Charles leads charge to grand final

The semi-final played at Kingsway last weekend was a dour affair.

Wanneroo won the toss, batted first and at 4-56 looked in trouble before John Rogers contributed 56 to the cause and then Joel Charles entered the fray with typical determination and top-scored with 85.

Gary Atkinson held the tail up with 36.

With 239 on the board, Wanneroo felt it had the goods to defend the score.

Subiaco Floreat was 4-64 at stumps on day one, with the Wanneroo players confident they were putting enough pressure on the visitors to have them in trouble on the Sunday.

Jack Catterall had two wickets, as did captain Chris Quelch.

On Sunday, Catterall picked up another three wickets while Quelch took another. Gary Atkinson and Matthew Dzodos chipped in with a wicket each to see Subiaco Floreat succumb for 195.

Wanneroo will go into the grand final clearly the underdog, as it was in 2011-12 when the club made its first, and ultimately successful, grand final appearance.

Claremont-Nedlands, the competition’s minor premier, defeated Melville in the other semi-final, dismissing the side for 142 after scoring 214.

The Tigers boast state experienced players such as Travis Birt, Wesley Robinson and Tim MacDonald.

Robinson and spinner Haydn Morton are both Wanneroo products who will no doubt wish to produce their best in the match.

For Wanneroo, John Rogers has interstate experience, while Jake Fawcett, Christian Smith and Catterall have played in the second-tier Futures League for WA.

The grand final will be fought out over Saturday and Sunday and members and supporters are urged to attend and lend their support.

Fourth grade lost outright to Joondalup after its minor premiership win.

Wanneroo could only manage innings of 124 and 100 while Joondalup posted 137 and 4-88.

While disappointed with the result, Wanneroo took heart from the performance of Tim Adrichem who took 8-40 in Joondalup’s first innings.

Aiden Fawcett produced a fighting 40 in the second innings.