4th Grade vs Blacktown - Round 10 - 2011/12 |
A vintage "Pic" Sherman flick through the leg sideAfter a strong win in the 20/20 contest against Hawkesbury to get our season back on track, we headed out to Whalan Reserve to take on the lowly placed Blacktown side. At the back of each team member’s mind was that winning becomes a habit which has been something that has been a regular occurrence over the past few years. One of the more peculiar arrangements at this ground is a pole situated in the middle of the gate on entry and exit from the field. Small things, small minds. (Editor’s note: This is to stop motorbikes etc from entering the playing field and ripping up the grass.) One of the great appeals of grade cricket is seeing former team mates and friends around the traps. Low and behold Stuart Slocombe former personal trainer and Gordon lower grader was now turning out for the Warriors. Yes that’s right all 150 kilograms of him. Stuart was quick to point out that he’d given away the personal training thing and was living around the corner these days at Kings Langley. Back to the cricket and Captain Shayne Lin elected to bat with the hope of putting runs on the board. Sherman and Kleem went out to bat keen to get the side off to a solid start. Kleem back from sabbatical continued his disappointing start to the season was first to go for seven. ‘Pic’ Sherman and Michael “Chil” Perry progressed things nicely until Shermsy was out for 29. Jack Colley chipped in for a handy 28. Kris Colley was at the crease for a brief period but will be looking for big score in the coming weeks. Chil was dismissed for a handy 20 cameo but the star of the show was Chris Retallick with a very fine 70 not out. The oval was very slow and sluggish with plenty of two’s and three’s on offer. I suppose this really emphasises the importance of fitness. Likewise Killara has been a little on the slow side too.
Anthony Sherman, Jack Colley & Michael Perry apply their trade against the WarriorsRetallick was well supported by captain Shayne Lin with a couple of big zacs and the lower order players all chipped in, including Ben Armstrong, Tom Gooch. Did I miss anybody? A total of 222 was defendable. Kleem asked the younger brigade if they’ve seen manhunt. This show is about an Australian man who joins tribes from Africa on hunting expeditions. The blowpipe is used. This is where a poisionous arrow is used in a hollow piece of bamboo to shoot down monkeys and birds in trees. Quite fascinating. A newcomer to the side Charlie Stobo, and son of the great Richard Stobo, proved a real handful with the opposition batsman. He is a real competitor and seems to have plenty of ticker. Yours truly was responsible for a truly magnificent run out where one stump was thrown down from side on. Kleem will be looking to consolidate his position at mid on and hence giving him the title of the Allan Border of the side. Wickets fell very quickly in the innings and the Stags were well on top from the start. Young Wack Jacko (Alex Jackson - a good little Grammar boy) is building with confidence with each game and is starting to really understand the importance of flight and getting the ball above the batsman’s eyeline. With continued application and consistent rhythm hopefully he should keep improving. Another space cadet in the field he joins Kleem on the quest for discovering new planets in the solar system in between balls. All the bowlers performed well with Charlie Stobo 2/30, Ben Armstrong 2/14, Tom Gooch 2/24 and Jacko 1/24 . A niggling partnership from Blacktown ensued and some dropped catches. It was then decided enough was enough and dismissed Blacktown for 119 14 under the 133 mark, giving the side a bonus point. Mitchell Kleem |
They say you learn more from a loss than you do from a win. The Gordon 4th grade side decided to put this theory to the test before Christmas, losing four straight. 
