two quick wickets at the start, and were reduced to 5/17 after 17 overs of the day’s play.

Iraklis Kolokithas (left) was providing the sheet-anchor role with a 103-minute occupation of the crease, and we got the scoreboard ticking over when he was joined by Nick Kritharidis.

But they were separated with the score on 48. Nick pushed on throughout the innings, but no-one could stay with him long enough to get us over the line. We finished on 90 – which was the second time this season against Doutta when we were pipped in games we could well have won.

Votes : Iraklis Kolokithas 5, 4; Nick Kritharidis 5, 4; James Rawlinson 3, 2; Robert Intagliata 3, 2; Peter Frangoulis 1, 1.

Round 9 – Day 1 – February 19, 2005 v Taylors Lakes

Taylors Lakes came visiting again – and quickly rocked us back up against the wall. At 4/1, we looked like we wouldn’t be able to last until the drinks break.

But opener Matt Cheligoy set about resurrecting the innings with a great controlled knock of 24 in 81 minutes. We got great support from the gutsy Jackson Clarke, who spent 54 minutes at the crease for six runs.

We used their hard work as a springboard as James Rawlinson (16no), Nick Kritharidis (14) and Jesse Nankivell-Sandor (15) (right) helped us get to an almost-respectable 95.

We had four overs at them at the end of the day, and Nick Kritharidis clean-bowled one of the openers with his sixth ball. Taylors Lakes was a bit wobbly – and it got worse for them when Jesse Nankivell-Sandor picked up a ball behind gully and rocketed it in to Liam Brown to complete a smart runout. At 2/16 at the end of the day’s play, things were left interesting going into Day 2.

Votes : Matt Cheligoy 5, 5; Jackson Clarke 4, 3; James Rawlinson 4, 3; Jesse Nankivell-Sandor 2, 1; Nick Kritharidis 2; Jake Ferrier 1.

Round 9 – Day 2 – February 26, 2005 v Taylors Lakes

To give ourselves a chance we had to get quick wickets – but they didn’t come. Taylors Lakes ground out 56 runs in 23 overs before Nick Kritharidis and Liam Brown (left) effected a brilliant runout.

Lakes went from 3/72 to 6/86 during an inspired spell by James Rawlinson, but they just kept edging towards their target. They lost their seventh wicket to Jesse Nankivell-Sandor when they were just one run in front of us.

But then the pressure was off, and they lashed out to finish on 9/182 at the end of the day’s play – which was not an indication of the pressure we applied when the match was still in the balance.

But even had the result been different we would still have finished fifth, as fourth-placed Strathmore secured its spot in the finals with a win.

Votes : James Rawlinson 5, 5; Jesse Nankivell-Sandor 4, 3; Jake Ferrier 4; Liam Brown 3; Robert Intagliata 2; Nick Kritharidis 2; Joshua Maginness 1; Joel Costigan 1.

Some more Under 16s stats.

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