Central Coast host another Over 65s carnival

On the 9th and 10th December Rogers Park hosted 3 teams from NSW Regions using the fabulous Oval complex plus the Umina Beach Oval. Port Jackson was to play at Umina Oval on Wednesday 9th against Tamworth. Arriving early PJs sampled the ambience of the local Surf Club where breakfasts were consumed along the beachfront. At the ground we were greeted by our host Region volunteers (Gordon Ives and Tony Formby) who made us throughly welcome. Chris Crowell, the Tamworth Captain won the toss and decided to bat so Simon Lyon decided to take the new ball and Chriss obliged with a first ball duck caught at mid on. David Massey who had organised the teams for the two days bowled really well and all our bowlers stuck to their task keeping the runs down and taking wickets. Steve Jones, John Jackson, Peter Harrison, Wasantha, Harry and Bray all bowled well and we restricted Tamworth to 112-5 off their 40 overs. Ron Radford was their top scorer with 26 not out and Peter Boyd (20 retired was as usual their best allrounder) Lyon took 2-7 off 5 overs and Wasantha 1-13 off 6, Steve Jones 1-22 off 6. 5 players in the Tamorth side retired after 30 balls and Doug Crowell, their octogenarian superstar,scored more than his son again with one run off 14 balls falling LBW to Wasantha.

Wasantha with usual bowling skills at Umina Oval

David Amos backing up with Ron Radford of Tamworth on strike

Dennis Stevenson and Gary Castles were the managers and we took lunch and Harry Solomons (25) and Peter Harrison (23) got us off to quick start as the outfield dried and John Jackson also retired on 24 as we passed their score in the 24th over with Phil Bray and Ross Dalgleish both not out. An easy win and a pleasant day in the sun. After a couple of beers at Rogers Park and a sausage sizzle, some of us took to the ocean which was still warm.

John Jackson received the Man of the Match Award from Chriss Crowell of Tamworth

Thursday 10th we were lined up against Central Coast Cyclones who had been beaten the previous dy after only scoring 58. Geoff Ainsworth (46 not out) and Steve Kavanagh opened up and Captain Latto was soon out with Ron Nes scoring 16 and then a mini collapse necessitated some rearguard action and Harry Solomons, coming in at 9 scored 35 not out in a partnership with first David Massey, who had organised this event for PJs, for which much thanks, and latterly David Wright took the score to 183 off our 40 overs. On a great wicket this was probably 20 runs light in vert windy conditions. President of Cyclones, Keith Vallis took 5-17 off 5 overs!

Harry Solomons on form all summer

With a revised bowling attack, led by David Massey (1-17) and Ron Nes, Steve Kavanagh's spell was sensational (2-4 off 6 overs) and when Paul Thomas's spell removed Bobby Newman CCC were in deep trouble at 4-39 with Presindet Vallis next to go with the score on 5-44. Harry took 2 wickets and the late arrival Lyon with the wind behind him took 3-3 off 4 overs and their innings petered out at 9-116.

Two days of enjoyable cricket in great conditions at great venues. Our thanks were emphasised for the excellent organisation and hostility by the Central Coast hosts and our last carnival of 2020 was at a close. Our thanks too to David Massey who spent a lot of time truing to balance two different XIs.