Port Jackson Over 60s Road Trip
Port Jackson Northern NSW Tour Manager Report - A Great Success!
When approached to put together the first PJ Tour I was unsure what to expect...
Where would we go?
How many fixtures?
Would there be enough players?
Regions in north NSW had already been approached and interest shown. At first we were going to go to Coffs Harbour, Tamworth and Quirindi. However, the latter could not get a ground on the tour dates, so I used my contact in Baz Everingham at Port Macquarie and got a game there against Mid-North Coast. So, we had 3 fixtures.
After an initial rush of interest, it went a bit quiet. However slowly we got he numbers and headed off with 12 players, 3 Partners and one Cousin. The details of the games are shown in the match reports. We managed to win one, TIE one and lose one. The loss was after we were in a strong position and so was the only disappointment. The tie against Coffs was an epic and couldn’t have been scripted better.
Playing under lights in Tamworth (and meeting Josh Hazlewood) was a highlight. We managed a comfortable win.
There were many positives to come out of the tour.
We made a lot of new friends and I am sure there will be more games between us in the future (Tamworth are considering a trip to us next season).
The feedback from the players (ours and the oppositions) was very positive and many are up for another tour
We are putting Port Jackson on the Veterans Cricket map
Thank you to all the players who contributed to a wonderful tour. The weather was perfect, games enjoyable and the hospitality of the highest standard.
Now the next tour…..
Game 1, 27 February 2019: Mid North Coast at Oxley Oval Port Macquarie
Port Jackson 8/172 defeated by Mid North Coast 8/175 (38 Overs)
After a relatively uneventful journey up the Pacific Highway 12 Port Jackson over 60s took the field against a strong Mid North Coast side for the first match of our inaugural tour.
Doug Latto, skipper for the day, lost the toss and we were sent in to bat by the local side. After 8 overs we had lost 2 -19 before newcomer Rick Howard joined Mike Collins at the crease. This pair put on some 80 odd runs in good time before Rick retired on 30 and Mike on 32.
Doug Latto (28), Paul Adams (30 retired) and Joe Scarcella continued the good work and along with some hard hitting from Rick on his return to the crease PJ's were able to post a creditable 172 after their allocated 40 overs.
After a delicious afternoon tea put on by the locals PJs took the field in great conditions reasonably confident that 172 would be quite defendable. We could not have asked for a better start with one of the openers being run for in the 2nd over (Caldwell – Georgiadis) with the score on 2. In the 3rd over Joe Scarcella caused the locals number 3 to sky a ball high into the covers. Three fieldsmen scurried towards the ball with captain Doug quickly calling "Joe's" resulting in Joe Khodier taking a great catch. Luckily, Joe is a relative newcomer and was not aware that the other 2 fieldsman converging on the ball were Joe Scarcella and Joe Zappia – Great call Doug!
Joe Scarcella then took a magnificent reflex return catch to capture the 3rd wicket. 3-8. Not to be outdone Paul Georgiadis chipped in with the wicket of the locals number 5 for a duck 4-9. 172 on the board was looking pretty good and we may have become a little over confident.
Mid North Coast consolidated for a short period of time taking the score to 45 in the 15th over before Michael Rowles snuck through the defences of J Corcoran on 10. Things were looking good for PJ's, however Barry Everingham (26) entered the fray and put on some 80 runs with his partner in crime G Hall before Barry was bowled by Paul Adams with the score on 123 after 31 overs. Unfortunately, despite some good bowling from Paul Adams (1-19), Michael Rowles (1-13) and Rick Howard (2-14) Mid Coast reached their target with 2 overs to spare with some lusty hitting combined with some good batting.
A disappointing start on the field for our first game on tour but the disappointment didn’t last long with a couple of quiet drinks with our hosts at the ground followed by a team dinner and a couple more quiet drinks at a local hotel.
A special thanks to our hosts for putting on such a great day – venue – weather- hospitality and a game played in great spirit.
On the road this morning hoping for a better result at Coffs, although the weather forecast is not promising.
Game 2, 28 February 2019: Coffs Harbour at Hockey grounds, Stadium Drive
Coffs Harbour 3/182 tied with Port Jackson 9/182 - The Tied Test
The Tour moved to Coffs Harbour a 1.5 hr drive from Port Macquarie. The team, licking its wounds after a missed opportunity for an opening win against Hastings, was determined to bounce back quickly. The weather forecast was not great, and despite showers on the way to the game, the sun came out to welcome the start of the game. We decided to start the match 30 minutes to an hour earlier than originally scheduled due to the distance a few of the Coffs guys had travelled to play (that ended up being an excellent move as you will read later).
The enthusiastic warm up with practice drills of the day before were replaced with a more considered warm up mainly consisting of looking at the green but very flat wicket and deciding what to do. Captain Collins at this stage did what any good Captain would do with this problem to solve, he lost the toss. Coffs decided to bat.
And bat they did. The main stories of the Coffs batting display were:
The top three all retired on 30, but despite a lack of wickets the run rate did not get away despite the fast outfield and a docile wicket (0-85 off 20)
Coffs did not lose a wicket until the 29th over when a skied shot went to PJs field magnet (Rick Howard) who despite visible nerves (caused by the results of the previous two) grasped a good catch
3-182 including 4 retirements was a competitive score but was gettable
Notable bowling came from Paul Adams 3-22 off 6 and Peter Caldwell who bowled 6 overs at the end of the innings keeping them down to singles which proved to be crucial
There was a confidence level growing in the PJs team and again the top order fired. Despite the departure of Joe Khodeir for 6, Doug Latto and Michael Collins took on the Coffs attack confidently and kept the run rate at 4 an over. We reached the 20 over break only 1 down, both batsmen retiring shortly afterwards. This was followed by a blistering 30 from Rick Howard who put PJs ahead of the chase. A quick stumble then occurred with both Raga and Paul Adams departing quickly. The bowling was tight and with the slower bowlers putting on a stranglehold the run rate required quickly increased to 7 an over. Chas Viner supported by Paul Georgiadis delivered a few lusty blows bringing up his retirement with a 6 over mid-wicket. The chase was on!
