Sutherland wins 4th Grade Premiership 2011-12
Sutherland District Cricket Club | April 19, 2025
Insets: Addison Grinham, Sam Newman, Mark Rice, Josh Zywietz.
Back row: Ryan Chivers, Hayden Smith, Pat Burns, Michael Kelly, Scott Dawes, Trent Smith.
Front row: David Mifsud, Jarryd Biviano, Chris Macnamara (Captain), Nick McCarthy, Liam Casey.
[This is an extract from the 4th Grade team report from the 2011-12 Annual Report]
The success achieved this season in fourth grade was outstanding. There were 35 players used and four different captains. This leads me to thank Matt Manton (2), Josh Zyweitz (7) and Ryan Chivers (2) for their efforts as captain for the first 12 rounds (one wash out).
Thanks to their efforts, I inherited a team well placed (2nd) for a finals assault. As a side we definitely played our best cricket during the finals, with both bat and ball. Most importantly we won the big moments. During the finals, we lost wickets the over before lunch, straight after the breaks, dropped catches that cost us runs. However when it counted, we won the moments.
At the end of the season this was a serious cricket side. Everyone knew their role and everyone contributed but most importantly everyone enjoyed each other’s success. The team came first. This will be so important for our club in the future.
At the start of the year, I saw some very talented batters and bowlers – half way through finals time some very good cricketers. There is a difference between being able to bat, bowl and field and being able to play cricket!
Liam Casey
Unfortunately the scorebook doesn’t always tell the full story. The way Liam treated the fourth grade attacks during the last few games showed him to a far superior cricketer to fourth grade. Liam is a great team man, a very good cricketer and one the best fieldsman going around.
David Misfud
Finished the season off magnificently. David has great potential. As a batsmen, he knows his strengths and has the ability and willingness to work on his weaknesses. All fantastic traits and I look forward to watch his progress next season and beyond.
Michael Kelly
By his high standards, he would have mixed feelings about being in fourth grade after spending most of the year in higher grades. His presence was most beneficial nonetheless. He led the team in the field with his energy and body language. I used him as an example to the younger players constantly. His qualifying final and grand final innings showed just how good a player he is. His bowling provided the team with balance and variety.
Hayden Smith
Is a very talented player. He played some valuable innings throughout the finals series and I received many compliments from the opposition about the look of his play. Hayden is a tall and elegant batsmen and very pretty to watch. A handy leg break bowler as well. A premiership in his first season is a fantastic reward.
Jarryd Biviano
Biv is a serious talent. An ever improving gloveman and a dynamic batsman. He played some fantastic innings during the season that really took the game away from the opposition. Only needs to keep working hard and who knows?? A dual premiership player (fourth grade and PGs) is a fantastic achievement for a first year player.
Ryan Chivers
Every side needs a Ryan Chivers. His energy in the field is outstanding. Possibly in career best form with the bat. His batting at the end of the season was of higher grade standard. Small in stature but massive in heart. Is a fantastic cricketer he just knows what to do and when.
Trent Smith
What a season. Just a super talented cricketer and great young man, Trent could be anything! Dual premiership player (fourths and PGs) and nearly had three as he nearly got Green Shield across the line. Bat and ball, he can do it all. Just needs a little patience but that will come. His spell against Gordon was something special.
Nick McCarthy
Nick arrived during the finals. His spell against St George was the quickest of anything seen in the fourth grade competition. They were scared and we were asking who are you and what have you done with Nick. His innings of 30 at better than a run a ball against Northern District in the semi-final took the game away from them and his 2-30 off 15 was equally as telling. The extra pace he found was crucial to our performance. Great potential.
Scott Dawes
It’s always fantastic to play with Dawesy, his bowling in the semi-final and final was crucial. A fantastic first slip who took some valuable catches for us in the finals series.
John Derwent
JD was part of our qualifying final victory vs St George; unfortunately for John he dislocated his knee cap during week after that game and missed the semi- final and final.
Pat Burns
Probably the discovery of the year. A non- trainer, the first I saw of Burnsy was in round 16 vs Randwick Petersham. On a fairly flat Petersham Oval, he had some pretty handy batsmen beaten for pace. Then against St George same, Northern District same and then final the same, he was too quick for them. He took his opportunity and has assured me that he will do the pre- season and come to training next season.
As captain for the majority of the season, Josh Zywietz added the following comments:
• Round 5 vs Gordon was an amazing game and really set the tone for the rest of the season. A second coin toss resulted with Sutherland being sent in on a wet deck. The following transpired: 1/0, 2/4, 3/11, 4/15, 5/15, 6/15, 7/15 & 8/17 – beyond embarrassing. We had no hope of recovery with 9 and 10 into bat! However my plan was to protect the young guns, Smith and Newman, they both managed 30 odd each to put Sutherland on a less than respectable 87. Bowling after lunch, the pitch had dried and Gordon were cruising to the total of 87 (2/39, 4/51). They reached 5/79 needing 9 runs to win. On comes T.Smith to claim the next five wickets, winning the game for the Sharkies, I also want to add at 9/83, T.Smith decides to bowl two consecutive wides to put them within a run of our total then the very next ball nicks the number 11 out!!!
• There was no doubt the fourth grade team had the potential to win the competition at the start of the year with young emerging players destined to play higher grades starting their season in fourth grade. The team had the players, it was now about performing on the field. It wasn’t long before the fourth grade team from round one had three players already playing several games in second grade, congratulations to Jamie, Whatley and Biv on their performances to achieve great personal goals and I have no doubt they will have many more successes in the future.
• The strength of the club meant no matter who we had in the team, we knew each week we would be competitive and have a great chance of winning. The winning culture continued to see the fourth grade team sit nicely, 2nd on the table. This was evident against Gordon round 5, being 8/17 batting first to come away with 6 points – a simply amazing victory! The attitude and commitment the team showed to win that game started the foundations for a successful year and built confidence to perform under pressure.
A lot of the team’s success can be attributed to Josh. He set the standard as a player with both bat and ball, forcing Aaron to pick him in third grade.
CHRIS MACNAMARA
