Coast record telling victory

THE Gold Coast Dolphins are swimming in a sea of high emotions.

On the same day the Queensland Premier Grade team mowed down 322 to win, they also highlighted just how far the young side needs to go.

Dolphins skipper Max Houlahan last week hinted that “300 may not be enough” for Wynnum Manly to bank on the points at Bill Albury Oval.

He was right, Gold Coast breaking through for their first victory of the season on Saturday by two wickets.

“It was a really good win. It came down to the wire and the emotions overflowed at the end,” he said.

“It was a really good feeling.”

In the Round 6 fixture, Wynnum Manly last week posted 322 from 100.1 overs before the Dolphins replied with 8-323 from 83.3 overs.

Teen sensation Hugo Burdon top-scored with 77, including 13 boundaries, although Houlahan hailed the all-round contributions.

“It was one of those days where everyone chipped in,” he said.

However, it wasn’t all sunshine for the Dolphins.

“The batsmen were only getting to 20-30 and then got out, so that was a bit frustrating,” Houlahan said of his top order, including twin scores of 35 by Liam Hope-Shackley and Kevin Chapman.

“(But) it was really good to see young Hugo Burdon do so well.”

The Dolphins at one stage slumped to 8-274 but an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 49 by Matt Kuhnemann (21) and Joshua Kann (37 from 29 balls) got them home.

Houlahan said the win has given the team extra life moving forward.

After losing their first twoday match and the second one being washed-out, he said the win had come at the right time for the club.

“It’s given us a lot of confidence. We’re building on each game and it’s good to see that we can match the other teams,” Houlahan said.

IT’S GOOD TO SEE THAT WE CAN MATCH THE OTHER TEAMS MAX HOULAHAN

Meanwhile, the Dolphins women lost their one-day match against Sandgate at Bill Pippen Oval.

The Dolphins reached 177 from 48.2 overs, with Tara Wheeler hitting 85 from 113 deliveries including 10 boundaries.

In reply Sandgate took the win with 3-178 from 27 overs, with Grace Parsons and Roxanne Thomson taking the wickets.

The men will face Western Suburbs at Bill Pippen Oval next weekend, while the women take on Ipswich Logan at Ivor Marsden Park.