Welcome all new senior and junior cricketers, parents/ guardians, spectators , sponsors' and supporters of Memo Rovers Cricket Club.
After last years very successful season with the A and B grade flags in the trophy cabinet and narrow misses in C u17s u15s and the women, 2008/09 was always going to be a challenge.
A mountain of work has gone into the club over the pre season cumulating in our proud club now boasting 12 sides....yes 12. , being A B C Women u17s u15s u13s 4 x u11s and u9s. How good is that. Murray MacAllister must be singled out here. Muzza has been the driving force as our junior rep and has virtually dominated proceedings at junior ASCA meetings in ensuring the season started smoothly and in order. How strong should our higher junior grades and seniors be in 5 to 10 years time given the numbers and quality of these lads coming through. Fruits have already be harvested with the likes of Jaiden Harman, Brad Duke , and Doug McClure slotting into senior ranks this year with aplomb. Dougies efforts in the senior A grade , taking wickets every week have been tremendous. BUT with all these teams the dedicated coaches we have for all these sides require help at trainings and Sat mornings, so why not do your bit for the club and lend a hand.....remember every little bit helps. Without listing every coach and contacts Muzza will certainly be able to steer you in the right direction.
Congratulations to Blayne Cornford who has taken over as our senior skipper for this season, well supported by Scott Allen and other senior players. We all know Blaynes domination as current senior cricketer of the year, with the captaincy viewed as another forward step in this career. Results have already flowed, and harmony throughout the club is excellent. Likewise the other senior grades under Scotta and Muzz are performing well.
Welcome to the new players and families for this year. I have met most and with a few social events planned for the near future will no doubt become more acquainted.
The recent masters games have been a windfall for the club with 35 Rovers relics donning the field in the biggest single teams gathering in masters history. The boys took bronze after the usual controversy but more importantly raise over $5000 for the benefit of MRCC juniors. We have just ordered more training gear and aids with part of this money. Thanks very much to the organisers of same who worked tirelessly during the week.....Craig Lambley, the Guv, Scotta , Dusto , Murp until gout set in and everyone else for your tremendous generosity.
Don't forget the newly revamped Memo is our home....no swags arent provided but good suggestion anyway....and we have our raffle turns every Fri from 5pm onwards. Get there support the people who keep us afloat. Likewise to our loyal ongoing sponsors', thankyou again. I will feature all these good people shortly.
New shirts, both white and blue will be available very shortly, so see me or your captain. Fees are due, $100/yr for seniors inc Memo subs plus $15 a day to play. Do your bit and don't be scabby. pay up...if you don't you only let your mates down...and that to me is NOT good.
JUNIOR SIGN ON DAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 9-11:30am AT THE ALICE PLAZA
The Junior cricket sign on day will be held at the Alice Plaza on Saturday morning, 13 September from 9am - 11.30am. At this stage we once again anticipate having u/9's, 2 x u/11 sides, u/13's, u/15's and u/17's. Coaches for the upconig season in the different age groups are -
u/9's Gary Schmull and Adrian
u/11's Robert Cameron, Scott Nicolai & Glen Bull
u/13's Alister Young with some assistance from Peter Fitzpatrick and Paul
Bain
u/15's Murray MacAllister & Terry Weeks
u/17's Stephen Jones with some assistance from Scott Allen and Craig Murphy
The season for the juniors looks like it will kick off on 11 October. The Association is looking at clubs having their games at home grounds this year where possible, so we should have either an u/13 or u/15 game at Head St every week. The Coaches of Junior grades for the season will have a get together, with all other coaches from all other clubs, on Monday 15 September at Traeger Park from about 5.30pm. There will be a special guest speaker and the idea is to get to know each other and swap some ideas.
My understanding is that the level one for cricket coaching will be held on Sunday 14 September. Anyone interested please contact either Murray or Terry for details. Having completed this course myself I can vouch that you will find it very informative and helpful.
On another matter, don't forget to come down and support the 'elder' statesmen of this great cricket club as the Masters Games commence on 12 October. The Rovers Relics will be on show and at this stage we have 32 former 'greats' (?) registered and raring to go. There will be former players here from other states performing at levels of excellence never seen before. If you would like to get together with these 'former greats' and rub shoulders with 'olden day legends'
put Friday night, 10 October in your diary as there will be the now traditional 'team bonding' session prior to the Masters Games. This gives us the opportunity to gather and thank our sponsors collectively as we visit each and every venue to reciprocate the generosity they have shown us. Sponsors include - Alice Springs Memorial Club, The Firkin and Hound, Town & Country Tavern, Peter Kittle Motor Company & Mad Harrys. These guys contribute hugely to our 70 + junior members through this sponsorship as all finds raised by these former players and sponsors goes directly to our Juniors, so let's get behind them.
