Woy Woy makes cricket finals

Woy Woy first grade cricket team has made the semi-finals, after many years of fighting off the wooden spoon.

Woy Woy last made the semi-finals 15 years ago, and lastwon a premiership 40 years ago.

After winning only one game last season, with a couple of unlucky wet weather draws, Woy Woy lost some players, their captain, a rep player and other players and it was thought the side would not be competitive this year.

New captain, 22-year-old Peter Graham, one of the youngest captains on the Coast, and his predominantly young squad had other ideas.

At the start of the season, the plan was to play good cricket and keep getting better and the results would look after themselves.

They lost three of the first four games, narrowly, to the top three teams as it turned out.

The team took the positives out of each one, then beat the 2001-2002 premiers, Narara, and haven't lost since.

They beat Umina in round 6 by 197 runs.

They defeated Wyong, 2001-2002 grand finalists, in Round 7 by 72 runs, and had a magnificent win in round 8 at Toukley, where they fielded in 45 degree heat.

Toukley made 354 runs, and Woy Woy scored 355 on the second last ball of the 90 overs, an incredible chase spearheaded by Jason Moore with 192 not out.

Round 9 they beat Gosford, Round 10 was a washout, which left Woy Woy on 38 points, with six wins.

Three other teams, Narara, Mountains and Umina on 36 points, were also vying for fourth place, with Woy Woy playing Mountains, and Narara playing Umina.

If Woy Woy won, they were in.

If they lost, it would be a countback between the winners of the other game and Mountains.

Woy Woy won the toss and batted, lost two early wickets and were 2/9.

Like a well-oiled machine, they just kept on batting calmly, and amassed a very impressive 279 off 90 overs.

Jason Moore, Mr. Consistency, scored 89, with support from Quentin Donald, Matt Sowter, David Eddy, Andre Orani, and Pete Graham.

They defended their score on Saturday on the best batting surface that has been produced at Rogers Park all year and methodically bowled out Mountains for 223.

Woy Woy bowled the accomplished Glen Rowlands and Ben Riley out for eight and four respectively.

Excellent bowling was shown by David Eddy, Mick Hall, David Ridley, Mark Austin and Pete Graham.

A sensational stumping by Andre Orani was a memorable moment.

For the regular season, individually Jason Moore stands out.

He scored an incredible 726 runs in 10 innings, nine outs, at an average of 80.7.

Jason was well supported by John Jewiss, 220 runs, Pete Graham, 217, Dave Eddy, 191, Mark Austin, 162, with a memorable 112 against Umina, Matt Sowter, 148, Quentin Donald, 147, and Andre Orani, 144.

Pete Graham, 29 wickets, and Mark Austin, 20, were the most consistent bowlers, but Dave Ridley, 13 and Dave Eddy, eight, bowled some magic spells and will get better with experience.

Dave Ridley consistently bowled out the top batsmen in each team, and Mick Hall took seven wickets.

There are only three players who have played in every game so it has been a definite club campaign, with 16 players playing first grade this year.

Janelle Graham, March 10