 Stobo Salute v Bankstown
Good work last weekend, lads. All six grades.
Again.
And terrific to see the 1st Grade side back at Chatswood, the spiritual home of Gordon cricket. There have been some memorable times, both on and off the field, at Chatswood.
(Spectators at Chatswood come to watch R.M Stobo bowl against Bankstown)
When I first played for the Club in the early 1980s, it was mandatory to have a few beers under the grandstand, and then move across the road to the old Gordon rugby club.
 Often with opponents.
(Michael Falk taken from the Gordon 1921 team photo)
And have a lot more beers there.
Warwick ‘Wacka’ Murray was the Club’s secretary, Basil Sheidow was the President, and Phil Antman was captain of 1st Grade. Alan ‘Cec’ Poole and Jim Cameron were the senior players in the 2nd Grade side, and Berry Brown was lurking around in 4th Grade.
 Michael Falk was around then.
Mind you, Michael Falk was around when Charlie McCartney was a wee lad in short pants.
We struggled a bit in 1st Grade in those days, but it was a good time to be around. The 1970s was a terrific decade for the Club, with a great deal of success across the grades (led by Dick Guy’s phenomenal bowling feats) and the echoes of that were still there in the early 1980s. It was still a district competition – well, almost – and the more distant clubs were not yet a part of it.
And we were the only club with a song.
It seemed to me that there was a stronger bond between clubs; I might just be imagining that, but the turmoil of the last ten years or so suggests to me that relations between clubs in Sydney are not all that they were.
(Steve Smith in action)
Clubs are now driven to look after themselves in such a way that it is at the expense of the bigger picture.
Winning was always important, but now it’s essential. And, dare I say it, that can remove some of the enjoyment.
Anyway, I digress.
 Bankstown this week. Generally a strong club, and usually happy enough to let you know it.
We got punished a number of times by them in the early 1980s.
(Wayne Holdsworth in action)
I was hit into the canal there more times than I care to remember, most memorably by Rod Bower. I recall writing some time ago that I’ve been hit for some huge sixes, but that one by ‘Log’ is certainly in medal contention.
A good man, is Rod Bower.
Other players that played for Bankstown in the 1980s and early 1990s included Steve and Mark Waugh, Steve Smith, Steve Small, Wayne Holdsworth, David Freedman, Ken Hall, Darren Mitchell, Paul Talbot, Gary Crowfoot, Terry Davies, Bob Vidler, … A fair list of players, and I know that I’ve missed out a heap.
But we had some good successes against them, both over there and at home. Possibly the most enjoyable was a game at Killara, when all of the big boys turned up to play.
We lost on first innings on the first day. Holdsworth bowled beautifully, we were rolled for 180, and they passed us in the shadows of stumps.
 We got rid of the two Waughs (Mark had just played his first Test a short while before, scoring a 100 at Adelaide) – Steve Liggins dismissed Steve Waugh – but Steve Small plundered a century. He brought up his ton by hitting me into the kindergarten at Killara.
(Rod Bower in action)
But the next week was a different story.
There was a Shield match on. All the big boys went away.
A new Bankstown side turned up. They declared overnight, we batted, set them a target, and then rolled them relatively comfortably for the outright win.
In 4th Grade a couple of years ago we chased well over 300 to beat them at Chatswood Oval, and then thumped them in the semi-final, before we stumbled against Mosman in the final. Stephen Wise and Chris Gane were their leaders, and I enjoyed playing against them. They seemed to have the perspective right.
 My last 1st Grade game was a semi-final against Bankstown, out there. They scored about 270, batting well into the second day. We ended up batting in the dark, needing about 30 to win, but fell short. Greg Hayne played brilliantly, but we’d let them get away from us on the second morning.
(Steve Small celebrates hitting R. M Stobo into the Kindergarten)
Coincidentally, I nearly had another run against them in 1st Grade last year, but the rain put an end to it.
Bugger.
Good luck on Saturday, men. All wins are enjoyable, but particularly wins over Bankstown. | 
