BWU2 v OLD BOYS COLLEGIANS, 6.12.14
On Saturday the BWU2 team fell short in its run chase against OBC7 by 55 runs. There were still some good performances against a team that has been dominating this section. The bowling and fielding restricted OBC7 to 144. The last time we played this team in round 3 BWU2 scored 145, so this was competitive. Of note were Brandon Gray’s 3 overs conceding just 7 runs, and Blake Stock’s 4 overs conceding 10 runs and taking a wicket. Carrying on from last week run outs featured strongly in this game showing some great fielding. A batting collapse effectively sealed the result. However, Blake Stock’s 39 off 54 balls runs was a great performance, especially in the context of this game. BWU2 ended with 89/9.
Ross James, Manager
BWU2 v HEATHCOTE, 29.11.14
BWU2 had a good win over Heathcote JB1 by 30 runs. This was a combination of some good batting followed up by some energetic fielding and some good catches.
BWU2 scored 134/8 off their 30 overs, with Blake Stocks top scoring with 30 runs off 21 balls, and Thomas James also helping the score along with 25 runs from 17 balls.
Heathcote was all out for 104 in the 24th over. Janula Fernando took three wickets in his 3 overs for 17 runs and Blake Stocks took 2 wickets for 2 runs in his 3 overs. Also notable was the ever economical Brandon Gray conceded just 1 run off his 3 overs. The fielding today was backing up the bowlers with five catches and two run outs. So overall a great team effort.
Ross James, Manager
BWU2 v HALSWELL, 22.11.14
BWU2 had a good win against Halswell 3, scoring 168 for 3 in their 30 overs. Halswell 3 replied with a score of 94 all out in the 29th over.
The notable batting effort was from Brandon Gray who retired not out on 44 runs off 29 balls, while his bowling was also impressive with bowling 4 overs claiming 2 wickets and conceding just 8 runs.
Thomas Anderson was also very economical, bowling 4 overs claiming with 2 wickets and conceding just 7 runs.
Overall a good effort with both bat and ball.
Ross James, Manager
PRESIDENTS FOXES v EAST-SHIRLEY BLUE, 15.3.14
In 1987 Shona Laing proclaimed, in a song titled the same, she was “Glad [she’s] not a Kennedy”. The single reached number 2 in the NZ charts and a semi-respectable number 32 in some random American “alternative music” chart. Generally the song was not well received in the USA – a people’s seasonal & ritualised fixation with JFK’s assassination standing tall in the face of a butch bisexual with a bad mullet. Her looks undoubtedly did little to assist record sales – people being far less accepting around the sexuality of celebrities in those days. I held no particular view on her at the time – aside from thinking she looked a bit like a bad Rod Stewart impersonator.
Christopher Peter Kennedy, of Christchurch, is not one of the Kennedys she referred to. He is the bespectacled Dentist, Father, & Senior Statesman of the BWCUCC President’s team – a legend in his own clubrooms. Slight of frame & angular of disposition, he has roved the playing fields of our park over many seasons – culminating in his 100th game for the Foxes, celebrated on Saturday.
Chris is what the Foxes are all about. Polite & genteel, but determined & competitive on the field. He is well known & respected by opposition players. They seek him out before 1pm – to shake his hand and speak earnestly. I’ve been skipper for 3 years now, but most still look to him for the toss or to confirm relevant sub-laws, such is the esteem in which he is held.
Having lost the toss we were afforded first use of the popping crease and, given the option, Chris “Arkle” Kennedy chose the No. 3 spot from which to launch his celebratory innings. His Mother arrived to watch. A devoted cricket lover, she has viewed him playing many times, including a masterful century crafted just last season on the same Burnside 4 block.
She would not be disappointed this day either. Conway dismissed cheaply, Kennedy joined Young – the latter revelling in a mixture of determination & alcohol induced haze. The perfect combination of a late night with a bottle of Baileys, nausea & being “due” coming together in his own personal Nirvana. He thrust & swung, lashed & drove. His runs came in violent waves – separated by periods of dead calm & panting.
By drinks Young had amassed 57 runs, his face purple with a mixture of delight & cardio malfunction. He inhaled a Steinlager & a chicken sandwich and was, predictably, dismissed immediately thereafter.
Kennedy was joined by the Skipper and encouraged to press on. His 50 came & went – and he surged forward towards the magical three figures. Easts bowling greatly assisted – the level of bowling at times similar to facing an uncoordinated Sister on a flat backyard track. At 81 he faltered, walking past a straight one & being bowled off-stump. He wandered off, pride & disappointment holding his mood in equal parts. But the job was done – the Foxes ending at 252/5 from their 40 overs – plenty against the grade’s battlers.
And the skipper had one more surprise for our Centurion hero. 8 overs straight, with a pessimistic field setting – three on the leg side boundary.And… when Arkle bowls… his body protests loudly, desperately… angrily…His first over or two are always punctuated with an enormous grunt each time he rolls a rusty and uncooperative shoulder forward. I’ve heard it once off the field as well. It came as he removed a tooth of mine in his surgery – placing both knees on my chest and pulling back forcefully to extract the damned individual. He may have irreparably injured the shoulder then & there…”Uurrhhhhhhhhgg” is as best I can describe the sound he makes at the release.
He bowls a mixture of seam-up & hope – slow enough to annoy but with sufficient guile & bounce to occasionally embarrass. And embarrass he did – the fielders specifically…. with three ‘pre-school easy’ chances spilled in a pot-pourri of incompetence and stupidity. He finished with 1 for 20 odd, bowling perfectly to his field by keeping cow-corner well employed.