Paul G and Joe Scarcella departed in quick succession trying to up the run rate. The increasing confidence of the Coffs fielders in the middle was disturbed by the busy and fast running of Joe Zappia who was turning previous dot balls into 1s and singles into 2s ably supported by the willing running of Peter Caldwell. Peter departed in the 38th trying a pull over mid-wicket.
Two overs now remained with 13 needed. Joe recognising that three batsmen were waiting to recycle and went for a big shot and was adjudged LBW. Michael Rowles came in and took a two. Michael taking the same view as Joe was caught and bowled off the next ball. We needed 12 off 9 with Michael C and Douglas back at the wicket.
Immediately, Michael was calling to run on every ball and Douglas’s tired legs were being asked to respond to the challenge. We reached the final over with 8 to win. They hit and ran, a 1,2,2,1 off the first 4 balls which left PJs needed 2 to win off 2 balls. The next ball was short outside off and was cut by Douglas, one foot either side would have seen the win but it went straight to the point fielder. The scores were level with one ball left and captain Collins facing. Coffs brought in their field close, the ball was pitched up, it was neatly driven on the onside. The Coffs fielder picked up cleanly one handed and underarmed it to the bowler who took off the bails just before Michael could make his ground. IT WAS A TIE.
A great result that was fair to both sides. The teams took deep breaths (no need for the defibrillator due to the tension) and shook hands and all happily walked back to the changing sheds still thinking what could have been.
Immediately as we got undercover the heavens opened and the ground was too wet to have continued, the match finishing just in time. It had been decided (not considered actually) that a super over was not the way to split the two teams, but any thoughts of that were soon washed away by the rain and the beer supplies provided.
Game 3, 1 March 2019: Tamworth at Tamworth Oval No. 1
Port Jackson 3/131 defeated Tamworth 7/130 (38.1 overs)
After an early breakfast at Coffs 10 PJs and WAGS (Joe S and Joe Z had returned home due to prior commitments) headed off for the journey to Tamworth to the strains of Willie Nelson. A pleasant journey of some 4 hours through Bellingen, picturesque Dorrigo and Armidale stopping for lunch in historic Uralla not far from Captain Thunderbolts Rock and finally arriving in Tamworth in plenty of time for a 4.30pm start.
We were aware that the game had been well publicised in the local paper, the Northern Daily Leader, but on arriving at the ground we were amazed to see reporters and film crews and immediately thought that veterans cricket must be the number 1 sport in
Tamworth. Towering above the film crew was a young local bloke by the name of Josh Hazelwood who had obviously been following the regular MOM exploits of our own Raga as after a team photo Josh apparently insisted on a selfie with Raga.
In order to give both teams the opportunity to bat and field under lights it was agreed to play the match in a 20/20/20/20 format. Tamworth won the toss and took the opportunity to bat.
Some extremely tight bowling from openers Michael Rowles (0-9 from 6 with 4 maidens) and Paul Georgiadis (0-10 from 5 overs) made it very difficult for the locals, restricting them to 21 without loss after 11 overs. Raga and Ken Barnes (one of our Tamworth ring – ins) were then given the ball and after 20 overs Tamworth could only manage 3-46. Raga with 1-13 from 4 overs and Ken 2-12 from 5 overs.
After a short break Doug Latto and Joe Khodeir strode to the crease putting on 10 before Joe was dismissed. Mike Collins joined Doug and they compiled a steady 30 odd before Doug missed one on his stumps and was sent back to the pavilion for 26. At the halfway mark in our innings we had reached 2 – 56 with Mike and Ric Howard not out.
Hostilities re-commenced after a tasty evening meal. Some fine bowling from Paul Adams (0-14 from 6) with a bit of help from Peter Caldwell (1 – 26 from 5), Chas Viner (1 -15 from 4) and our other Tamworth ring - in Paul Lawrence (0-27 from 5) we were able to restrict Tamworth to 7 – 130 after their allotted 40 overs.
Our fielding was generally pretty good with the ground fielding assisted by a well grassed and even outfield. Paul Georgiadis took a screamer of a catch, made a great run out and was our standout fielder, closely followed by Mike Collins who did a very tidy job behind the stumps and took 2 good catches. The only real blunder in the field came from Peter Caldwell who dropped a high ball only to claim that he had lost the ball in the sun, but if I know Peter, had it been later in the game he still would have dropped it and blamed the lights.
Mike and Ric resumed the innings for PJs and took the score to 83 before Mike charged down the wicket and was stumped after a well compiled 28. Ric continue with a hard hitting knock to reach 32 before he retired – yet again. Raga (20 not out) and Chas Viner almost reached the target before Chas was dismissed after an aggressive 17 leaving it up to Raga and Paul Adams (3 not out) to steer PJs to our first win of the tour with 6 wickets to spare after 38 overs.
Man of the match was Michael Rowles for his superb bowling effort at the beginning of the innings.
Thanks to our hosts (in particular Greg Kellett, Chris Crowell, the Tamworth WAGS and our ring -ins Paul and Ken) for putting on such a great day – venue – weather- hospitality and a game played in great spirit. It was fantastic to play a day /night match under lights – for many of us it was the first time we had played a match under lights.
