Manifold Heights and Little River cricketers pay tribute to late Sharks player Jayme ‘Chugs’ Sykes

Two Geelong region cricket clubs have linked arms to remember a beloved member who tragically died at the age of 20 on the weekend.

Little River and Manifold Heights players came together to remember the late Jayme Sykes. Picture: Little River Cricket Club.

A team routed for just 39, an in-form Torquay batter backing up a Saturday century with a near-ton and a beloved late Manifold Heights cricketer given a heartfelt farewell.

Round 1 of the remodelled Geelong Cricket Association T20 competition returned Tuesday night with some outstanding performances on show and a moving tribute to the man known as “Chugs”.

The short form tournament has been split into two divisions, with GCA1 and 2, and GCA3 and 4 outfits, doing battle.

At Caldwell Oval, Little River and Manifold Heights players linked arms for the late Jayme Sykes who was a Sharks players for many years.

In a Facebook post, the Redbacks thanked their rivals for coming together to “remember and pay tribute to a beautiful man”, with many of Little River’s members knowing the 20-year-old well.

Little River and Manifold Heights cricketers link arms following the death of Sharks player Jayme Sykes. Picture: Little River Redbacks.

Meanwhile, North Geelong started its title defence with a comfortable eight-wicket defeat of Bell Post Hill on Tuesday night.

Chasing 140 for victory at Myers Reserve, the Magpies’ Layton McCann (59) and Ned Cooper (34) did the bulk of the scoring, losing just two wickets in the process and 22 rocks to spare to reach 140 for victory.

Young Magpie Ben Demasi took 2-24

Also in Pool B, Highton easily beat Geelong West by 37 runs at West Oval after setting a target of 164.

In Pool A, Murgheboluc fell eight runs short of St Peter’s 6-140 at King Lloyd Recreation Reserve.

It was a similar score at Lara Reserve, where South Barwon were six runs short of the home team’s 4-155.

In Pool C, Newtown & Chilwell posted a massive 3-219 at Queens Park Reserve against Bell Park with Ronnie McKenna producing a stunning 120 not out off 63 balls and Lachie Sperling hitting 78 off 41.

In reply, the Dragons fell 106 runs short, bowled out for 113 in 13 overs.

Corey Paull strokes a delivery for Grovedale. Picture: Wes Cusworth.

And Leopold’s tough start to the season continued at Burdoo Recreation Reserve, as Grovedale chased down 105 for victory with seven wickets in hand.

Meanwhile, in Pool D, East Belmont’s Dale Boyd had a night out at Winter Reserve, belting 80 off 48 balls as the Lions chased down Geelong City’s 8-135, with support from Luke Inglis (31).

Boyd also chimed in with 2-25.

And Torquay banked another win for the summer, knocking off St Joseph’s by 71 runs, with new recruit Tristan Kassis following up his Round 4 century with 95, combining with Gurpreet Singh who smashed 94 at St Joseph’s College.

Kassis hit 116 for the Tigers in Round 4 of GCA2 against Geelong City.

Redbacks roll Sharks for 90

At Caldwell Oval, Manifold Heights fell 28 runs short of Little River’s 6-118, Marshall passed Teesdale’s 9-94 with six wickets in hand (Mike Norris 5-22), Newcomb & District (Eugene Stanciu 25 not out, Nathan Keevil 3-7, Jack Halliday 2-15) beat Modewarre by seven wickets, and Corio (Ben Strachan 81, Anthony Grace 43, Daniel Stock 27 not out, Nathaniel Blyth 2-6, Trey Laurie 2-16 and 22) easily beat Shelford Bullants by 102 runs.

Jack Burns batting for Marshall in Round 1 of the T20 cup. Picture: Wes Cusworth.

At Frier Reserve, Guild St Mary’s (Davinder Singh Lalli 68 off 31 balls, Anand Choudhary 54) beat Waurn Ponds Deakin by 40 runs, Bannockburn (Darren Fernandes 3-8, Xavier Thomson 3-2) rolled St Albans Breakwater for just 39 in a 124-run rout, Meredith reached Alexander Thomson’s 9-87 with four wickets in hand and Thomson reached Lethbridge’s 101 all out with four wickets in hand at Godfrey Street.

Originally published as Manifold Heights and Little River cricketers pay tribute to late Sharks player Jayme ‘Chugs’ Sykes