But he kept them in check, combining with Gibson & Wheeler to squeeze the life from their innings – both knees on the chest and pulling forcibly to extract damned individuals from the crease. The Easts Blue line-up died a slow, painful, & boring death. 124/8 off their 40 overs. Fielders yawned & kicked at the ground…
Thereafter we celebrated, Arkle’s performance fittingly sufficient to earn him MVP in his 100th game. He took it all in his altruistic stride though.
I reckon being a Kennedy wouldn’t be so bad. I guess it depends on the location…
PRESIDENTS FOXES v ST ALBANS, 1.3.14
In the beginning it was very cold and damp and the pitch was soft and green. Having chosen “Heads” again…I mean sure statistically it must win soon, I mean really five “Heads” loses in row?…Hamish Kember gave the word to the batsmen to pad up and set 160 minimum as we were sent in by Potty their skipper against a very good St. Albans bowing attack. Having the type of selection difficulties that happen in Presidents from time to time, Dave Robertson was able to defy expectations in uncovering another former Canterbury representative, and lucky he did as Carl Frauenstein (that’s most vowels) took it to the bowling and dominated with sixes to all corners of ground, but particularly over the bowler’s head. BWC were going well at around 60/2 after 12 overs. Although Carl made the batting look easy the reality was you were never really “in” on this wicket and like the man in the LTSA advert, who I suspect was sitting at Hospital Corner, your number was going to be up.
In the over after drinks Carl’s number came up – it was a swashbuckling 59 – and BWC limped to 140 all out. Two other batsmen scored over 20 so we could have done a lot better. One of their bowlers, RJ, bowled 8 overs 2/9.
While I was umpiring the wicket keeper, a smaller chap with a big mouth was riled up and compared the inclusion of Carl as an act of cheating on the same level as Hanse Cronje. After his second round of complaining I told him f**k off back behind the stumps and focus on wicketkeeping and if he wanted a moan he can contact Canterbury Cricket. This added some spice into the game, but not a lot to the result.
With the change of innings the sun had done its job and runs, while not easy, began to flow. Other then three wickets, a couple of interesting fielding placements by the captain and a raving loon who on release from the Hospital stalked Jared Croft around the park, it was a loss. St. Albans got the runs with 7 wickets in hand and 5 overs to go.
Shane Young
PRESIDENTS FOXES v HORNBY, 8.2.14
E-Bay recently advertised a kitset model of the Hornby Cricket pavilion. They must have sold out, as the item is no longer available, and at only £14.40 that may not surprise.
OK, so it isn’t actually the Hornby cricket pavilion. It turns out that a Company called Hornby make a range of ‘Skaledale’ village style model buildings. There’s a market for everything I guess – always someone willing to feed the machine…
The actual Hornby Cricket Pavilion is tucked in the corner of the land Lionel Denton gave them in 1961 (refer Match Report – 20/10/12) and faces in the wrong direction. It looks over the boundary and fence lines to the west, roughly where a padded up Skipper might sit & wait in the late afternoon.
Also facing in the wrong direction was the tossed coin, the Skipper defying his previous determination to call tails and Hornby choosing to bat. A promising start saw them at 38/1 from 10 – perhaps the brightest start of the season against an ever-testing Foxes’ attack. They lost wickets regularly on a strange track – tennis ball bounce from the rolled mud at one end & low seam from grass at the other. One chap squirted chances all around the wicket but none were taken & his 40 odd formed the spine of Hornby’s 137 all out.
Russell ‘broken down’ Scott delivered four overs at each end & finished with 4/27. Chambers bullied three out himself & Youngy snatched a screamer in the gully. The skip snared two out of three chances – including a low one to his right at 1st slip – reinforcing the myth that he only drops them off Gibbo.
In reply the usual suspects, Conway & Dry, opened up. With them and Kennedy dismissed fairly cheaply the impressive second string Keeper, Ben Allan, joined the skipper at 62/3 – the latter finally getting a bat in 2014. Their partnership was such painful viewing that even the Hornby pavilion was seen to regularly wince and turn further away. The pitch played a part, but operator error was the dominant theme as they scratched and eked runs with increasingly poor timing. Their 75 run partnership ensured the victory though, with the skipper’s self-destruction with the scores tied the remaining highlight for a defeated Hornby unit.
Young finished it quickly, his Wife says this is his habit apparently, an the win was achieved with ten overs to spare. Allan was left 32 not out, while the Skipper’s second consecutive half-century, albeit nine weeks apart, had the boys comparing him to Kane Williamson…..
David Robertson
PRESIDENTS FOXES v MERIVALE-PAPANUI, 1.2.14
“I will prepare and some day my chance will come…” [Abraham Lincoln].
It’s tough just getting a bat in the BWU Presidents Foxes team these days. I should know. My last one was on 7 December – and I got a handy 60 odd. But since then, fracturing breaks for Christmas and to finger aside, I’ve spent an unreasonable amount of time sitting in a deck chair, padded up…
The problem is twofold. I have lost an unlikely number of tosses in a row, against mediocre opposition, and in each case THEY have chosen to bat. We have fielded first on all four occasions since Christmas. In the first of these we were chasing 190 against East Blue and we got it two down, with me listed at No: 5. Desperation swarmed my brain, so I have promoted myself to No. 4 ever since.
“You don’t score if you don’t bat” [Dave Robertson].
In the two games following we ran down their 108 and 102 respectively, while only losing a sole wicket. Pad rash has become a problem. My batting gloves have become stiff and disinterested. My thigh pad just sighs when I strap it on… My bat and I rarely speak now…
Ben (BA) Allan was suffering with me, he another who was just fielding every week, so I slotted him in at 3 against Sydenham Hospital and he got 40 not out, the rust flaking from his leading elbow and other joints as he cut and swathed.
