26/01/2026
🏏🔥 SHOALHAVEN SMASH – WEEKEND RECAP 🔥🏏
Our boys rocked up to the Shoalhaven Smash with a point to prove — we weren’t there to make up numbers. We were there to make a statement.
SATURDAY – GAME 1 vs Northy Smashers
First game kicked off at 11am. Skipper won the toss and, wanting to see what the pitch was doing early, sent them in to bat — a masterstroke.
We bowled Northy Smashers out for just 117 in 17.4 overs with disciplined bowling and relentless pressure.
Bowling figures:
• Jayden Hibberson: 2 overs, 0/14
• Joel Williams: 3 overs, 2/23
• Nathaniel Woods: 3 overs, 0/19
• Luke Piltz: 3 overs, 1/21
• Jason Sutton: 2.4 overs, 2/9
• Bailey Woods: 3 overs, 2/20
• Mark Alcorn: 1 over, 0/11
Confidence was high heading into the chase, but it quickly turned into a nightmare. Early wickets hurt and despite the middle order fighting back, we were bowled out for 71.
Batting:
• Joel Williams 6 (6)
• Gage Baxter 7 (6)
• Jason Sutton 15 (16)
• Mark Alcorn 13 (5)
• Luke Piltz 12 (10)
• Nathaniel Woods 6 (6)
• Bailey Woods 5 (7)
• Jayden Hibberson 5 (17)
⭐ Player of the Match: Jason Sutton
SATURDAY – GAME 2 vs Hi-Flyers (Must Win)
After a two-hour break to reset, we knew this was do-or-die.
Skipper lost the toss and we were sent in to bowl — not ideal — but we adapted brilliantly, bowling a powerhouse batting lineup out for 155 in 17.4 overs.
Bowling figures:
• Jayden Hibberson: 3 overs, 0/31
• Joel Williams: 4 overs, 2/31
• Nathaniel Woods: 3 overs, 1/23
• Luke Piltz: 2 overs, 0/17
• Jason Sutton: 3 overs, 4/23 🔥
• Bailey Woods: 2 overs, 0/20
• Mark Alcorn: 0.4 overs, 1/4
💥 Special mention: Gage Baxter pulled off an unbelievable 4 stumpings — basically unheard of.
The chase was tense, but the boys delivered. A flying start had us 0/75 after 10 overs, allowing the middle order to play freely.
We made it interesting late, losing two wickets needing one run off four balls, before Bailey Woods hit the winning run with a ball to spare.
Batting:
• Joel Williams 33 (34)
• Gage Baxter 50 (27) 🔥
• Luke Piltz 34 (20)
• Mark Alcorn 17 (11)
• Jason Sutton 16* (8)
• Nathaniel Woods 0 (1) 🦆
• Bailey Woods 1* (1)
• Jayden Hibberson DNB
⭐ Player of the Match: Gage Baxter
We rolled into Sunday knowing it was win or go home.
SUNDAY – SEMI FINAL vs The Falcons
Riding momentum but facing a tough challenge, conditions screamed to bowl first — unfortunately the toss went Falcons’ way and we were sent in to bat.
Joel and Gage once again laid the platform, reaching 0/68 after 10 overs in brutal heat and humidity. The hitters took over late, with Bailey Woods smashing a home-run ball to swing momentum.
We posted 4/147, a total we felt was very defendable.
Batting:
• Joel Williams 40 (40)
• Gage Baxter 38 (32)
• Luke Piltz 46 (24)
• Mark Alcorn 4 (6)
• Jason Sutton 0 (3)
• Nathaniel Woods 0 (1) 🦆🦆 (King Pair)
• Bailey Woods 14 (3)
And the bowlers delivered. We bowled The Falcons out for 101 in 17.2 overs, booking our spot in the final.
Bowling figures:
• Jayden Hibberson: 3 overs, 1/26
• Joel Williams: 4 overs, 2/15
• Luke Piltz: 2 overs, 0/11
• Nathaniel Woods: 3 overs, 1/22
• Jason Sutton: 2.2 overs, 1/10
• Bailey Woods: 2 overs, 2/4 (double-wicket maiden)
• Mark Alcorn: 1 over, 0/10
⭐️ Player of the Match: Joel Williams
FINAL vs Hi-Flyers
After cooling off back at the motel, we returned to face Hi-Flyers once more. Skipper won the toss and sent them into the field again, hoping for a strong start — but things unravelled early.
We slumped to 3/9, before a steadying partnership between Joel and Piltzy got us to 3/50 at drinks. Unfortunately wickets fell quickly after the break and despite a late push, we were bowled out for 99 in 19 overs, around 30 runs short of where we wanted to be.
Batting:
• Joel Williams 39 (37)
• Gage Baxter 0 (1) 🦆
• Jason Sutton 4 (5)
• Mark Alcorn 0 (1)
• Luke Piltz 29 (23)
• Nathaniel Woods 8 (10) (duck avoided)
• Bailey Woods 14 (12)
• Jayden Hibberson 4 (10)
The bowlers gave us a sniff early with two quick wickets, but a dropped catch and missed stumping proved costly.
Bowling figures:
• Jayden Hibberson: 3 overs, 1/17
• Joel Williams: 4 overs, 1/24
• Nathaniel Woods: 2 overs, 0/10
• Luke Piltz: 1.4 overs, 0/7
• Jason Sutton: 3 overs, 2/31
• Bailey Woods: 1 over, 0/5
• Gage Baxter: 2 overs, 1/5
🏆 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT 🏆
A massive congratulations to Gage Baxter, who was deservedly named Shoalhaven Smash Player of the Tournament 👏🔥
Across the weekend Gage was outstanding with the bat, ice-cold behind the stumps (including an unbelievable four stumpings in a single match), and consistently stood up in the biggest moments. A well-earned individual honour capped off an unreal tournament.
FINAL WORD
Not the result we were chasing, but an unbelievable effort across two gruelling days. Immensely proud of every bloke who pulled on the kit and left it all out there.
👏 Congratulations to Hi-Flyers on winning the Shoalhaven Smash.
We’ll be back — stronger, smarter, and hungrier. 💪🔥
