 Third Grade Report vs St. George
Having lost just 2 games and finding ourselves sitting closer to the bottom than the top of ladder, this was a must win game for the 3rd grade Stags.
(Dan Mahaffey in action)
We were granted first use of the facilities as Blair Lindsay and new opening partner Sam Pearce saw off the new rock and combined with a 62 run opening stand. Unfortunately both were dismissed within an over and the score slipped to 2/62 and soon became 4/81.
Steve Colley (47) and Ian Higgins (22) steadied the innings, although scoring was slow due to many sweetly timed drives being restricted by the ‘Dragon Ring’ (which saw almost enough fielders between gully and the bowler to require a new post code) or succumbing to the quick-sand like outfield of Harold Fraser Reserve.
 Partnerships between Adam Cubbage, Chad Soper and Ed Howitt eroded valuable time late in the day to ensure our opponents would have a nasty 5 over to face before stumps – enough time for our pace attack to inflict mental scars on a fragile top order. The skipper instructed the boys that 1 wicket that night would swing the game into our favour, Dan “Chewie Monster” Mahaffey responded with a devastating display of swing bowling to ensure that St George’s top 3 would not be taking any part in the battle for first innings points on day 2, swinging the balance of the game well back toward Chatswood Oval.
(Steve Colley who scored 47 on the first day)
Day 2 commenced with the new ball tossed to James Kennedy (2/19 from 11 overs) who quickly picked up from where Chewie left off the previous week, reducing our opponents to 4/5 and 5/13. James Campbell (1/14 from 12) was rewarded with the sixth wicket, Hoppa (1/14 from 10) the seventh and Harry Turner (1/7 from 5) the eighth but Chewie guaranteed it would be Gordon’s day when he collected the final two wickets, to finish with the outstanding figures of 5/13 from 16 (his first 5/ of the season).  Under threatening sky, 28 over’s remained – spurring Hoppa to ask the opposing skipper to strap the pads back on and his own team mates to have a crack for 15 over’s to “see what might happen”. When play resumed after a short rain delay, wickets began to tumble and after that critical first 15 overs Gordon had their opponents 5/38 and it appeared Hoppa’s decision may have been right on the money!
(James Kennedy in action)
JC was the chief 2nd innings destroyer, leading the way to claim 3/13 from his (age-restriction of) 8 overs.
The skipper then tossed the ball around (to all BUT Lindsay, Pearce and Higgins) to see Jim Gatting (2/14), Harry Turner (1/11), Pup Colley and Le Buff Jones successfully apply their skills with the ball. St George finished their 2nd innings at 7/64 from 28 overs (match figures of 17/141 from 85 overs).
In the context of our season this was a very good win and the song was sung accordingly!
Sam Pearce | 
