Sport
Haisman Shield mid-season report | How has your team fared?
As we prepare for a return to cricket in the coming weeks it is important to look back and reflect on what has been an action-packed start to the Haisman Shield season.
We have seen the emphatic rise of Central Park-St Brendan’s, a major surprise in Tatura, the fall of Fortress Nagambie and plenty of other storylines that have kept cricket fans on the edge of their seats.
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We at The News sports desk have decided to look over and grade every team on its performances in the first half of the season.
Central Park-St Brendan’s (First, 6-0)
Coming into season 2021-22 there was no more talked about team than Central Park-St Brendan’s.
After finishing seventh and narrowly missing the finals last season, the brains trust at Deakin Reserve went to work and constructed an incredible recruiting drive that drew the likes of prodigal son Tyler Larkin (on a full-time basis), Andrew Boyington, Dwain Vidler and numerous others to the club.
Dubbed by many as a “super team” on paper, the big question was could it translate that talent into results on the field?
If the first half of the season is anything to go by the answer is a resounding yes, heading into the Christmas break a perfect 6-0.
Led by Larkin at number three, who has scored 236 runs at an average of 59 across his five games this season, the Tigers’ batting line-up has been a force to be reckoned with, consistently putting up totals of 200-plus.
With ball in hand Ramadan Yze has been at his brilliant best, with the evergreen veteran leading the attack brilliantly, taking 13 wickets at an impeccable average of 13.92.
At the halfway mark it appears the stars are beginning to align for Central Park-St Brendan’s with its biggest challenge now being how it deals with the expectations of being premiership favourite.
Mid-season grade: A+
Northerners (Second, 5-1)
The Jets will be pleased with their performances in the opening half of the Haisman Shield season and find themselves four points shy of pacesetter Central Park-St Brendan’s.
After being skittled for 66 in round one against Mooroopna, Steve Allen’s side has not dropped points, surging to second spot thanks to some outstanding displays from the likes of Joel Brett, Nick Breslin and Stuart Turner – who has hit a purple patch with the ball at his new club.
Their crushing defeat to the Cats in round one leaves questions over whether the Jets can stand tall against the competition juggernaut when they face it in the months ahead.
Mid season grade: A
Waaia (Third, 4-0)
It was a disjointed start to the season for Waaia, with poor weather restricting it to 29 overs of cricket in the first fortnight.
However, since then the reigning grand finalist has shown its class, reeling off four consecutive wins to have itself beautifully placed at the halfway point.
It is no secret Waaia’s strength lies in its bowling, restricting every side it has faced to a sub-150 total.
Mitch Cleeland has led the way for the Bombers taking 10 wickets at an average of 10, with his speed and accuracy having all opposition batters shaking in their boots.
Waaia’s batting on the other hand has not been at its best and is an area captain Brayden Carey will certainly be keen to work on as his side looks to solidify itself as one of the top contenders.
Mid-season grade: A-
Mooroopna (Fourth, 4-1)
A third-round loss to Central Park-St Brendan’s left the Cats to ponder whether a successful premiership defence was on the cards, after an unstoppable Tigers outfit defied the odds to tame the Cats’ bowlers and successfully hunt down the 206 target set for it.
However, the men from Mooroopna have silenced all critics to go four from four after their Tigers defeat, with the bowling of Cats coach Luke Zanchetta pivotal to their dominant displays.
The Mooroopna stalwart has been in cherry-ripe form with the Kookaburra, and has had batting support from youngster Ethan Anderson, who has enjoyed some fine form with the blade in his debut season.
Mid-season grade: A-
Kyabram (Fifth, 3-3)
Looking at Kyabram’s batting totals it is remarkable to think it came into the Christmas break with an even record of 3-3.
That speaks to the quality of the teams it has faced, with high-scoring losses to top two teams Central Park-St Brendan’s and Northerners proving how competitive this side is.
It is no secret batting has been this team’s strength, with captain Kyle Mueller leading the way with 328 runs at a whopping average of 65.60.
However, it hasn’t been a one-man band with top order companions Paul Newman, Billy McLay, Charlie McLay and Cade Mueller finding runs in the first six games, with the Redbacks putting up some ridiculous totals of 305, 270 and 231 in those contests.
With ball in hand, the Redbacks have been a bit hit and miss, with the likes of coach Jackson McLay and Connor Hawes still having another gear they can go to in the second half of the season.
When they get it right there is no team more dangerous than the Redbacks, with greater consistency the key in their run to the finals.
Mid-season grade: B+
Old Students (Sixth, 3-3)
The Students’ bowling cartel has been in lethal touch this season, with the likes of pacer Connor Hangan and spin maestro Liam Callegari leading the charge for Gino Saracino’s men, who round out the top six with 23 points to their name.
Their batting has been bolstered by Students’ captain and middle-order mainstay Felix Odell, who has provided 222 runs across his six innings, including two half-centuries.
Defeats at the hands of Central Park, Kyabram and Numurkah mean the Students will have work to do if they hope to remain in finals contention towards the back half of the season.