I sat quietly, absorbed in jealousy…
He slung his bat upside down, splice facing out, on his shoulder as he walked off, the win achieved. They think I didn’t notice – but I saw it. His bat smirking as it whispered evilly in his ear… about me.
We played Merivale-Papanui this week and I felt sure things would change, as they share third with us, and harbour the same higher aspirations. We beat them in our ‘final’ last year to claim glory, and the resulting anger still burns for them, smouldering rage that demands release. They sledge constantly and viciously, their insipid, feral words exposing honourless lives.
I actually won the toss and, despite a brief interruption by their hairy opener seeking clarification of the already well-established wide rules, I once again chose to field. The win loomed larger in importance than any personal gratification in the collective conscious.
Regardless, this would be a tougher test for the Foxes and I felt certain our top six would later be truly tested here, and… I would bat again! How wrong I was…
Jeff Roy shared the new ball with Gibbo. Jeff’s a good bloke. Ex-Army and a family man, but white line fever exposes the competitiveness beneath. He throws himself into the battle with unsettling valour and enthusiasm, a proud soldier seeking glory. He bowled eight overs straight and ended with 4/19 – suppressing their collective potential like the Chinese suppress their media. From there they faltered to a disappointing 110 all out. Wheels snared 3/37 while I, finding a way to contribute post injury, bowled garbage in general but somehow claimed 2/3 off 4 promptly, taking myself off to preserve my “batsman” status…
Their innings closed, I walked off, secretly dreaming, the nectar of the bat in hand the only fruit I craved. A rebellious hope stirred in me. They usually bowl well and have a leggie none of us can read, so, surely we will lose some wickets here… surely I would bat this day…
Conway and Dry are our openers and both have been going well. Dry has over 300 runs and Conway is intent on catching him. They started positively, as is their habit, but at 44/0 (from 10 overs) I saw the MP leggie come on, and I happily left the deck chair to re-stretch calf muscles. But Conway ploughed on, the bully on a roll, while Dry remained cautious. And at 72/0 (off 18) I felt that familiar feeling slowly seeping back…
Momentary reprieve when Conway departed for a brisk and brutish 69, but Dry suddenly broke the shackles and Kennedy chose this moment to stroke a boundary 3rd ball. With 3 to win I stripped off the pads in frustration and muttered to Crofty (at No:5) that he could mop up the crumbs if need be, instead pointing myself towards the chill-bin.
(We’ve lost just 5 wickets in the last 4 innings…. Will fate continue to throw punches at me like an evil pugilist…? “Maybe next week?” my gloves murmured hopefully…)
Frustration was swept aside as pleasure at the win saw my spirits further elevated by a cunning idea. I quietly but carefully returned the opposition’s scoreboard to them, replete with our winning total (114/1 off 24) still displayed, placing it astride where they gathered – as those defeated and deflated men scoured their minds for answers. Then I wandered pitch-ward, before turning on the heel and sneakily snapping a photo (above).
This picture heralds 1000 words – the pain and confusion from their defeat painted therein.
Solace for me Abraham – my chance did come! And I was ready…
David Robertson
THE SOUTH ISLAND PRIMARY SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT, GORE, JANUARY 2014
The South Island Primary Schools Tournament (SIPST) was held in Gore, starting with the opening ceremony on 5 January, with all teams looking forward to five days of cricket. Nine boys from the BWU Year 8 Premier side were involved, 7 for Christchurch Metro sides and one each representing West Coast and Buller. Unfortunately the weather did not play its part. Monday was fine and a full day’s play was completed with Metro Red only 2 wickets from an outright win, and Metro Black having a narrow first innings loss. Tuesday was an important day for both teams, Red playing Canterbury Country (the big clash) and Black needing to get back on track against Nelson. Play started under heavy cloud, with both teams winning the toss and deciding to bowl. Both teams started very well, especially Black who had Nelson 21/6, and Red had Country 31/2 when the rain came in and washed out play for the remainder of the day. Wednesday was also lost to rain. Both teams achieved first innings wins on Thursday and were still in the hunt going into the final day, with Red one point behind and Black two points behind. Friday was forecast to be fine, but this was too good to be true and teams faced constant heavy horizontal drizzle throughout the day. Both teams pushed very hard, with the Red team coming within three wickets of winning the tournament and Black pushing hard for the outright. A frustrating week, with the unbeaten Red team coming third and Black fourth. All the Burnside players performed well with the limited chances they received. A great week enjoyed by all irrespective of the weather. Red team was captained by Louie Chapman and coached by Peter Hay, whilst the Black team was captained by Dominic Cornish and coached by Mike Dunlop.
Christchurch Metro Under 14 side
One Christchurch Metro side was selected after the SIPST side to play a Districts selected side in a 2 day and one day game. Burnside was well represented with the following players selected – Mitchell Hay, Louie Chapman, Dominic Cornish, James Ryan, Tom Dunlop and Cullen Moody. This team performed very well, winning the two day game outright at the Heathcote Domain and then backing this up with a convincing one day win at the Ashburton Oval.
Peter Hay
CONFESSIONS OF A MATCH REPORT WRITER, DECEMBER 2013
I went to a MWA meeting the other day, my first in a while. MWA stands for Match-report Writers Anonymous. It’s a support group for people like me, who have this terrible affliction – this tragic disease. Each person, in turn, stands and introduces themselves, then talks about their addiction, its debilitating consequences, and the impact on those around them. I was second up – after Christine Daniels – and my speech went like this:
“My name is David… and I’m a Match-report Writer. It’s been 53 days since my last match report, but I remember it like it was yesterday. That building anticipation as I turned on the laptop, the first few sweet and pure seconds as my fingers hovered over the keys, the rush of adrenalin as I laid out my first sentence. It was about the BWU Presidents game, as most of my reports are. In this case we had played Sydenham Hospital – and they are a group who brim with potential, the sarcasm flowing like a river as I stroked the keys. They were all out 27 & I had the first half of the report clear in my head by 2.15pm that day. I drank my after-match beers a little too quickly, and bustled to the car, muttering potential narrative under my breath. I don’t remember the drive home – such was the intoxicating effect of the words in my brain… It was bad, real bad – and later, the report done & posted on FB – I was struck by the impact of my actions. I had to stop, I had to change – no more reports from me….. My name is David… and I have MWS…”
The other addicts clapped furtively as I finished speaking. Some rose & hugged me, some wept.
