The last two weeks have been packed with some fantastic cricket from Tewantin.
First Grade
First Grade Home against Caboolture
First Grade entered the weekend with a reshuffled line-up, assume senior players were away on representative duties. The change opened the door for young Reilly Carroll, proudly making his First-Grade debut. Tewantin-Noosa began strongly through Ben (31) and Joe Murray (41), who set a positive tone and helped the side reach 2/140 after 28 overs. Despite several promising starts, fill in skipper Jarrod Officer looking in fine form (53) the Thunder couldn’t convert the platform into a truly imposing total and finished with 238, a score that felt below par given the early momentum. In reply Caboolture showed how to go on with a start 155 not out from Glen Batticiotto making light work of the chase. Ben Giddy and Josh Gittins bowled with discipline but ultimately wasn’t enough.
T20 FINALS
First Grade’s T20 finals campaign was an interesting one to say the least. A severe storm swept across the ground before the semi-final, forcing the match to be reduced to a 5-over contest. Tewantin-Noosa handled the pressure superbly, restricting Gympie to 39, then chasing the target inside 3 overs with Cody Pyne whacking them everywhere. The Grand Final, however, unfolded differently. One of Maroochydore’s big hitters took full advantage of the small boundary, producing a remarkable century that lifted the total to 189. The Thunder bowlers held firm in the closing overs to prevent an even larger score but it was going to take something special. The chase never found its rhythm after a couple of early wickets, and Tewantin-Noosa ultimately fell short. While the defeat was disappointing, it was an impressive effort to reach finals at all with the Thunder having to win their final four T20 matches to qualify for finals.
First Grade Away against Nambour
Tewantin-Noosa produced one of their most energised and enjoyable performances of the season against Nambour, even with both frontline fast bowlers unavailable. Mike “Rowdy” Thomson, returning to First Grade, delivered an incredible performance, taking 3/20 and setting the tone early. Spinners Josh Gittins and Michael Eckard then applied consistent pressure throughout, often beating the bat and keeping Nambour on the back foot. The young brigade then stepped into the spotlight. Rory Ramsden delivered a breakout spell, claiming 3/5 from 2.2 overs and even creating a hat-trick opportunity. Joe Murray continued his outstanding season with the ball this time, taking 4/32 from 10 overs. The fielding effort was near-perfect, with every chance taken cleanly. Nambour were dismissed for 118, and the mood lifted even further in the chase as Mick Eckard (70*) and Samadhi Baker (36*) played freely, racing to the target in the 12th over without loss. A complete team performance and one that reflects the growing belief within the group.
Second Grade
Second Grade Home against Caboolture
Second Grade endured a dramatic day with storms, lightning delays, and tight pressure moments. After losing the toss, Tewantin-Noosa were given only 10 overs to bat, before rain intervened and the game was revised. Going from 1-13 after 10 overs to a defendable score was going to be difficult made even more so with some unfortunate run-outs. Levi Towart lifted the tempo with a clean strike for his first six of the season and skipper Matt scored a rapid 22 to close on 91. Despite the condensed format, TNCC pushed the Snakes all the way. Levi struck in the first over, Jayke Carlile followed up with a wicket on debut, and the middle-overs pairing of Jason Toohey and Aedan Mayo bowled with terrific discipline. A key turning point came when the Snakes’ set batter retired hurt with a hamstring issue, shifting momentum firmly toward Tewantin-Noosa. With 20 needed off the final four overs, the Thunder continued fighting. Adam Graves, after removing the keeping gear, claimed a vital wicket, and the skipper struck with his first ball from the other end. Despite taking the match to the final moments, Caboolture passed the target with two balls remaining. An impressive performance considering the circumstances. .
Second Grade Away against Palmwoods
A challenging wicket greeted the Thunder after losing the toss, and early movement saw Ben Blackwell, Zak Woolmer, and Adam Curry fall quickly, leaving the side at 3/11. Rory Ramsden (33) stood tall, showing patience and class in a 46-run partnership that stabilised the innings. Once that stand was broken, wickets continued to fall, although Cooper Maloney and Rowdy Thomson added valuable late runs. Rowdy once again demonstrated his evergreen touch, hitting three consecutive boundaries to lift the score to 102. Tewantin-Noosa bowled with purpose, with Levi striking in the first over for the second time in as many matches. Ben Woolmer broke a 61-run stand to keep TNCC in the contest, and the fielding remained committed throughout. Ultimately, Palmwoods passed the score with two wickets down, but the Thunder took heart from their tight bowling and improved discipline.
Third Grade
Third Grade Day Nighter away against Cooroy
Despite driving through heavy storms, the Thunder arrived to find the pitch playable after a short delay, leading to a 36-over match. The bowlers thrived on a sticky wicket, with Brian (3 wickets) leading the way and Matt, Cooper, and Naveen each contributing a breakthrough. Debutant Bodhi impressed with his accuracy and composure, while the fielding was sharp in difficult, muggy conditions. Cooroy finished with 225, and a lightning delay then adjusted Tewantin-Noosa’s chase to 182 from 29 overs. TNCC fought hard, with contributions throughout the order Nick Withers top scoring with 33 not out, but regular wickets prevented a late surge. Overall, a great effort from a side featuring many Sixth Grade regulars.
Third Grade Home against Palmwoods
With regular captain David Baker unavailable, Jayke Carlile stepped up to lead a very young and eager Third Grade side. He handled the responsibility with maturity and presence. Oscar Rose, returning from a broken finger, bowled with real pace and lift, troubling the Palmwoods batters and earning a deserved wicket. Tom Longhurst also bowled with excellent rhythm, claiming a dismissal via a sharp catch from stand-in keeper Aedan Mayo. The Thunder took several excellent catches, particularly from Nate Watson and Bailey Hozier, but Palmwoods finished strongly and posted around 296. With the bat, Morgan Avery blended patience and power, Lewis Ramsden played a crisp early shot before falling to a sharp caught-and-bowled, and Brendan Wright top-scored with a stylish 32. Bailey added a punchy 21, but the difficult wicket and slower bowlers eventually halted the Thunder’s progress. Despite the margin, the match provided valuable learning opportunities for the young group, who showed commitment and enthusiasm throughout.
