Harry Simons has achieved the rare feat of bowling a double Hat Trick or what is known as 4 wickets in 4 deliveries.
The Coota Times spoke with Harry’s father Mick who was on hand to watch the match.
“We watched the whole game. He bowled five overs, three maidens, four wickets for two runs.
“He took the first three wickets at the end of his third over and the next one was at the start of his fourth over. Harry was chuffed with the haul and is showing plenty of potential.
“He is a quick bowler and it’s only his third year of cricket and he turned 14 on 27th December.
“It has been a big step up for him playing in the B Grade men’s. We’ve had a lot of support from older players and his other teammates as well. He’s in a good place.
“We were a bit sceptical about him playing B Grade but they’ve helped him along really well.
“They play Murringo in Young on Saturday in the first semi final. There’s not many people that have taken four wickets in a row and it’s a bit of an anomaly.
“We spoke to Pat Keiran about it the other day and Harry doesn’t understand how rare it is and what it means as he’s only young and learning and the older guys playing cricket are pretty excited for him. It’s a very rare feat.”
Mick detailed how it all went down. “The first batsman was caught at short mid on, the next one was an LBW and the next two were both bowled.”
Harry goes to the Sacred Heart school in Cootamundra and is in Year 9.
“There’s a lot of talk about him playing Hedditch Cup down the track, some of the guys are pretty excited to see him get to an older age of 17 or 18 as he’s still growing.
“Hopefully he sticks with it and has a big future with Coota cricket. Harry has had a big year. He won Cootamundra Sportsperson of the Year award, which was given on Australia Day. Last year he did well with his cricket, and also his soccer and the family did a fair bit of travelling with him, something they will be doing again.
“We are proud to see him succeed.”
Able to swing the willow well, he is finding his feet in B Grade, but back in his own age he is excelling.
“He can bat when sets his mind to it. He hasn’t had much success in the B Grade men’s. He’s been batting down the lower order a fair bit, but in the 16s he’s scored a 46 and a 32. He’s not too bad with the bat.”
Cootamundra Bulls 1st Grade win Nailbiter Against Temora on Saturday
The Cootamundra Bulls 1st grade side have just scraped home on Saturday defeating Temora at Albert Park by 2 wickets.
Temora won the toss and elected to bat first with Joel Pearson and a surprise opening bowling choice of Oscar Roberts to take the new ball for the Bulls. It was the Left arm pace of Roberts that struck the first blow, having Brady Oliver trapped in front for 2 in his 2nd over. Pearson wasn’t far away from the action having number 3 Will Reinhold caught at mid on by Oscar Roberts.
Roberts then got into his work getting key bat Matthew Gillard out soon after with a sharp catch down the leg side, well taken by keeper Nick Louttit.
Oscar then clean bowled Josh Gillard with a peach of a delivery they jagged back in a foot to take the batsman off stump and have the Bulls right on top.
Matthew Brown and Captain Josh Purtell would chip in after Temora fought back through the middle overs, Brown finishing with 2-19 from 5 overs and Purtell 1-31 off 8.
Roberts and Pearson were brought back into the attack to mop up the tail, Pearson finishing with very tidy figures with 2-17 off 8 overs and Oscar Roberts being the pick of the bowlers finishing with great figures of 4-16 off 7 overs.
Temora would be bowled out in the 26th over for 90. William Oliver top scored with 46 valuable runs.
Nick Louttit and Joey Pall were chosen to open the batting and went about their work on a tricky wicket with pure class as they worked the ball to both sides of the wicket.
Nick Louttit becoming a mainstay at the top of the innings for the Bulls who once again got the team away to a sound start scoring 21.
Joey Pall would top score with 26.
The Bulls lost four quick wickets through the middle of their innings to look in real trouble of falling short of the 90 runs needed for victory.
It was when Matthew Brown and John Stephens joined each other at the crease for the 9th wicket where they both showed patience and experience to get the team over the line with a 15-run partnership.
Brown finishing a solid game remaining 17 not out and Stephens finishing 7 not out.
Talking to Bulls captain Josh Purtell, he believes the team must fix up their batting over the coming weeks before the grand final.
“Our bowlers have been very good this year and we have defended some modest totals but its time now for a few of us to really put our heads down and make sure we are building partnerships with the bat and getting a better total”
“It’s been tough this year for everyone to really get into rhythm with the bat, but we have 3 weeks off now and we wont just be sitting back, we will be in the nets and having centre wicket practice to sort this out.”
Purtell has praised Oscar Roberts for his bowling efforts on Saturday.
“Occy (Oscar Roberts) has bowled spin all year but every now and then he will bowl pace in the nets and that left arm, different angle, it worked for us on Saturday”
“He is mature above his years, just went about the job at hand and not too many people would be able to do the things he does”
“He and Joely Pearson did well opening the bowling on Saturday and now I have the headache of how I’m going to go about it in the Grand Final, but it’s a good headache to have this time of year”
The win has ensured that the Bulls remain undefeated for the season as they now have three weeks off before the grand final on the 15th of March at Albert Park.
They will play the winner out of the Temora V Stockinbingal game.
Cootamundra Bulls 3rd Grade win last game of season to finish fourth and earn place in finals series
The Cootamundra Bulls 3rd grade have won their final game of the season to earn their place in the final’s series in their first season. The Cootamundra Times caught up with Captain Mark Elia to get his thoughts on the season.
“It was our first year with this side as I thought there was a good opening for a 3rd side to come in. It was a bit of a throw together side to start with being first year, but we started really well, we won our first game, and it was away!
“We had a good start to the season for a team that was their first year together.
“Unfortunately, I was away overseas for a month there before Christmas but guys like Phil Gay, Tony Reece and David Alexander really settled the ship to make sure we stayed competitive.
“Phil has captained half the year with me being away and now injured and he is our main batsman, had a good year and is in form at the right time of the year for this weekend.
“Tony Reece, Aaron Lewis have been good with the ball all year and they have bowled good areas, they bowl a good finals line and length for us.
“We have brought through a few younger guys in Josh Ismay and Kyle Lewis who have learnt a lot and will be better for the year.
The Bulls have had a great last two weeks on the pitch, winning two very close games and that has earned them the fourth spot and a place in finals.
“It’s a good reward for the side who has just stuck at it all year and we get another game of cricket together now and we just have found a way to win the last two weeks, so we are really looking forward to Saturday.
“Tom Damschke has been a late bloomer for us, an X factor type of player who can hit a clean ball and he won us the game on the weekend with his bowling taking 4-10 in the last few overs,” Elia said.
The Bulls will take on Temora Shamrock away at Nixon Park in Temora this Saturday and Elia said there is a good feel around the side now.
“We have spoken about getting our defence in order first with the bat and the big shot will come later so we are hoping to bat for 40 overs on Saturday.”
The first ball is at Nixon Park Temora this Saturday at 1:30pm.
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