On Saturday October 5th, the Riverina Touring Party from the St. Patrick’s Cricket Club left for the first full scale sanctioned official tour to Griffith by the team for many years. Players arrived at the bus in all states of fitness, from the new-comers ready for a full scale practice match, to the more experienced players calling in at the pick up point on the way home from the night before (well maybe they went home to collect their gear first).
After a detour through the back blocks via Culcairn, Henty, & Osborne, we found ourselves arriving at Griffith some three hours later. Meeting the opposition at a predetermined rendevous, we were then directed to the Yenda Blue Heelers Rugby Ground. A golf course ran alongside and many of us were thinking maybe we bought the wrong equipment.
We were allowed to have a hit first on a lighting fast outfield that would see very few scoring shots other than 1's or 4's. Christmas & Westy opened the innings for us with Westy starting in his usual aggressive mood. Even the umpires were in the spirit of the game, giving Westy an extra couple on one shot to the boundary which was a 4 but called a 6! Christmas decided to take on the fielders and failed dismally, straight driving one to mid on and calling. Half way down the pitch he knew it was a lost cause and started straight to the pavilion
Grovesy came and went the same way as Christmas, same fielder and all. New recruit Mark Kreutzy ( who probably looked the pick of our batsmen) copped an absolute brute of a ball that kicked and got him on the glove to be caught. Another new recruit, Toy Story Buzz, came in and was scratchy early, but finished with a handy 20 odd runs. Buzz played the shot of the day to cover, called for a run that wasn't there and then finished with five off it!!
Furzy played with his usual flair and finally got to 47 when the supporters decided to bring the "Paddies Clap" forward a couple of runs. Immediately his captain then tried to run him out, but failed dismally, and he finished with 48. Deano got 20 odd, Troy Boy came in with a rush at the end as well, and after 35 overs we made 190.
We started to defend this score well with Christmas taking a blinder at point to start the rot. Furzey bowled tightly and picked up a couple of early wickets, Macca bowled great line and length to keep the run rate down and the wickets falling. Deano decided that the touring party looked as though they may be heading to the after match function early, so decided to extend the game a little and bought on Troy who was flailed around the ground along with a couple of other not so notable bowlers who shall remain incognito.
Kane was bought into the
attack to stem the run flow, picking up two wickets in two balls but he was
denied a hat-trick due to it being too early in the season to listen to him
brag.
(Edit, after a communication from K. Arendarcikas
- Chuck, I think the author forgot one detail regarding the wicketkeeper's (not
mentioning any names, but his initials are VJ) muffed caught behind which denied
me a hattrick with the first 3 balls of the season. The fact that the batsman
did not hit it was not an issue. With umpire Casey "Venkat" Arendarcikas officiating,
all it had to do was go to hand and he was on his way. It's that easy, just
ask Steve Waugh. Best Wishes, Kano)
The light started to fade, and with the opposition 9 wickets down and
Filesy (past SPCC player and Griffith Captain) refusing to come to the wicket
to face the rampant St. Patrick's army, it was decided to continue the game
back at the Exies club. Griffith reached 120.
With another long trip ahead of the team to get back to camp and a few towns to travel through, it was a good opportunity for the new recruits to have time to become acquainted with the older members of the club. Mainly who to avoid, and who was safe to drink with!
After a brief stop at the Lockhart Pub which gave everybody time to top up on a couple and meet the locals, we ventured back onto the bus and made for home. Arriving back at camp, many players a little weary and dehydrated from such a long trip and a hard days cricket, the crew looked for the closest water hole to rehydrate.
The social touring squad will be selected again this year, and with the performance of this touring squad it is going to take a lot to replace any of the touring members.
Those in the touring party
at this early stage of the year are; -
Shane Gleeson – team manager, Luke Drummond & Casey Arendarcikas – umpires,
Captain Deano, Xmas Carroll, Kano, Furzey, Grovesy, Westy, Troy Dean, Sam MacDonald,
Private Ryan, Toy Story Buzz, Little Kreutzy, & VJ.
Good luck to those who are trying to make the squad this year.
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Patricks Cricket Club Inc. page
Last deceived by an subtle inswinging leg-cutter with alarming lift before being fined five runs for wearing a loud shirt in a built up area on 16/10/2002.