The effects on those close to someone with MWS (Match-report Writer’s Syndrome) are savage. It breaks up families, ruins sleep, destroys relationships and often prevents anyone else accessing emails or Facebook on the family computer. Devastating and brutal too are the effects on others – especially those written about. Lives laid bare in the stroke of a “post” button.
Presidents grade cricketers have retired because of my words, and some have even caught MWS themselves. Others grin weakly when they next play us – steely eyes masking bitterness & pain.
My decision to stop has led me in a difficult journey – fraught with temptation at every turn.
We played Hornby a couple of weeks later and Gibbo bounced their pot-bellied Aussie. The ball bristled past his bourbon laced breath, dislodging a fleck of food from his matted goatee. The urge rose in me, but I ignored it.
The following week 4 Foxes filled in for 2B’s – again versus Hornby. K-Mart customers wandered past on Main South Road & I averted my eyes. Shane changed his shirt in front of me twice, his thick black chest hair plastered by sweat to his pale flesh. I looked away quickly, my mind racing as it searched for a suitably emotive adjective.
Then, in the field, Shane took a screamer. Hornby have a lefty named Kennett. He’s shortish, with a moderate ginger gene. He goes good too – 165 the previous week we were told. He cleared his hip smoothly time & again – lashing & carving the bowlers square on the off-side. Then Gibbo offered him a fuller one. He snatched it hungrily, launching a violent off drive at knee height. Shane saw it late & reacted later. He dropped his knees & initiated a sideways roll in self-preservation. But the ball thundered at him too swiftly and he could only bring his hands together in front of his gut, the condemned man’s last act to deflect the executioner’s bullets. It struck him hard in the palms & stuck, a magical catch to dismiss their best.
Immediately the line rose in me, and my hands lifted to an imaginary keyboard. I tried to forget them, as we slips rolled back on our heels in shock and awe at the catch. I fought to push the words back down inside me, biting my lip & glancing skyward. But I couldn’t stop it – the words were out before I could close that proverbial gate. I turned to Buckets and set them free: “He didn’t have time to drop that” I said aloud….
Later, in the dark of the lounge at home, the laptop stared at me silently.
In the weeks that followed I was tortured and tormented. Conrad gave me out LBW against ES Gold and the old me would have stung him viciously with grouped letters.
Then we needed 9’s against St Albans, with 3 wickets left, and almost got there – and I stood & watched their cockiness slowly seeping out of them like wind from a corpses’ orifice.
But it gets worse…. much worse….
They had a wicket-keeper/batsmen called ‘Stumpy”… and he… he’s a ‘little person’….
The force is strong in me Obi-wan. Temptation claws at me like a feral cat. Time and again the words have stained the walls of my mind, tempting me seductively.
My journey is one through hell itself and I’m not sure how long I can stay clean.
And each night the laptop stares silently on…
David Robertson
JUNIOR PREMIERS V OLD BOYS COLLEGIANS, 14.12.13
Eight from eight, competition winners and holders of the Derek Cockburn Shield sums up a very good season for this talented group. Success does not come easy and this team worked hard throughout the season challenging themselves to get better each week. The strength of the team was based around a philosophy of playing positively and playing for the team. Each week enough boys stood up to ensure we posted a competitive score or took the required wickets. Whilst the competition was already in the bag the last game of the season was against a very strong OBC side who were very keen to take us down. We lost the toss and they put us in on a dry turning Ilam pitch. A slow start and the loss of 3 late wickets saw us a 3/51 at drinks, even with a solid 34 from Tom at the top. OBC continued making inroads and at one stage had us 80/6, before Josh and Dominic put on an excellent partnership to take us through to 154/6, with Josh finishing on 39no and Dominic 33no. Not our best batting performance but at least a total we thought we could defend. OBC were also slow through the first 20 overs losing 2 wickets along the way to be slightly behind the required run rate. A couple of handy knocks saw them in with a chance but some good pressure bowling and fielding (and a few quiet words from the coach), saw wickets fall at regular intervals and the run rate climb. The day was done in the 38th over with OBC 31 runs short of the required target. Louie, Josh, Dominic and Ryan all picked up 2 wickets.
This is the end of the boys’ junior careers at the club as they now head off to their respective High Schools – I wish them well and hope they return to the club to play senior cricket in years to come. I would like to thank Mike Dunlop (co-coach) and all our helpers whether umpiring, scoring or organising the coffee! This was a tight group of players and supporters who enjoyed the environment within the club. Coming back to the club after a day’s cricket was enjoyed by all. The club has been incredibly supportive and special thanks must go to Peter Burke.All the very best for the rest of the season. I am sure we will be back for a beer and maybe to help Bussie with those flags! Peter Hay, Coach.
