Paul ‘Wings’ McCarthy with his famous Black Stump.

The Twin Towns’ biggest and most serious rivalry will recommence at Tim Doolan Oval, at Midday on Tuesday January 26 on Australia Day.

The Black Stump is up for grabs and will be fought over by the ‘Hardenites’ and the ‘Murruburrians’. The men from the ‘Burrah’ have traditionally been the premier side according to the Twin Town Times resident columnist, Harden Cricket Club Life Member and Local Legend, Paul ‘Wings’ McCarthy. The sporting stalwart is chuffed at the revival of the match, after a few missed opportunities over the last few years. “Murrumburrah have won about 12 of the 14 encounters and were helped in the past by the skill of Simon Doolan and the O’Brien family.”

Paul’s love of everything Harden Murrumburrah inspired him to construct the black stump over 20 years ago. “I got an old stump and a plate and some brass finishings and put in together and the Black Stump was here.”

The match is well known for bringing up old grudges and loyaties from a time when the twin towns were not symbiotic but in fact separate. This may seem like an age ago, but not for some of our more experienced Twin Town locals. Una West told the TTT editor some time ago: “We never went to Harden for anything when I was a little girl, we had a baker, a grocer, a butcher, and a boot maker and we didn’t need to head up the hill, we had everything we needed in Murrumburrah.”

The old battle lines were everyone who lived west of the Harden Nursery played for Murrumburrah and to the east, Harden.

Harden have traditionally worn blue shirts or colours and Murrumburah red. The players are asked to make an effort with their attire in the match that will allow bragging rights for the next 12 months.

Many of the local cricketers have joined together and chased some dollars in an 8 a side tournament at Young held on the same day over the last few years, however they are not attending the cherry capital in 2016 and will be on deck for the match.

‘Wings’ will be officiating the 30/30 match as he has done for nearly every Black Stump challenge. A couple of rules this year will be that: everyone has to have a bowl; ‘Wings’ will bowl one over for each side; and only short run-ups. The match will kick off at Midday and those attending the Australia Day celebrations in Newson Park are invited to attend. The Twin Town Times will be scraping the bottom of the  bank account to rustle up $150 worth of snags and drinks for the two sides.

Tim Doolan Oval is in superb condition thanks to the efforts of Harden Cricket Club President Matthew Schofield and his parks and gardens team. ‘Wings’ said the pitch is second to none in the district.

POSSIBLE SQUADS TO CONTEST FOR THE BLACK-STUMP TROPHY 2016.

HARDEN ( BLUE SHIRTS ) M. Schofield, M. Brown, N. Schofield, M. Stadtmiller, G. Murray, J.Pollard, C. Hocking, T. Elliott, T. Spackman M. Spackman J. Brown, M. Malone, J. Smith, D. Arabin. ( Coach K. Brown ).

MURRUMBURRAH ( RED SHIRTS ) K. Steele, R. Bolger, B. Brady, H. Sachs, T. Allen, N. McCarthy, T. Foster, J. Stewart, B. Bolger, T. Herring, R. Turner, M. Malone,  ( Coach D. Bolger. )

Anyone who would like to play on Tuesday january 26 can contact Matthew Stadtmiller on 0408 004 975.

WINGS.