C2’s well what else can we do and what else can be said! We played the perfect season, took out the Minor Premiership, and topped it of by winning and becoming the 2006/07 Premiers! Manly Breakers 1st Premiership team!

The title “Premiers” doesn’t really lend credit, display, note or lighten the challenges that we as a team really faced this year. When we were told that we had gone from C1’s where we finished second last in the previous season, down to C2’s for this season I know that we were not impressed! When we were informed that we would play a cricket team that contained players ranging in age from 13 years to 16 years, we were not impressed! What we didn’t realize as we all scoffed about 50’s that would be scored with ease, wickets for the picking and hope of an easy title, is that not one of the teams we were to play would allow us to do that!

At times early in the season our opposition did lack depth in ability and we proved far too strong for them to obtain the victory! We ourselves became our own worst enemy, used to playing a particular style of cricket against measured opponents and we were forced to adjust or risk self destructing into defeat. Team management was another challenge that also threatened to provide an obstacle on our pathway for success or derail us completely. But through it all we overcame each challenge before us, we adjusted and grew as players and achieved the ultimate goal of winning the C2 Premiership!

Some of the summary highlights for the season a part from winning 16 games from 17 matches and drawing one courtesy of Mr. Rain are as follows:
Bill Serong: Scoring 680 runs with an average of 56.67 (includes the finals), taking 14 catches to help win the matches and his on field support to the team and myself.
David Lang: The smiling assassin is back, taking 29 wickets at an average of 6.97! Dave also delivered on the batting this season providing the opposition a “Thorn” to their bowling attack!
Anthony Ball: He is back with the Breakers and wasted no time to find his feel with the bat to blaze 379 runs for the season!
Nathan Peterson: Nate missed a year with a shoulder injury. His return is marked with 445 runs off the bat and 38 wickets at an average of 10.55! Nathan hit his straps with the bat about mid-season and was blistering at times leaving us all in awe!
Dwayne Thomson: Thomo played pretty much a whole season and took 30 wickets at a handy average of 11.33!
Stuart Hill: Stu scored his maiden century (104) this season in a match against Harbord Bowling club. His partner at the crease was Bill Serong (106) and they both played an amazing innings! In the field Stuart was everywhere the ball was and most of us got tired by just watching him buzz around the field chasing the ball!
Mark Hill: I had my most successful season with the ball picking up 46 wickets at an average of 12.98! Captained the team to the Minor Premiership and Premiership of 2006/07
Justin Barbaroux: JB had another great season with the bat, scoring 363 runs and an average of 24.20! Justin took a few wickets this year, some good catches and provided fantastic support and leadership as Vice Captain.
Wayne McDougall: Wayne’s first season with the Breakers and he has established himself as a player who can win you a match with the bat and rattle the opposition with his free flowing shots to the boundary! Wayne scored 365 runs, 4 x 50’s with a top score of 79!
All the members of the team which include Rob Spit, Dave Richardson, Matt Gale, Jeff Monin, Wayne Gormley and Mark Mullineaux had a good season either with the bat or ball and in some cases both!
The most improved player of the season was without a doubt Stuart Hill! He scored 171 runs with the bat with an average of 24.43, took 5 wickets for 122 runs at an average of 24.40 and grabbed 7 catches! Well done Stuart!
I will also thank Brad Voss who filled in for 5 games this year! Vossy hopefully you will one day soon make a permanent return!
My son Josh Hill who filled in to field for us and took his first catch for the club! Thank you.

As I mentioned previously we had many challenges, plenty of highlights and took the spoils of victory in a very successful season for the C2’s and the Manly Breakers Cricket Club! Good luck next year fellas and I trust that this is but the first of more premierships to come!

Mark Hill
C2 Captain

C2 Season Highlights Best Performances Best Batting Average Bill Serong (63.40) Highest Score Rob Lavery (157 - MBCC Club record) Highest Run Aggregate Bill Serong (634- MBCC Club Record) Centuries Rob Lavery 157 v Wakehurst Redbacks C.C. (Rd 3) 07 October 2006 Bill Serong 134 v Harbord Diggers C.C. (Rd 5) 04 November 2006 Stuart Hill 104 v Harbord Bowling C.C. (Rd 14) 17 February 2007 Bill Serong 106 v Harbord Bowling C.C. (Rd 14) 17 February 2007 Best Bowling Average David Lang (6.97) Best Bowling Figures David Lang (6-27) Most Wickets Mark Hill (39) Most Catches Bill Serong (12) Captain's Award - Most Improved Stuart Hill Players' Player Award Bill Serong Team Performances Highest Score 340/7 v Harbord Bowling Club C.C. Rd 14 17/02/2007 at Millers No. 2, Manly Vale Catches 87 Best Partnership 216 (Stuart Hill & Bill Serong v Harbord Bowling Club C.C. Rd 14, 17/02/2007) Final Points for Players' Player 2006/07 : C2 Grade Bill Serong (18), Nathan Peterson (12), Justin Barbaroux (9), Stuart Hill (7), Anthony Ball (6), Wayne McDougall (6), Dwayne Thomson (6), Wayne Gormley (5), Mark Hill (5), David Lang (5), Rob Lavery (3), Jeff Monin (2.5), Rob Spit (2), Brad Voss (2), David Richardson (1.5), Matt Gale (1), Mark Mullineaux (1)