JUNIOR PREMIERS v ST ANDREWS, 7.12.13
Hats off to a STAC side that pushed the team for 75% of the game before we assumed control in the last quarter. Each week we try and raise the bar in our performance but we only achieved this in the last 20 overs on Saturday after a pretty mixed effort for the first 60 overs. Losing the toss we got our wish and batted first. The loss of two early wickets saw Mitchell (33) and Louie (23 put on a good partnership to see us at 74/3 at drinks. We pushed on to finish at 167/7 with Mathias chiming in with a positive 26 with some excellent running between the wickets. Luke Murray for STAC bowled extremely well causing problems for all batsman. In response STAC played very positively and were right in the game after 20 overs after what was one of the teams poorer efforts in the field. A few stern words by the coaches at drinks saw a transformed team playing back at the level they expect. After Harry Cockram retired for a good 50, the rest of STAC batsman failed to apply themselves and were all out for 104. Josh Paul 3/20 and Ryan James 3/25 were the key wicket takers. The side remains unbeaten with one game to go against the strong OBC side. Peter Hay, Coach.
YEAR 7 PREMIERS v SUMNER, 7.12.13
The Year 7 Premiers can report that they have finally put one in the win column, playing against Sumner. A much more positive batting performance led to a strong team score of 164/5 (Jonty Hunter 44, Kobe Beecroft 25*, Ryan Sheehan 26), while the bowlers weathered an early storm to eventually bowl Sumner out for 87 (Nathanael Paltridge 2/2, Jacob Hartshorn 2/14). There is still room for improvement in the team aspects of the game, but the boys did well. Richard Hartshorn, Coach.
JUNIOR PREMIERS v SYDENHAM, 30.11.13
A slow day of cricket playing at home on the number 3 pitch. This was the team’s last game of the round against a reasonably handy Sydenham side. If we won it was six from six. To our surprise Sydenham, after winning the toss, decided to bat. Expecting them to play with some intent it turned out to be a pretty slow batting display with them being all out in the 40th over for 94 runs. To be fair the pitch was slow with variable bounce which put doubt in the batsman’s mind. Mitchell with his leg spin and flight ended with 3/10. Our batting performance was assisted early on with a lot of extras but was also slow by our standards but ahead of the required rate. Not our best display by any means, but Cullen Moody showed what could be achieved with a good paced 40no to bring the team home in the 25th over. There is worked to be done but we must be happy with being unbeaten after round one. The Derek Cockburn shield is home for another week.
Acknowledging Year 8 Players
Being club day and with only 2 games remaining before the year 8 boys head off to High School, it was appropriate to acknowledge some of the boys. This was a very difficult task as on the whole all boys have done what was asked and performed to a very good standard. In the end four boys who have been the core of the year 8 premiers for a couple of years and have performed over this period were given awards. Mitchell Hay started with the club doing ‘Have A Go’ and had his first game in year 8 premiers as a year 6, before being a key player from year 7. Tom Dunlop had his very early days at Riccarton before coming to club and also played his first game in premiers as a year 6 and then became a key player from year 7. Louie Chapman and Dominic Cornish decided the grass was greener at BWU and how right they were! Both have been leading players from year 7 in the Premier side.
Matthias Paltridge
Matthias Paltridge is also off to the South Island Primary Schools Tournament after just missing out on the Metro teams. Matthias will be playing either for the West Coast or Buller. Peter Hay, Coach.
YEAR 7 PREMIERS v OBC, 30.11.13
The Year 7 Premiers fought gamely this week but came up short against OBC. OBC batted first and played steadily against a pretty solid bowling effort. They finished on 126/2. Hiram Taleni and Riley Hunter each got a wicket. Our batsman struggled to be sufficiently positive and were always behind the required rate. We finished on 99/5, with the highlight being Theo McIntosh’s frenetic 22* at the end of the innings. Richard Hartshorn, Coach.
BWU4 (YEAR 6 SECTION 1) v OBC10, 30.11.13
This week we played OBC10 and after winning the toss and sending in them in they were 99/7 at 18 overs. However, we just couldn’t get the last two batsmen out, and they went on to really push the score in the last 12 overs to be 196/8 after 30 overs. The pick of our bowlers were Eliza McIntosh (3/24) and Thomas Anderson (2/11). In reply Riley Goad batted beautifully, ending not out 43, but unfortunately Blake was the only other batter to make double figures and we were all out in 28th over for 117. Nevertheless we are playing some good cricket and everybody is improving. Angus McIntosh, Coach.
YEAR 7 PREMIERS v SYDENHAM, 23.11.13
Once again the Year 7 Premiers went very close, but just failed to pull off a win against Sydenham – this time they made it through to the second to last ball. Batting first they put up 129 for the loss of only three wickets. The top scorer was extras (50!) but Theo McIntosh contributed 22, while Ryan Sheehan made 15* and Jonty Hunter 14*. Once again one player got away from us, but the best bowling performances were from Nathanael Paltridge (2/12) and Jonty Hunter (2/11), as Sydenham scored the runs with the last pair at the crease. They retained the challenge shield for the grade. Richard Hartshorn, Coach.
BWU4 (YEAR 6 SECTION 1) v SYDENHAM, 23.11.13
BWU4 had another very close game which came down to last over again this week. After being put in by Sydenham at Cobham we made 124/8. We were in trouble early, but good knocks by Riley Goad (29) and a ‘last man standing’ innings by Louie Everson (33*) helped us post a defendable total in our 30 overs. It looked like it was going to be a walkover as Sydenham batted very strongly initially going through their first 15 overs without losing a wicket. However, the second 15 overs saw a different story with Molly Dunlop bowling a game-changing spell of 4/13 from 4 overs. She bowled straight and full, taking a wicket in each of her four overs, to set up an exciting finish. Sydenham struggled to recover and the brakes were put on the scoring. Only a couple of big hits down the ground into the ‘max zone’ scoring 8 each time (grr… hate that rule!) took it to the last over with two runs required. We couldn’t quite hold them back at the end, and they won by two wickets (125/6). Nevertheless this was our best bowling performance with only seven wides, and the coach now has to make good on a reward promise at training this week! Angus McIntosh, Coach.