Mid-season grade: B
Tatura (Seventh, 3-2)
If you had told even the most loyal Tatura supporter his or her side would be three wins, two losses and on the brink of the finals at the Christmas break they would have likely laughed.
But as we gear up for the second half of the season here we are, with the Bulldogs shocking many with their rapid rise up the ladder.
Firstly, breaking a winless drought that spanned more than two years with a win over Karramomus in round one, Tatura has forged a reputation as a giant-killer, with its win on the road against Nagambie in round five showing it has the capacity to compete with the competition’s best.
Bowling has been the strength of this Bulldogs side, with brothers Jayden (15 wickets at 10.80) and Blake Armstrong (17 wickets at 8.76) forming a dangerous opening partnership that has challenged the best batters the Haisman Shield has to offer.
Batting has continued to be a problem for this side, however, with one score of more than 150 showing that this young team still has a lot of growing to do.
Mid-season grade: A
Numurkah (Eighth, 2-3)
Numurkah entered its festive break on the back of a heavy defeat to Mooroopna, leaving the Blues to stew on their topsy-turvy season.
After a comprehensive win over Katandra in round three, Numurkah went down to a firing Jets outfit at Tallygaroopna, before picking up a vital road win against Old Students in round five.
A captain’s knock from Dylan Grandell (76 not out) against Students provided his side with a much-needed boost, and his half-century in a courageous defeat to Central Park the following week also gave the Blues something to smile about.
The Blues will need to find consistency among their top performers if they hope to close the gap on the top six; Grandell, alongside all-rounder Michael Eckard and pacer Matthew Cline, will hope to lead the way with bat and ball.
Mid-season grade: C+
Katandra (Ninth, 2-4)
Nipping at the heels of the Blues is Katandra, which has also found consistent points hard to come by in a highly competitive Haisman Shield season.
Comprehensive victories over Shepparton United and Karramomous have put vital points on the board, but four tough losses have had the Eagles slip to ninth spot.
Despite this, they remain very much in contention and a win away from the top six — a gap they will look to close quickly after the Christmas break.
Eagles all-rounder Jedd Wright has been integral to his side’s scattered success, the all-rounder leaning on his experience to keep the Eagles in the hunt with 12 wickets and 188 runs to his name.
Mid-season grade: C
Nagambie (10th, 2-3)
There has been no bigger disappointment to start the season than reigning minor premier Nagambie.
Beginning with a round one rout at the hands of Kyabram, the Lakers haven’t been able to develop any sort of momentum, with regular batting collapses and leaked runs showing a team way down on confidence.
Nagambie’s first half of the season can be summed up by its shock loss to Tatura, where it failed to defend a total of 95 on its home deck, a ground it hadn’t lost at in more than three years prior.
Luke Nolan has been the standout performer for his side, scoring 168 runs at 42, but a lack of consistent help has meant an inability to consistently reach scores of 150-plus.
Having been given a chance to reset, the Lakers will be hoping they can return to their best in the next few weeks and make a late run at the finals.
Mid-season grade: D-
Euroa (11th, 1-4)
A youthful Magpies outfit has plenty to smile about after the first half of their campaign, despite only managing one win after seven outings.
The Magpies’ sole triumph came in the season’s curtain-raiser, as they toppled a Katandra outfit in a complete performance which left fans and pundits with eyebrows raised.
However, they’ve failed to secure any points since round one despite some courageous performances against competition heavyweights.
Fraser Ellis has provided some consistency with bat and ball on more than one occasion, while Sham Daddallage has also snagged important wickets when called upon.
Mid-season grade: C-
Shepparton United (12th, 0-5)
It has been tough start to the season for this young Shepparton United squad.
Having to wait until round three to take the field due to bad weather, the new-look United team has struggled to gel in its first five games and found itself unable to register a victory.
Despite losing the experience of Dwain Vidler and Rehan Bari, United would have been confident the inclusion of Sri Lankan spin king Mahesh Kodamullage would soften the blow.
Boldly predicting he would take 35-40 wickets for the season, Kodamullage has been slow to get going with the ball taking just six at 27.83, but has shown his worth as an all-rounder striking 163 runs at an average of 32.60.
However, despite its winless record United has shown itself to be competitive against some of the competition’s strongest sides, going down by one wicket to Northerners and giving Waaia all it could in a tight encounter in round three.
With finals more than likely out of the equation, it is important this young team continues to grow and puts some wins on the board heading into next season.
Mid-season grade: D+
Karramomus (13th, 0-6)
It hasn’t been the season that Mitch McGrath or his Bloods outfit would have wanted; they occupy last spot and remain the only other team alongside Shepparton United yet to pick up points this season.
Despite this, a youthful Bloods have shown there will be a lot to like in future seasons, with bouts of brilliance from young bowlers Zane Newbound, Angus Heslin and Lachie Keady keeping Karramomous in contention in many of their showings.
Another boost for the Bloods came in the form of bowler Jason Ibbotson, who made a stunning return in round seven to claim a whopping four Tigers wickets.
A festive break may be just what the doctor ordered for Karra’s batters, as they look to break the proverbial duck and begin to put formidable scores on the board in 2022.