Junior cricket highlights at Margaret River

Saturday marked a delightful day of cricket at Margaret River and Rapids Landing Primary Schools, featuring the Margaret River Hawks in three matches against St Mary’s Saints, Cowaramup Bulls Gold, and Saints Stage 1 Blue. These games emphasised fun, development, and sportsmanship, highlighting the true spirit of junior cricket.

Hawks Gold S1 vs. VCC White: The day began with the Hawks Gold S1 team winning the toss and electing to bat against VCC White. The young Hawks batters, including Lachlan Webb and Byron McIlroy, played with enthusiasm and skill. Webb scored a lively 18 off 17 balls, while McIlroy was particularly impressive, smashing 30* from just 18 balls. The match was not just about runs; it was about cheers, encouragement, and joy shared between the players and supporters, culminating in a high team total of 160 for no loss. VCC White’s response was spirited, though they managed only 74 runs, the game was less about the score and more about the participation and enjoyment evident in each player’s involvement.

Hawks Green S1 vs. Cowaramup Bulls Gold Stage 1: In a similarly spirited encounter, Hawks Green S1 faced Cowaramup Bulls Gold. The Hawks, batting first, posted 84 runs with Charlie Bursey’s standout knock of 16*. The Bulls answered strongly, scoring 138 runs thanks to lively innings from Jacob Longden, who scored an exhilarating 30* off 16 balls. The game was a friendly yet competitive affair, with both teams showcasing emerging talent and a focus on enjoying the game and learning through experience.

Hawks Maroon S1 vs. Saints Stage 1 Blue: The third match featured Hawks Maroon S1 against Saints Stage 1 Blue, with the Saints winning the toss and opting to bowl. The Hawks Maroon team managed to score 100 runs, with contributions from Quinn Brett and Yusuf Khan. In reply, Saints Stage 1 Blue slightly edged out the Hawks with a total of 105 runs, anchored by Levi Broere’s exciting 29 from 20 balls. This match was also marked by lots of encouragement from both sides, fostering a supportive atmosphere celebrating every run scored and every ball bowled.

Hawks dominate in dual Saints victories

On a clear Saturday at Gloucester Park Western Oval, the Margaret River Hawks showcased their cricketing prowess in both A and B grade matches against St Mary’s, with standout performances that led them to commanding victories.

The A-grade game started strongly for the Hawks, who, batting first, posted a solid total of 223 runs in 49.5 overs.

The innings was anchored by Shane Joyce, who scored an impressive 82 runs off 94 balls, including nine boundaries.

Complementing Joyce was Grant Garstone, who played a crucial innings of 76 runs from 102 deliveries.

Garstone’s knock included eight boundaries and was instrumental in building a defendable score.

When it came to bowling, the Hawks were equally dominant.

Grant Garstone continued to shine, this time with the ball, taking 3 wickets for just 15 runs in his 7-over spell.

The Saints struggled to build momentum and were eventually bowled out for a paltry 73 runs in 32.2 overs, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Hawks’ bowling attack and strategic field placements.

In the B-grade match, the scenario was slightly tighter.

The Hawks, upon winning the toss, chose to bat first, setting a target of 175 runs, all out in 42.5 overs.

Tom Joyce was the mainstay of their innings, scoring 63 runs off 90 balls.

His innings, filled with eight boundaries, provided the necessary backbone to the Hawks’ batting line-up.

The response from the Saints was spirited but ultimately fell short, as they were bowled out for 171 in 45 overs.

The bowling attack for the Hawks was spearheaded by Bailey Groves, who claimed a 5-wicket haul for 37 runs, proving crucial in the late stages of the game to secure a narrow win for his team.

Both matches displayed the depth and skill of the Margaret River Hawks, with players stepping up in crucial moments to ensure victory.

Grant Garstone and Tom Joyce, named men of the match for their respective games, highlighted the calibre of talent within the team.

Their individual performances not only led to wins but also set a high standard for the rest of the team for the remainder of the season.

The dual victories for the Hawks in both A and B grade matches against St Mary’s were a testament to their strong batting line-ups, strategic bowling changes, and overall team synergy, which were pivotal in outclassing their opponents.