JUNIOR PREMIERS v MEDBURY 1, 16.11.13
The privilege of playing at home on the number 3 block ended abruptly with the senior T20 games. Out the back on the artificial against the previously unbeaten Medbury the thought was that the artificial may even this game up. Leading the team this week was first time captain Matthias Paltridge. A student of the game, Mathias did his homework during the week working through the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. Winning the toss Mathias had no hesitation in batting first. Good partnerships throughout the innings of 56, 51, 18, 84 and 38 saw us through to an imposing total of 247/4. Excellent contributions by Tom Dunlop 51, Ryan James 67, Matthias 48 no, and cameos from Mitchell 23 and Cullen 20 no. Medbury appeared to be overwhelmed by our total and never really showed any intent in chasing the total. However they managed to bat the 40 overs for the loss of 8 wickets, finishing on 138. Credit to Gus Mowat and Nick Lidstone who combined for Medbury to put on a good rearguard partnership. Wickets were shared about, with Mitchell getting a wicket bowled, a caught behind, a stumping and a run out. Louie and Dominic showing excellent arms to instigate two run outs. Another big win for this talented side. Peter Hay, Coach.
YEAR 7 PREMIERS v HALSWELL, 16.11.13
The Year 7 Premiers again fell short this week, this time by some 40 runs against Halswell. The difference was fielding, as one Halswell player scored 66 runs, having been dropped four times, and the last 40 of them were scored very quickly indeed. Best bowling figures went to Jacob Hartshorn (2/16) and Jonty Hunter (2/23). Our batting in reply struggled to score at the required rate, but the Hunter brothers, Jonty and Riley batted really well together at the end (28* and 21*, respectively). Richard Hartshorn, Coach.
JUNIOR PREMIERS v HALSWELL, 9.11.13
With the depth of talent within this team the philosophy is to play aggressive cricket, which has worked for us so far. On top of this we want to continue to lift our standards, whether batting, bowling or fielding – there is always room for improvement so there is no resting on laurels. Winning our second toss for the season the decision was simple, bat and bat aggressively in an attempt to bat the opposition out of the game. Opening with Dominic Cornish and Josh Paul gave us a left hand right hand combination. After 10 overs they were running at close to 4 an over and at drinks (20 overs) were still together on 96. After drinks they lifted the run rate taking the excellent partnership through to 135 when Josh was caught hitting out for 50. Soon after Dominic retired for 55. The batsman that followed threw wood at leather chipping in with quick fire innings taking the team total through to 225/6. This is a pretty intimidating total which Halswell never threaten finally all out for 50 in the 25thover. Best of the bowlers, Mathias Paltridge 2/7, Louie Chapman 2/6, Mathew Bond 1/1 and Cullen Moody 1/1. The Derek Cockburn shield survives another week, as we face the unbeaten Medbury this coming Saturday. Peter Hay, Coach.
YEAR 7 PREMIERS v MARIST-HAREWOOD, 9.11.13
The Year 7 Premier team had another close game, but again came up just short. We batted first, putting up 95/7 in the 30 overs. Theo McIntosh top scored with 28 retired. Marist-Harewood were running well ahead of the required run rate and looked to have things under control at 88/7 with six overs remaining. Our bowling and fielding effort went up a gear and Marist-Harewood only managed to get the runs in the last over with the last pair at the wicket. The wickets were shared around, but the best figures belonged to Ryan Sheehan with 2/6. The lesson for the team is in what might have been if that intensity had been present earlier in the game. Richard Hartshorn, Coach.
BWU4 (YEAR 6 SECTION 1) v HALSWELL, 9.11.13
BWU4 played a Halswell team at an unusually green and well-mowed Warren Park. After losing the toss, we were put in on damp pitch and wet outfield, but battled well to get through to 53/1 after our first 15 overs. However, some wayward bowling and average fielding saw Halswell get 93 from their first 15 overs. In our next turn at bat some great hitting from Riley Goad (33* from 20 balls) well supported by Blake Stocks (21*), Louie Everson (25) and others saw us set Halswell a reasonable total (164/3). We bowled and fielded much better in our next 15 overs to set up a close finish with Halswell needing 7 runs from the last over. Unfortunately we weren’t quite able to get the win, but it was pleasing effort to get so close, with a big improvement in our second fielding effort. Halswell ended 167/4. Angus McIntosh, Coach.
PRESIDENTS FOXES v MERIVALE-PAPANUI, 2.11.13
Having failed to put the score into the CCA here is a summary of the match from my recollections. Having been handed the handed the selection card by the skipper before he took off golfing I had Crofty pull the pin Friday (only cause he didn’t have the skippers wrath) and Squid pull up lame after a early morning run (really). Squid did get my note that we had a replacement can came to the ground prepared to fill a spot in the field – but in fact offered much more in the way of his trousers to the supersub and his box to Turns – who had a nervous time batting as slipped down his trouser leg and offered only knee protection. Trants also pulled up lame but managed to not only play, but arrange to a cold beer delivery as he scored. Champion…. I had been able to get Doug Claridge on the 5th hole and he txt back confirming he could play, Arkle was advised that he could turn his arm over not have done so for about 6 years. 20/20 was a bit of new concept for the MPCC boys who were in the shit early on as BWC bowled well and caught even better taking 80% of the easy chances and 50% of the hard ones 6 catches and runout! MPCC failed to complete the FOW but I reckon they were 5/50 at one stage with a retired bat. The bowlers did the job keeping it tight and stand out were Glen Cossey 3/19 and Doug Claridge who after 2 overs had 3/3 to finish on 3/12 off 3 overs – not too bad for a late call up and a supersub.BWC managed to knock off the runs with Conway 33, Turner batting for is average N.O. 26 with support from Glen Cossey who belted a 6 to get us to the LBJ a bit quicker. A highlight for the game was their bowler Hooper giving our Conway some lip as he was being stroked around the ground. J.Roy (umpire) advising him to STFU with the other batsman and skipper Arkle swearing and cursing (the first time since Dec 2007 vs. LPW). Cricket – a game within in a game…. and plenty of chat will be had on the table at the physio this week. Shane Young, Man Of Many Parts.
