By Matt Cleary
Manly Warringah District Cricket Club is the big dog of cricket on the northern beaches. The Premier League club is a semi-professional outfit which produces players for state, country and international T20 franchises.
If you play first grade for MWDCC, you are a serious cricketer.
Yet the big dog has a fine partner in feeder club and "little brother", Warringah CC, for whom thirteen of Manly's 15-man Green Shield U/16s representative squad have played.
For WCC President Brad Lewis, everyone's a winner.
"We’re one big family," says Lewis. "The pathways, juniors, reps, the MWCA comp, we're all northern beaches cricket. We all work together. We'll work for things like facility upgrades. Bottom line is we're all about producing the best cricketers we can."
Warringah fields four grades in Sydney Shires competition. They’ll play Lindfield, Epping, Balmain, Rouse Hill. Furthest afield would be Southern Districts in Liverpool. There’s a fifth grade that plays Metropolitan Cup and travel to Hawkesbury, Sutherland, Randwick.
Lewis says WCC is home to many ex-grade cricketers “playing back” in Shires. And any young guys with aspirations to Premier League and beyond mostly come through Warringah.
“Manly handpick guys depending on injuries or players going up to state level,” says Lewis. “There’ll be guys being shifted around. And it can take some juggling.
"But ultimately it helps us both. We get good players coming back, or our young guys get experience playing up.
"Win win."
Warringah CC would like to acknowledge sponsor, Gur Taj Indian Restaurant in Collaroy
MWDCC President Andrew Fraser says his club setup a Pathway program twelve years ago targeting kids from U/10s all the way to first grade.
“Soon as they’re any good, aged 13,14, 15, they’ll go into our pathway system which is Shires cricket with Warringah. And they’ll play against men before progressing to grade cricket 14, 15, 16.
“We try to fast-track the good ones to play against men at that young age.
“It’s been working well.”
Lewis estimates that "three quarters" of Manly's playing group have come through Warringah CC.
"And obviously most of the Green Shield team," he adds. "There’s guys in that team who’ve scored hundreds for us. And for Manly. There’s guys performing against men. They should excel in Green Shield.”
Josh Cooper shared in a 213-run stand with Warringah team-mate Paul Chapman in Warringah 4th grade, following 150 in fifths. After a 70 for thirds, big brother came calling.
Manly's Green Shield star is captain Joel Davies, whose brother Ollie plays for Sydney Thunder and whose father Kevin captains Warringah fourths. Joel ran himself out for two in his team's 22-run win over Blacktown Mounties at Manly Oval, but effected a crucial run out himself.
In the second round on Sunday Davies showed his class with a steady innings of controlled hitting, remaining unbeaten on 47 in 39 balls as Manly chased down UTS Northern Districts' 7/222 in 46.4 overs.
Star of the day, however, was Josh Cooper (97) who shared a 93-run opening stand with Lachie Johnson (47) and another 93-run stand for the third wicket with Davies.
Cooper is in a purple patch of form. After scores of 34, 5, 5 and 43 for Warringah's fifth grade in Metropolitan Cup, the 15-year-old scored 150 in fifths, 123 in fourths and 70 for thirds in consecutive matches.
And up into Manly's fifth grade he went.
Manly's Green Shield top order got the job done against UTS Northern Districts at Tunks Park, with Lachie Johnson (41), Josh Cooper (97) and Joel Davies (47*) making major contributions in the run chase. All came through Warringah CC.
It's not all about nurturing young cricketers, however, according to Lewis. He says the club recruits older heads to get the best mix of youth and experience.
"Every club’s getting younger and we need the older guys. We try to get guys new to the area. The odd Englishman. Guys like the Davies' boys father, Kevin, who's played grade cricket and is now enjoying giving back as captain of fourths.
"There's leadership roles for younger guys too. We try to provide an opportunity for young guys keen to captain, for instance.
"Our third grade might have 3-4 guys in their 30s or 40s. And the rest teens and guys early 20s."
"It's been working well."
Lewis says the club is consistently top three in the club championships. "And we’re leading it this season. Last year we made the first grade grand final. Lower grades are always in the finals.
"I suppose we are the little brother. But we're very proud of our place in cricket on the peninsula."
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