There’s a lot on offer around Macarthur this weekend, including the Wests Tigers hosting the Sharks at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday at 5.30pm in round 5 of the NRL.
On Sunday, the Australian Botanic Garden will be the venue for the annual AnnanROMA wine, food and music festival between 10am and 4pm.
There’s heaps of other activities, but if you are a cricket enthusiast as well as a patriotic local, this weekend also offers the chance to see some of the game’s future stars from the Macarthur region.
The Campbelltown Camden Ghosts first grade team were bundled out of the 2015/16 finals by Penrith. But the champion Ghosts fifth grade side, which boasts up and coming youngsters like Vince Hreszczuk, has made it through to the grand final.
After winning the minor premiership, the young Ghosts stormed into the decider with some positive cricket during the finals series.
Last weekend they disposed of Gordon in the major semi final at Raby Sports Complex, which will also host the big one this Saturday and Sunday against Eastern Suburbs.
And while there’s no doubt this Ghosts fifth grade is a champion team, a couple of its players shone, including Vince Hreszczuk, who made 35 in the first innings and an undefeated 38 in the second dig.
The second standout player for the Ghosts was Michael Strong, who lived up to his name by performing exceptionally well with both the ball and the bat.
Strong claimed four wickets for the loss of just 13 runs, when Gordon, who won the toss and elected to bat, were skittled for 94 runs.
Batting down the order at number eight, Strong made 45 to help the Ghosts to 170 and a healthy first innings lead.
He backed up with the ball in Gordon’s second innings, bagging another four scalps, this time for the loss of 25 runs.
The Ghosts needed 55 runs in the second innings for an outright victory and a chance at lifting the fifth grade premiership trophy, the David Sherwood Cup, last won by Campbelltown Camden in 2009/10.
They will be favourites to win, no doubt, but would love to get some support from local cricket fans.
See you at Raby.
SNAPSHOT
WHAT: Sydney grade cricket fifth grade grand final;
WHO: Campbelltown Camden Ghosts versus Eastern Suburbs;
WHERE: Raby Sports Complex;
WHEN: 10am Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3, 2016.