JUNIOR PREMIERS V EAST SHIRLEY, 2.11.13
There is no doubt that the boys and parents enjoy playing at home. Defending the Derek Cockburn Shield without the shield was a real possibility when last Sunday we received a text from the entrusted family that they had misplaced the shield! Lucky they had at least put it into one of our boys playing bags so the damage at the bar was not too bad! Anyway over on number 3 against East Shirley we lost the toss again but got our wish and when we were put into bat. The East Shirley opening bowlers were brisk and accurate making things difficult in the early stages and at drinks we were 50/4 with ES controlling the game. Post drinks though with a change of approach Louie and Tom put together a quick 50 run partnership. Louie continued on in an aggressive fashion supported with quick cameos from the other batsman with the team finishing on 167/8, Louie 65no. East Shirley showed positive intent but lost regular wickets and were dismissed in the 25th over for 74. Best of our bowlers were Josh 4/15 off 4 overs and Mitchell 2/21 off 6.The day was successfully finished off with a cool drink back at the club celebrating the achievement of Scott. Peter Hay, Coach.
YEAR 7 PREMIERS V MEDBURY, 2.11.13
This week the Year 7 Premier Team came up a little short against Medbury. Medbury batted first on a Cockatoo Corner wicket that was soft and slippery following overnight rain, with an outfield that was still rather wet. This may have contributed to the 21 wides in Medbury’s score of 99/6. Jonty Hunter was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/8 off three overs. Regular wickets meant that only one player got into double figures (Nathanael Paltridge 13*) as we ran out of overs on 82/8. Richard Hartshorn, Coach.
JUNIOR PREMIERS v OLD BOYS COLLEGIANS, 26.10.13
The Derek Cockburn Shield is back with BWU after a good win over the very good OBC team. Playing at Ilam Fields in what were unpleasant conditions with the strong NorWesters, we knew we were slightly better off than those flying in to land at Christchurch airport. In many ways this was the clash of the titans as OBC won the post Christmas competition with BWU a close second. Expectations were high from both teams and this was shown in the strong group of supporters from both teams braving the blustery conditions. Our plan was to bat if we won the toss, and thought if OBC won the toss they would put us in to bat anyway. Well how wrong can you be, we lost the toss and OBC chose to bat. In the high winds the bowlers understandably struggled to get rhythm but when they did get it right we certainly troubled their batsman. We had some early success with OBC losing 4 reasonably quick wickets with Dominic bowling two top deliveries to remove two of their batsman with consecutive balls and finished with 3/15. Credit must be given to those that bowled into the wind, with Matthew Bond finishing with 1 for 4 off 7 overs and Louie Chapman 0/12 off 6 overs. After 40 overs OBC were 113/7 with Liam Crosbie retiring on 43, the next best being extras! We wanted to be positive in the chase but OBC did not make the going easy with some excellent bowling and fielding. After the loss of 2 quick wickets, Josh Paul to a stunning catch by Matt Boyles, Mitchell & Cullen settled in to form an excellent partnership of 84 runs which was only broken when Mitchell retired on 46. They showed a lot of skill and maturity as they worked together to dismantle the OBC bowlers – pushing singles and punishing the bad ball when it arrived. Cullen was there at the end on 43, bringing us home in the 35th over with the loss of only 2 wickets. The successful day was completed with a bbq and quiet ale with the OBC parents and players tucked away out of the wind. Peter Hay, Coach.
YEAR 7 PREMIERS V EAST SHIRLEY, 26.10.13
The Year 7 Premier team were on the right side of a very one-sided game against East Shirley. Batting first, we scored 124 runs without losing a wicket (Theo McIntosh 44*, Hiram Taleni 24*, Ryan Sheehan 19*, Jacob Hartshorn 11*). The team were very positive and switched on in the field and rapidly dismissed Easts for 17. Nathanael Paltridge took 3 wickets for only 2 runs in two overs. The rest of the wickets were shared around. An early finish on a lovely morning! Richard Hartshorn, Coach.
JUNIOR PREMIERS v ST ANDREWS, 19.10.13
Firstly I would like to welcome new players to the club and our team, Matthew Bond, Matthias Paltridge, Ryan James and Cullen Moody. I am sure you will enjoy your time with Burnside West. After little preparation we played St Andrews College at Cobham Intermediate. The outfield was well grassed which only hid the roughness of the ground. Winning the toss we decided to clear some rust and put STAC into bat. Whilst there was some early resistance the scoring was slow which allowed a number of loose balls to go unpunished. The bowling was mixed (quite a few wides) at best which was a reflection of nerves and a lack of practice time. The positive though is that we created a number of chances but our execution was what one would expect on the opening day of the season. Despite this, with the talent of this side STAC were all out for 91 in the 38th over. Main wicket takers were Cullen Moody with 3/14 (off 5 overs), Dominic Cornish 2/10 (off 7), and Ryan James 2/10 (off 6). 91 runs is never enough at Cobham even on the well grassed outfield and after a slowish start we passed their total after 24 overs with the loss of 2 wickets. Dominic completed a good day finishing on 39no.A good turnout back at the clubrooms rounded off a good start to the season for all. Peter Hay, Coach.
