Around the Grounds
The weekend was highlighted by some brilliant individual performances from all the grades.
Seconds smashed Nambour on the back of a brilliant all-round bowling performance headlined by 4/10 from Tyron De Kauwe and clinical batting from young gun Joe Murray (53*), unfortunately still narrowly missing out on finals due to other results not going our way.
Third Grade was clinical with the ball (if not in the field) and brutal with the bat to defeat Maroochydore with Jeremy Holland (48) and Max Cooper (43*) breaking the back of the chase. The Sixth-grade team won comprehensively off the back a superb batting innings with multiple players standing up. However, Bailey Hozier (69* of 32) stole the show before the bowlers, lead by Toby Hunting (5/15) demolished the opposition batting line up. The Juniors played well with standout performances from Lewis (62*), Ben Blackwell (45) and Phoenix Mackenzie (37*).
Second Grade
As rain disrupted play across the coast, Read Park provided a rare dry venue for Noosa’s Second Grade to complete their final one-day match of the season against Nambour. With a spot in the finals on the line, Noosa needed a win and a helping hand from Coolum in their game against Caboolture.
Losing the toss, Noosa bowled first and delivered a disciplined performance. Tyron De Kauwe led the charge with a brilliant 4/10 from his 8 overs, supported by Finn Mayo (2/9) and Riley Woolmer (2/36). Nambour struggled to 7/45 before playing defensively with the hope of rain, eventually folding for 96 in 36 overs.
In response, Noosa openers Blake Steel and Josh Peters set a steady pace before Steel fell cheaply. Joe Murray (53* off 54) and Peters (29* off 40) then combined for a composed partnership, chasing down the target in just 17 overs. The emphatic 9-wicket win with double bonus points showed the team’s quality, but Coolum’s narrow loss to Caboolture unfortunately dashes their finals hopes. A disappointing end to the one-day season after building some serious momentum but Second Grade now sets their sights on the two-day format.
Third Grade
After week one of their two-day match was washed out, Third Grade turned it into a one-day contest against Maroochydore. Bowling first, Noosa’s attack struck early and restricted the opposition to 2/46 after 20 overs. However, fielding lapses, including dropped catches, allowed Maroochydore to recover and post 152. Veteran Rowdy bowled with precision, taking 2/20, while Rory R provided solid support with 1/12.
The chase saw Jeremy Holland play a commanding knock of 48 off 40 balls, supported by Rory R’s steady contribution. When Holland fell, Max Cooper took charge with an unbeaten 43, quelling doubts about his ability to convert starts. Noosa cruised to victory in the 28th over, completing back-to-back wins and showcasing a much-improved batting effort.
Sixth Grade
Sixth Grade ended their one-day regular season with a dominant performance against USC at Mat Thornhill. After being sent in to bat, the team put together a commanding total of 7/267. Bailey Hozier stole the show with a blistering 69* off 32 balls, including an unforgettable final over that yielded 31 runs. Contributions also came from Nick Withers (39) and Richard Lee (36).
The bowlers capitalised on the substantial total, with Toby Hunting leading the attack. He delivered a career-best performance, taking 5/15 in 6.1 overs. USC, despite 67 from one of their batters, was bowled out for 143. The result secured Noosa’s place in the semi-finals and highlighted the growing confidence of this young squad.
U17 Noosa District
Rain forced the Noosa U17 match to be reduced to a one-day format. Winning the toss, Noosa batted first and reached 9/155, with opener Ben Blackwell anchoring the innings with a solid 45. A late surge from Phoenix McKenzie (37* off 24) and Jackson Holland helped Noosa recover from 8/104 to post a competitive total.
Yandina’s chase started poorly, with Rory Ramsden and Riley Woolmer striking early. However, inconsistent bowling allowed their middle order to fight back with a partnership exceeding 100 runs. Despite the pressure, Noosa’s bowlers held firm, restricting Yandina to 7/137. Blackwell starred with the ball too, claiming 3 wickets, as Noosa maintained their unbeaten record this season.
U13A & U13B
• U13A: Noosa’s U13A team produced an exceptional all-round performance against Nambour. Bowling first, they restricted the opposition to 130, with West and Brody leading the attack. In reply, Lewis dominated with a composed 62*, supported by Perry (39) and Brody (28*). Noosa’s batting display sealed a comfortable 3/180 win.
• U13B: A gutsy recovery from 5/10 to post 84 was a highlight for the young Noosa side. Hugo (23), Henry B (19), and Luca (12) led the fightback, with sharp bowling and fielding keeping Coolum to 111 in 28 overs. Standouts included Bailey, Jahleice and Stella, who all delivered disciplined spells.
