 3rd Grade report vs Nth Sydney
After two very impressive wins on the road against the Cats and the Lions, Gordon enjoyed a far more scenic setting of Chatswood Oval for round 3 to take on North Sydney in a battle of upper north shore supremacy.
Keiran Jones during his dominant display
Howitt, having won the previous two tosses had a noticeable bounce in his step as he met Bears captain Keith Lawrence on the square for the toss. Lawrence may have called correctly but it would soon become evident that his decision was an ill-informed one. The game, although a ball had not been bowled, was already over.
Howitt, with a glee on his experienced jaw noted that the lost toss would be beneficial once the Stags had notched up 350 at the end of the day. His words were soon to be enacted underneath a perfect blue sky. Steve “Border” Collie and Mitch “Mitch” Kleem were both dismissed early, and the scoreboard had Gordon in slight trouble at 2-8.
 Jim Gatting and Kieran Jones settled the ship (the ship being a cunning metaphor for the innings - Cubbage also used this phrase in his 4th Grade report, this material is stale - Ed.) thanks to some good batting and some very friendly fielding.
Cheadle in good form down Ol' Chatswood way
Gatting attempted to launch one into Artarmon and was bowled on 47, which only brought Higgins to the wicket who struck up a fine combination with Jones to take the game further away from Norths. At tea, Gordon were in good nick at 3-180. Jones, who will be the first to admit his good fortune, brought up his 100 with a fine lofted on drive. A deserved hundred for a hard worker. An exceptional player is Jones, who will punish anything loose and occasionally anything who will look for higher honours this season. Higgins reminded Jones of the need to push on past 100. Michael Falk also yelled from the fences to do the same. Next ball Jones skied a full toss to mid on. Better to do it with a hundred next to the name I suppose. Soon after Jones’ departure Higgins decided to leave a ball on middle and off on 49 and was somehow adjudged LBW.
Cheadle and Howitt were now at the wicket, however it was irrelevant who was at the other end as it was to be Nick Cheadle’s afternoon. He was only given two lives during his less than run a ball hundred both by the keeper. He made the Bears pay as he blasted them to all parts of the ground. Norths didn’t know where to bowl to him and I don’t blame them. A fine hundred to Nick "CH34DS" Cheadle; one of many I’m sure. Hoppa chipped in again with a 20, and Blair Lindsay fresh from an exam smoked an impressive and timely 30 not out.
 A declaration was made at 6-360. Gordon were to bowl 5 overs at North Sydney, however the Bears saw out the day 0-3.
Dan Mahaffey with Chewbacca like hair
Day 2 was unlike Day 1 in many ways. I must be careful as to how I word day two, because in many ways it was one of the most disappointing days of cricket I’ve been apart of, however I feel it unnecessary to ridicule, mock, or throw cheap shots at the opposition as the Bears were clearly playing for a draw and a draw is what they got. So I suppose they achieved their goal. It does show there is merit to the English system of winning draws and losing draws etc. As Gordon took home as many points as Norths took positives out of Saturday. Gordon were clearly the better team for both days.
It’s an achievement in itself to take 7 wickets on an absolute road against a side determined to take any life out of the day's play. The Bears limped to 2-80 after 40 overs on what must be one of the flattest tracks in Sydney. There’s a start to explain things. Daniel “Chewbacca” Mahaffey claimed 4 wickets in another display of controlled swing bowling. Cheadle was unlucky not to claim more than 2. Howitt picked up 1, but it became farcical as he was bowling. It would be no exaggeration to say that Howitt’s deliveries were taking 2 or 3 seconds to get down to the other end. No shots were offered. It was an absolute joke.
 Dylan bowled 18 overs without success or luck and finished 0-49, however it was good to see him bowl with good pace and relative control. Fielding was patchy as the captain put it. There were a couple of good catches taken, but a couple that perhaps would have been taken 7 or 8 times out of 10. Words became heated after the frustration of a wasted Saturday got to both teams; however it was the Bears Captain’s words that summarised the days play when he replied to Howitt’s query of why Norths were not chasing the win when he said “Mate, have you seen my team?”
Or... Chewbacca with Dan Mahaffey like hair?
I sincerely hope this was said in the heat of battle, and I‘m out of line for repeating it. I’ve attempted to be calm in this report, although one could understand my difficulty in doing so. On a brighter note, congratulations to Wigham, Crawford, Eccles, and Garrat for their runs in the other grades. Fantastic effort.
Missy
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