If anyone would like further information on any of the above details please do not hesitate to contact either Terry Weeks on 0418 897 305 or myself, Murray MacAllister on 0488 987 403
Xmas on the Hill and some bloke called Quackpatrick
In the interest of the club I put my hand up to begin writing up the A grade report as I know a lot us looked forward to the grade reports last year. Note to self – don’t stuff up and have to write about it (please read on)
The last game before the Xmas break was against Feds who had beaten us in a recent 2 dayer. Blayne surprised us all and won the toss and Jacques and Toolbox were out in the middle for a bat. After Jacques saw out the first over Toolbox middled his first ball to gully and we were 1/1. Blayne joined Jacques for the next 24 overs which took us to 87 before Jacques was out for a patient 17. Scotty Allen was then in to up the tempo and with his third scoring shot smashed a half tracker into the Traegar Park grandstand. Blayne continued to play to his usual high standard until he was out for 64 caught behind – apparently LBW we later found out. Dillon Measures was then in at 117 as our designated pinch hitter and looked the goods for 27 well made runs. Scotty finished with 26 and no one else troubled the scorers too much in our final total of 177 least of all yours truly who got fired by Rowie LBW first ball. My youngest Elly later pointed out that having the pads on for 3 hours to only be out in the middle for 2 seconds was a pretty good effort. I chose to ignore this poor attempt at humour and began our fielding drills in front of the gathering Rovers Xmas crowd. By the time Rovers were on Traegar to defend our total, the Quackpatrick calls were loud, strong and often – refer note to self.
Feds opened with the very capable Johnny Gaynor and Metcalfe and Blayne tossed the new ball to Ditchy and Dougie first up. Lester started with maybe the best opening spell I’ve seem him bowl and built the pressure which resulted in Gaynor being run out in the third over with some excellent fielding by Dillon at point. Shortly after Dougie had Metcalfe driving to yours truly at mid off and we got the start we wanted at 2 for 10. Feds best 2 bats, Mick Smith and Clements were now at the crease. Lester was unlucky to not have Smith caught behind but will probably sell him a dodgy pie as a square up during the week. Dougie soon after bowled a cracker to clean bowl Smith for 3 - Feds 3 for 30. From there on wickets fell consistently. Blayne, Scotty both bowled tight spells, Lachie Boal bowled 9 excellent overs straight for 18 and Will Smith (2 for 16) was unhittable as usual until Lambs in the outer suggested that skipper Curtis should realize he was playing a one dayer. After the next ball almost went for 6 an apology came from the outer almost as quick as the previous ball had disappeared. With the game by now in the bag, Bay 13 got in the skip’s ear and I was tossed the ball for a 2 over cameo. The Lillee type chants as I stormed in from my 2 step run proved inspiring with a run out (the 3rd for the innings) and the last token wicket bowling out Feds for 93 and a convincing win.
A successful way to lead into the Xmas break, thanks to Ruddy (Wapps) for organizing the hill and the Rovers attendance of 100 plus was a great effort. The Quackpatrick bloke was later fined for taking more catches and wickets than runs – refer note to self. Merry Xmas
With small numbers out to training this week’s A grade took 3 under 17’s into their game against an off-season strengthened RSL. Doug McClure, Kevin Du Preez and Brad Duke have all been training and were rewarded accordingly.
RSL batted making 9/151. Graeme Schmidt an even 100 .. the rest not much! Wickets were shared around with young Dougie getting into the mix with 3/19 including clean bowling the RSL Captain Matt Sulzberger. The lads are off to a SACA training camp this week in Adelaide and will come back even better.
Our boys made the runs easily 2/158 in 25 overs. Lowie 33 and Blayne obviously not affected by the pressure of captaincy , with 86 not out. What was expected to be a challenging game turned into an easy win.
The B grade side looked like the Rovers Relics Masters team with a couple of young ‘uns for good measure.
We started well with Ty taking 17 off the first over, continuing on from his century in last year’s C Grade grand final. Things slowed and we were 0/28 after 6 but that was about the end of the boredom.
Scotta eventually DECLARED in the 32nd over with the score at 5/362! No-one could recall a B grade one day declaration (C grade declared at drinks a few years ago and won), but who knows what the score would have been if we’d kept going with Boalsy smashing them and Muzza, Scotta and even Scoob still to come in!
Tyrone 66, new signing Lachlan Boal 50 and Stats a smashing 158. He belted the ball to all parts in a sensational display that left RSL demoralized. Great to watch.
We cleaned them up for 154 in 31 overs with Scotta starting the year with 4 wickets (one short eh Scotta?) and the rest shared. Guv taking this year’s early “Sorbent” tag cleaning up a couple late.
Congratulations to Stats for his magnificent effort … great form leading into the Masters Games starting next Sunday.
Bits 'n' Pieces
Minutes from Memo Rovers CC
2006/07 AGM:
New Fee Structure
for 2006/2007 Season. Playing times for ASCA: Comprehensive Scoring Guide:
NT Cricket
Association Newsletter:
Meat Tray Roster:
