Kookaburras Prepare To Enter The Lions' Den

Newcastle Herald

Thursday March 22, 2007

Neil Goffet - The leading edge

SATURDAY'S district cricket semi-final between Toronto Workers and Merewether will be the biggest David and Goliath battle seen in Newcastle cricket for more than 20 years.

No team in that time has has come from the depths of despair that Toronto formerly Southern Lakes were in to make the semi-finals.

The Kookaburras finished last five years in a row heading into this season, but the arrival of former Sydney batsman Paul Toole, the coming of age of skipper Matthew Hancock and the emergence of several young players has changed the landscape.

Toole and Hancock broke club records on their way to steering the new-look Toronto club into equal fourth, level on points with last season's premiers, Charlestown, and into the play-offs after finishing ahead of them on quotient.

Hancock accepts his team have exceeded their own expectations by making the final four.

He is also aware of the size of the task that confronts them this weekend.

"We haven't beaten Merewether for about seven years, and they beat us outright this season," Hancock said.

"There is no doubt we are rank outsiders, but that is the way we like it.

"We've exceeded everyone's expectations and even our own expectations, to be fair but we've got nothing to lose from here.

"We're only one game away from playing in a first-grade final, so we will be giving it our best shot."

In contrast to the plight of the Kookaburras, this will be the ninth consecutive season Merewether have played in the semi-finals, and they have three minor premierships and two major titles to their credit.

The Lions have been beaten in their past two semi-final matches, by eventual champions Charlestown last year and beaten finalists Wallsend the season before.

Unlike Toronto, there have been no record-breaking feats in the Merewether side this season, but the performances of Michael Varnum (batting) and Michael Hogan (bowling) have been award winning.

Varnum will win the Jimmy Dickinson Memorial Trophy for the best first-grade batting average with 609 runs at an average of 87.57 to beat Belmont's Mark Littlewood, who scored 906 at 64.71.

Hogan will win the H. Heath Trophy for best first-grade bowling average after taking 40 wickets at 10.30 to beat Hamilton-Wickham captain Darren Herbert, who took 34 at 11.50.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home