The Gippsland Goannas veterans’ cricket season is underway and about to get into full swing.
Round one in the Veterans Cricket Victoria Over-70 competition took place around the state on Sunday, October 5.
This season there are 14 teams, up from 11 last year.
The Barkly St Mob, from the Maribyrnong area in Melbourne, were due to arrive at Duncan Cameron Oval in Traralgon for an
11am start.
Unfortunately, they could not muster a team to travel to Traralgon, so the Goannas’ was the only match of the seven that did not go ahead.
The second game was on Tuesday, with the team travelling to Capital Reserve in Glen Waverley to take on the Glen Waverley Hawks.
The weather was fine and cool, with a light breeze, and the grass damp as the home team batted first.
Ian Southall and Neil Meredith opened the bowling. Meredith (1/23) had the opening batsman drag his first ball onto the stumps.
After 12 overs, the Hawks batted steadily, reaching 1/52 at the 20-over drinks break.
Donald Cameron, Meredith and Southall featured in run-outs, as Glen Waverley finished on 5/129 at the end of 40 overs.
A couple of catches went down, but the Goannas’ ground fielding helped keep the score to a gettable total.
After lunch, which was taken sitting under a couple of marquees as the clubrooms had been burned down in a recent arson attack, the Goannas’ innings was opened by Meredith and Cameron. The latter was unfortunately run out at the bowler’s end after Meredith hit a ball through the bowler’s fingers onto the wickets.
Meredith hit out and was caught on the boundary for 29 from 27 balls. The fielder was awarded player of the match as he was the only player on the park to take a catch.
Murray Moore (24), Garry Rose (11), Southall (29) and Bob Duljas (18) all retired, with Bob Penrose and Phill Higgins guiding the Goannas home in the 29th over.
Meredith was awarded Goannas Player of the Match.
The Goannas’ Over-70s next game will be a home game against the West Gippsland team on Tuesday, October 28.
The Over-60 season got underway last Sunday, with 30 teams registered to take part, playing between eight and 15 games each.
The Gippsland Goannas Over-60 team had a bye but will play the Baw Baw Over-60s on Sunday.
The Over-50 team competition also got underway on Sunday. There are six divisions in the Over-50 competition, with the Gippsland Goannas playing in the Saxon Shield division.
There will be seven rounds
of competition games, followed by a semi-final and grand final.
They received a forfeit from Ballarat. The next fixture will be an away game against the Eastern Hawks.
Training will continue at the Duncan Cameron Reserve in Traralgon from 4.30pm on Wednesday evenings.
