Jeff Brown unleashes a bowl. Harden Hornets took on last year’s runner-up’s Yass Taipans at Victoria Park Yass. Ben Davis was stand in captain in place of Jayson Smith who was on Fire Brigade duties. Davis was unable to follow up his previous weeks good form with only a duck this game but the highlight of the game was Peter Foster who made his first runs ever in cricket. Foster only joined the club as a social member without realising he would also have to pull on the whites. He was promoted up the order to have a bat when Hornets were nearing the required target and scored his first ever run with a mis-hit which landed between two fielders, the crowd burst into applause for the effort and Foster raised his bat as if he had scored hundred.
Davis won the toss and decided to field first as a number of players had to leave early for other functions. Drew Arabin and Nathan Anderson opened the bowling and had Yass in problems from the start. In the fourth over Anderson got one through Tyler Waters (8) setting the off stump rocking back. Two balls later he had Hugh Morrison (2) caught at square leg off a short pitch delivery. Next over Arabin chipped in with the wicket of Tommy Roberts (duck) who was well caught by Jeff Brown in the gully, at 3 for 17 Yass were in trouble. Steve O’Calloghan joined Adrian Waters, with a combined age well in excess of 100, pensioner hour was on with the run rate at snail pace. Davis swapped bowlers around to no avail until he brought himself on in the eighteenth over and had Waters (13) caught by Jono Nicholls off a top edge behind square leg. Drinks were taken shortly after and Yass were in trouble at 4 for 37. Shortly after drinks more trouble struck Yass with O’Calloghan breaking down with a quad injury and a hamstring injury. Walking like a chopper cow at the saleyards, quick singles were never the go. Slowly the Hornets started to get the wickets with Jordan Fittler (5), Taylor Doyle (7), Keegan Doyle (duck), and Richie Maher (duck). After 40 overs Yass were 9 for 85 with O’Calloghan not out 23 after batting for 35 overs. Best bowlers for Hornets were Nathan Anderson 3 for 16, Drew Arabin 2 for 16, Jeff Brown 2 for 9 and Ben Davis also 2 for 9. Special mention for the effort by Beau Abnett who kept for whole innings and barely had a blemish.
Hornets opened with Ben Davis who had to leave early and Jono Nicholls who also had to leave as he had a date at a 85th birthday party. Davis got his wish to leave early when bowled by Hugh Morrison for a duck. Nicholls (6) followed shortly after bowled by Tom Roberts, but importantly left him sufficient time to splash on the Brut cologne for his mature date. Nathan Anderson was joined by Jeff Brown and the pair showed how to bat on turf. Good defence and shot selection gave Yass little chance of a wicket. After a 66 run partnership Brown was finally out for a well made 27 bowled by Keegan Doyle. The “Peter Foster Show” occurred and then Nathan Anderson saw the Hornets home, not out 35. Hornets 4 for 87 from 22 overs.
Special mention to Kai “Ivan Milat” Steele who is participating in Movember, who has a moustache straight out of Goulburn super-max prison. It is something that his daughter Imogen has strongly indicated that she dis-likes. Kai is part of the Essential Energy Mo team so please donate as it is for a great cause. ………..
