Emu Draft Colts Final: Willeton v Midland Guildford

Willeton took on the much fancied Midland-Guildford in the Emu Draft Colts Final played at the lower Hillcrest reserve in Bayswater (a suburb of the Western Australian capital - Perth.)

Willeton won the toss and elected to bat first. They took 126 minutes to be all out for a mere 93 runs inside 40 overs, with top scorer being Shawn Marsh 29.

A procession of 7 wickets for the concession of 20 runs for Peter Worthington broke the back of the Willeton side and set up Midland Guildford for what proved to be an easy victory.

Right hand Willeton opener Schupp hooked Midland-Guildford's Sanders in the third over but two overs later was caught short of his ground run out by Walters for 4.

Lavender (11) struggled to get started being given a life on 1 when he was dropped by MG keeper Ingram. Lavender punished the mistake with 10 runs in a partnership of 28 with Marsh until Ingram made up for his earlier mistake snaffling up an edge off Worthington.

Watters held up one end for Marsh as he began to flay the attack but was out without scoring trapped leg before wicket to Worthington.

Marsh was in good touch early hitting out at Sanders edging four fine and then cover driving another in consecutive balls. He went for 29 after nicking one through to the keeper off Worthington.

Kalleske got a thick edge that carried to second slipper Corcoran and was out for a duck having faced 3 balls. This gave Worthington his fourth wicket. His fifth wicket was Stacey who made 2 before being caught at first slip by MG captain Chris Pivac. Saunders went for a duck giving Ingram his third catch for the day and Worthington his sixth wicket.

All through this calamity of wickets stood Silvey who had come in at the fall of Watters wicket. He survived four of five partnerships compiling a steady 11 runs. He impressed me greatly - good footwork and clear calling he eked his tally unflinchingly whilst observing the wreck that was happening at the other end. He was most unfortunately out when Roper having had the ball hit back to him by Langley, executed a superb backhanded flick onto the stumps finding Silvey out of his ground and therefore run out.

Langley was joined by Foster who quickly departed having belted a four over the slow Hillcrest outfield from his only scoring shot. He became Worthington's seventh wicket when 2 balls later he hit a sharp catch to Hankin fielding in the in-field.

Langley was the last to go for 15 (the second highest score for Willeton) when in the thirty ninth over he gave "Chooky" Corcoran his second catch at second slip off the bowling off right arm off spinner Roper.

Coach Kim Hagdorn took the Willeton boys in to the change rooms with 10 minutes to go before the resumption of play after lunch after some serious fielding workout in the minutes before. Indeed the Midland-Guildford openers (Roper and Corcoran) preceded Hagdorn's charges onto the playing area by a good couple of minutes. Both batsmen and the two umpires (Craig Allen and Bruce Bennett) were at the wicket when a compact group of very determined Willeton players emerged onto the field.

In reaching the target of 94 Midland-Guildford lost only 3 wickets in 80 minutes of play. During this time Willeton threw all they had at them. Willeton used 7 bowlers of which only two were successful.

In the seventh over with the score already at 28 Roper (20) was run out by Foster having called his team mate "Chooky" Corcoran through for a second run.

Marsh claimed the wicket of Walters trapping him in front leg before wickets for 14. Then "Chooky" went for an effervescent 34 when he edged through to the keeper Kalleske off the bowling of Foster.

MG captain Pivac was already on 14 runs (including a six caught over the boundary by Stacey) when Corcoran departed and he took up the cudgel for a total of 22 runs. Meanwhile 'player of the day' Worthington unselfishly ran a single where a second may have easily been taken giving strike to his captain for the winning run.

The Midland-Guildford team assembled in their change rooms and heartily beat out the strains of the club anthem, whilst parents, siblings, family, friends and bemused onlookers (like yours truly) waited patiently for the presentations.

In his summing up of the days event WACA official David Clear made reference to the fact that Midland-Guildford were the only club so far in the history of the Association to win the unique limited overs competition double - BankWest Cup and Emu Draft Colts trophy's in the same season.

Emu Draft donated a carton of beer to both teams for refreshment after, whereupon presentation it was pointed out that the entire Willeton team was not legally of age to accept such booty. The team officials quickly stepped in to take custodianship of that prize.

Some very famous parents and relatives and some club champions and Western Warriors came down to cheer on their teams.

Former Australian Coach Geoff Marsh was there to cheer on son Shawn (playing for Willeton). Umpire Terry Prue also (J.Prue Willeton). The cousin of former Western Australian opener Mark Lavender S.Lavender was playing for Willeton. Chris Pivac the son of Midland-Guildford stalwart Tom Pivac - is the captain of the Midland Guildford side. And amongst the 100 strong crowd were the Western Warriors acting Captain Simon Katich and bowler Jo Angel - both supporting Midland Guildford.