SAINTLY SNIPPETS - Vol 5 2003/4 - By SMIT
"I believe sport is 10% physical
and 90% mental attitude. It's amazing what guys can do or could do, if they
just have the right attitude" - Don Maynard, US football player
There is a huge buzz of excitement
and anticipation around the club this week with all three grades making it through
to their respective Grand Finals. A truly outstanding achievement and congratulations
to all involved, but we are all well aware of the amount of hard work still
to be done to achieve our goals.
At last the opportunity that everyone has been planning and working so hard
for since the end of last season has finally arrived. - A Grand Final re-match
against Lavington and a chance to atone for last years disappointment. We all
know that Lavington are a classy and tough side. However, we also know that
we are equally as classy and tough and each time we have played them we have
taken away some valuable lessons and knowledge that will be a big asset for
the match.
Make no mistake - Deano's boys are a year older, wiser, stronger, tougher, and
importantly, closer than last time around and you can see and feel the quiet
resolve, steely determination and self-belief that they have built up. - We
wish them well and we know they are good enough to do it.
Kenny's Seconds, after a couple of hiccups toward the end of the season have
also found top form again and will be seeking their own "three-peat" of success
and have "the cattle" to do it should things go their way on the day.
Hilly's Thirds have also made it through after some tough battles toward the
end of the season and if the old (in some cases very old) bodies can stand up
to the trauma of playing on consecutive days and consecutive weekends, then
a victory is definitely not beyond them.
The semi-finals were keenly fought in all grades and some outstanding individual
and team performances were enjoyed by all. The firsts battled hard on a difficult
wicket to amass 6/215 at the close of play on Day 1 against Wodonga Raiders.
Westy continued his outstanding form with a classy 88 not out., Casey got 62
and Mick Carroll got a handy 24. A good example of the fighting qualities that
the team has developed was seen in Casey, who is normally a naturally gifted
and free-flowing strokemaker , but took something like 45 minutes of patience
to get off the mark - something that would have been unheard of a couple of
seasons ago.
Al and Naughto ripped through the Raiders top order on Day 2 with 2 wickets
apiece and then Westy carried on his good match taking 4/9 off 12 overs. (obviously
impressing his parents who had travelled down to watch the match) The result
was Raiders being dismissed for only 92.
Kenny's boys amassed 318 on day 1 of their match against East Albury. The very
consistent Kers got 47 at the top, Phantom 64, Adam Kreutzburger 34, then it
was "happy hour" for their No 8 Big Tony Ferris who got 78 not out and No 9
Karl Jacka got 42 not out (in about 10 minutes) emphasising the batting depth
of the side. Big Tony then set about routing East Albury taking 5/ 23 for and
Kreutzy chipped in with 3/21 to have them all out for 133.
Hilly's boys had a real battle on their hands in a match that see-sawed over
both days. The usual dropped catches saw them struggling with East Albury cruising
on 4 /191 late on Day 1 and probably looking at 250-280. Then Trout stepped
in and claimed five quick wickets which saw East Albury collapse and be all
out for 203. Scanners and Hilly had earlier "bought" a couple of wickets each.
The batting was off to a good start with Joe Duck and Dallas getting 29 and
33 respectively before a mini-collapse had them struggling at 5/96. They say
that "cometh the hour - cometh the man". In this case the man arrived in the
shape of the legendary and wiry Scanners who hobbled to the crease with his
trusty duct-tape covered "weapon of mass destruction".and produced what was
undoubtably the match winning knock of the final. Scanners contained his usual
urge for all-out assault and instead ground out a very measured and controlled
81 not out, which was inspired by the insulting taunts of "father time" and
"Grand-pa" as he strode out to bat. Some of those young blokes just never learn!!
So guys - it all comes down to this weekend. Everyone just give it absolutely
everything you have, and never, ever, quit no matter what the state of the game,
believe in yourselves and above all, enjoy the experience - they don't necessarily
come along all that often, and we all have a rare chance to share in something
very special.- so let's make the most of it and Good Luck!.
On Sunday night , lets all go back to the Golf Club and celebrate the weekend
and everything that we have done throughout the year.
"When you get down to the final day of who's winning the golf tournament,
the "I will" guy will be there - the other guys will just fade into the night."
- Frank Luska, sportswriter.
DON'T FORGET!! - The Silver Circle draw at 7.00 pm Wednesday 24-03-04
at Paddy's Irish Bar. $20.00 a ticket with a chance to win $1000
Presentation Night is Friday, 2 April at the Sportsman Lounge at the
Commercial Club. Meals served at 7:30pm, so people should start arriving at
6;45pm. Cost is $25 a head plus drinks (3 course cooked meal).
Numbers to Trout by Sunday Night (before you become incoherent preferably) and
payment can be made at the door but sooner would be appreciated.
BBQ There is also going to be a BBQ put on after training on Thursday
night at the ground. Oystar is playing Chef.