The start of the A1 season got off to an early than expected start with the Senior Convener and A1 captain not realizing we started 30mins earlier than usual. So with the majority of the team rocking up 5 minutes before the first ball was to be bowled, it certainly wasn’t the ideal start. A new look A1 team this year, with an all-round injection of youth into the side with Pipsqueak Taylor, Phipo, Volc and Walts all making their debuts. We also welcomed Pete Whitehead back to the club, after slogging centuries at Balmain for the past couple of seasons.

However it was a good toss to lose and there was certainly a little bit in the wicket for the bowlers early, which was unusual for a Parklands pitch that is usually as flat as the freeway just down the road. Snumpty and Zouk bowled well early on, and restricted the Hornsby openers in the first 10 overs, with Snumpty picking up an early wicket. Smoke was in the thick of it early, with a brilliant direct hit run out to a nuffy batting with a thigh pad on the outside. I think it slowed him down. Tight bowling through the middle continued, with Hornsby seemingly only being able to score runs from a guy filling in from D grade with his slog to cow corner. The spin twins of Smoke and Stotty bowled brilliantly with Smoke taking 4/12 off his 7 overs and Stotty 2/20. The surprise packet behind the stumps was the Peter Stott look-alike, Matt Phipson, who with his fluro yellow mouth guard, snared 3 outstanding stumpings off Smoke. I don’t think there was a stumping last year! This certainly annoyed Zouk, who is baffled how good bowling outside off stump can get wickets. Good death bowling restricted Hornsby to a very modest total of 9/130. On a quick Parklands outfield, and a very long West Penno batting lineup, this target was well within our reach.

Macca and Junior took to the crease and built a slow but solid partnership. Together they put on 50 for the 1st wicket, a feat only achieved once last year. Junior was unluckily dismissed for 22, and Zouk, sporting a brand new helmet straight out of the box that morning, came and went in style, again to a questionable lbw decision from the umpire. He must’ve been as keen as Snumpty to finish up early and watch the Kangaroos get belted! Pete Whitehead looked like he was a man on a mission in the middle, trying to get a late call up to the World Cup Twenty20 squad, belting one Hornsby bowler for 5 fours in one over. His cameo almost got us over the line; however it was left to Pipsqueak Taylor to finish the job off. Hornsby put him under pressure early on; however the kid certainly held his nerve and batted solidly. Macca toiled away to a solid 51* and smashed the winning runs, with 4 overs to spare and 7 wickets in hand. A solid and well deserved win in the opening match of the season, and a step in the right direction after a season last year most would rather forget.

Next week we face ARL, who seem to be the benchmark again this season and it will provide a good early gauge of how we’re traveling.

Junior can do you a quick spell check for me. Cheers.

Posted by Simon Smyth on September 23, 2007 10:27 PM