Page 29 - WPHCCC 2024-2025 Yearbook

Grand Final
Saturday 15th & 16th March 2025
A1 Grade
WPHC (Cam #25) 2nd 7/188 defeated Berowra 184
Welcome readers to the Grand Final match report between the old titanic foes, WPHCCCCCC and Berowra. Let me be the first to say that plenty has been said online (and offline) in this masthead over the past decade – the reach of this dribble has no boundaries. So alas, for the final time with the stroke of my gold and onyx fountain pen, to the cricket we go - this glorious madness.
Day 1
WPHC Vs Berowra 6/171
K "Temu Griff" McBrien met Daggles at Berowra Oval bright eyed and bushy tailed to pull off the covers, the esteemed groundsman informing our fearless leader that a brand new pitch had been prepared for the final game of the season. "It'll do a lot early" he barked. Combined with slight overcast conditions and 38 degree temperatures, that was enough for K to be convinced that bowling first was the right option. What he failed to realise, was that Daggles was about to roll the pitch for a good 45 mins straight, removing any chance for it to "do a lot early". K kept the faith in what Daggles had promised him, he won the toss, and bowled.
K was forced to tamper with the side coming into the GF. Lichaaa was sensationally recalled for the injured Jack Hando, who was unfortunately injured in the Semi vs Hornsby Brown. Meiks was also unavailable for the full weekend, so K turned to Michael Gunn - who had virtually all but given up his dreams of playing finals. His attention firmly diverted to his upcoming soccer season, so much so that he made himself available to play two trial games on Saturday before coming to cricket. The rest of the side remained unchanged.
Despite the apocalyptic warnings from the media on how hot it was going to be for a March weekend, opposition captain Fiedler (Will, not Daniel) decided to enforce an MCC rule on substitute fielders. I wasn't aware that MCC jurisdictions cascaded to whatever level of park cricket we play, but his quotation of the exact by-law and paragraph bamboozled the umpires and K. It was decided that no subs would be allowed, fielders would need to sweat in the heat. Assman was told to dress in his whites, not realising he wouldn't be required to field for the first few sessions.