YEAR 7 PREMIERS V MEDBURY 2ND XI, 19.10.13
The Year 7 Premier Team (BWU 3) opposition defaulted, but the CJCA managed to organise a friendly 30 over game for us against a Year 8 team (the Medbury 2nd XI) that had a bye. It turned out to be a really good practice match which finished up with a tie! Kobe Beecroft was the top performer in our fielding effort, taking 2-8 and a good catch, as Medbury made it to 109/5. Our batting stuttered a bit, with wickets falling regularly, until we were 55/5 after 20 overs. The key player in the fight back was Jonty Hunter who scored 33*, with good support from Kobe, who scored 17* to complete a fine all-round game. Jonty hit a 4 off the last ball to get us to 109/7. All in all a very good day, an excellent result for a friendly game played in good spirit, and we have some good “work ons” for practice this week. Richard Hartshorn, Coach.
BWU4 v LPW, BWU4, 19.10.13
BWU4, playing in the year 6 section 2 grade, had an excellent first up win against a Lancaster Park-Woolston team. Riley Hunter, BWU captain for the day, won the toss and put LPW in to bat. Although the Burnside Oval 8 pitch was slightly damp, it was straight BWU bowling that really had LPW in trouble quickly. They ended up 63 all out after 21 overs due to excellent bowling by Blake Stocks with 3/2 from two overs, supported by James White (2/7), Eliza McIntosh (1/7) and Louie Everson (1/0). There was some great fielding also, including a direct hit run out from Louie Everson. Extras were a sizeable contributor to the BWU total, but we only lost two wickets in getting to 66 with 14 overs (of 30) to spare. Angus McIntosh, Coach.
PRESIDENTS FOXES v SYDENHAM HOSPITAL, 19 OCTOBER 2013
Ian Colquhoun had a stunningly poor Test average of 0.5.He only played 2 tests for NZ – batting 3 times with a high score of 1no…… Colquhoun gained distinction in the second match of the series against England in 1955, as he was dismissed first ball in each innings by Bob Appleyard. He was in good company in terms of failure – as NZ were dismissed for 26 in the 2nd innings. There were no run outs though. He got a Queen’s Service Medal in 1985 – but it wasn’t for his batting…
We played the Sydenham Doctors & Midwives team at home this week. They’re perennial strugglers but have proven difficult to put away at times, so we won the toss and bowled – resigned to not knowing the score in Canterbury’s ITM Cup rugby semi til the break. Their openers ran themselves out, separately of course. The first glanced one to Crofty’s left & took off – all baritone affirmative & speed off the mark. If the “Nooooooo…..” from the other end surprised him, then Crofty’s swoop & return utterly shocked him. He slipped & fell to the ground in a mixture of confusion & pain – like an ageing gunslinger not understanding how his opponent had drawn & fired from the hip quite so fast… They crumbled like dried bread from there. Conway, Gibson & Wheeler sharing the spoils while everyone else rolled shoulders energetically whenever the skipper’s eye passed near.
All out for 27… one better then the 1955 NZ team I suppose…I popped a stubbie & packed my gear, as Turner wiped the deficit in 15 balls. We sat in the club as the first half of the rugby reached its end & celebrated watching the 2nd. We looked forward to next week and discussed a potential “banner day” later in the year, while Youngy slaved over the BBQ. I might nominate him for a QSM. David Robertson, Captain.
PRESIDENTS FOXES V SYDENHAM CARDINALS, 19.10.13
Bert Walker’s a good bloke.
After leaving school, when I was young & interesting, I played for Sydenham initially. After a successful start in 3rd Grade I got put in 2nd’s and that was when I first met Bert. He was part of a band of older cricketers not yet ready to slide down the grades, while us younger ones weren’t yet good enough to slide up….
Bert has an amazing cricket brain. He recalls stats & moments from seasons long forgotten – painting lyrical scenes of summers & performances as he recounts them. He has often furtively described to me (and others) an innings I once played at Hagley 3 – which I can only recall vaguely. He knows how many CCA wickets he has taken – in all forms over many years.
I watched Bert try to kill himself once. We were well positioned against our opponents at Sydenham Park, and Bert was badly positioned at fine leg on the 1. The batsman shovelled one past him and he took off after it – his tall, angular frame leaning into the easterly, with his long, angular legs working to keep up.
Near the boundary Bert was beaten, the ball rolling inevitably beyond his grasp. I assume he felt it was his moment, his chance to contribute, perhaps a potential future story to recount & relate. He threw himself forward recklessly, grazed the ball, landing heavily and immediately colliding with a tree. The tree gave no inch, wanting no part in the matter.
Cricketers & motorists exerted a collective wince. Bert lay motionless for several moments & perhaps at home for some days after. It was a surreal thing to watch – the metaphoric collision, of bravery & stupidity, just as spectacular as the actual one.
We kicked off the 2013/14 season against a Sydenham Cardinals team at Burnside 4. The toss won we bowled, regularly taking wickets to roll Bert Walker & Co for 136 in 40 overs. Stenchy & Wheels the best with ball, while Gibbo finally hit the stumps in Presidents Grade.
In reply we started positively. Young got his usual brisk 15 then fell, still well in the red against fielding misdemeanours. From there we leaked wickets, like an old man’s incontinent bladder. At 6 for 60 we were battling, with wily Cardinals grinning maniacally.
Scott and Allan slowly sought to right the ship. But then – for the 2nd time – I watched Bert throw himself forward recklessly. No collision with a tree this time though, instead he somehow snatched an improbable catch off the grass. Ben Allan gone and with that our last hope faded – stumbling all out & 15 short in the final over.
We handed over the Frampton Shield and exchanged pleasantries. Julian van Dyke far less bitter about declined LBW’s (but perhaps not about previous Match Reports).
Bert left our club with a smile and a one-liner, as is his habit. He’s a good bloke. David Robertson, Captain