The Sheep Station Trophy

We have a history of our Teams playing against each other since the 1990s. It wasn’t though until 16 December 2017 that the Sheep Station Trophy was formally introduced. The Trophy was introduced as a circuit breaker as games between sides from the same Club can sometimes can cross the line when bragging rights against ‘big / little brother’ are involved. These games are meant to be competitive but with a bit of fun and where there is a higher level of sportsmanship than normal games.

The first game was an A2 fixture between Rick ‘Couldn’t call a cab’ Turner (A2 Blue) and Simon ‘Couldn’t toss a salad’ Smyth (A2 Red) – two of the worst ‘Tossers’ in our Club history. The match was played at Dural Park. For the record, Rick won the toss but lost the match played at Dural Park.

There has now been 39 Sheep Station games played and this season sees the tradition continue. In C4 Grade there is also a first – 3 Teams competing. This season we have the following Teams continuing the tradition of the Sheep Station trophy:

• B1 Grade – Blue (Shomik) & Red (Warren)
• C2 – Blue (Hiresh) & Red (Aniket)
• C4 – Blue (Rob), Red (Diggers) & White (Agniva)
• D1 – Blue (Nirav) & Red (Diggers)

Photo: Rick Turner (A2 Blue) and Simon Smyth (A2 Red) at the coin toss for the first Sheep Station Trophy game – Dural Park- 16 December 2017.

Commitment

Over the years we have had many of our players make extraordinary efforts to play on the weekend. The following are extra special:

• Mark Taylor (B1 1999/99) was holidaying in New Caledonia and to play in the Final he chartered a plane back to Sydney to play (scored 50) and then flew straight to London for work

• Raj Anand (B1 2004 /05) was having a heart attack while he was batting until the Captain declared the innings closed with Raj on 39*. Raj went to hospital, had a bypass, almost died on the operating table but survived to play again – his main concern at the time was letting the Team down by having to retire. A funny side-story is that when Raj was being prepared for the operation, he was still wearing his protector.

• Tony Hadley (B2, 2005/06) was based in the mining towns of WA and made the effort each week to fly in on the ‘red-eye’ and play B2 and then fly back to WA. In the same season, for the Semi Finals we only had 10 players available due to injury. Tony was working in China at the time and rather than leave the boys stranded he arrived at the ground, straight from the airport, scored 50 runs and then flew back to China
• Bill Peterkin (A1 16/12/2006). BP got the call to fill-in A1 while holidaying on the Gold Coast. He drove down on Friday night (900 klms) to play, scored a golden duck and then drove back to the Gold Coast
• Simon Smyth (A1 19/2/2011) welcomed his new-born son (Dylan) into the world on Friday. With his wife Mel recovering in hospital, ‘Snumpty’ turned up at Berowra Oval, took 4 wickets and then opened the batting. When he got out he returned to Hawkesbury Hospital.

We now have another special effort last weekend. None other than Ben Burrows (A2 Red). To quote Lachie’s Match Report “…in the lead up to the game, Captain Todd had to coax two club “legends” out of retirement to play for our injury/work/AFL grand final ravaged team and even then could only field a team of ten and a half fit people, and that’s being generous.”

To the rescue was Ben, Cherrybrook Tech High School Captain who needed to be at the School formal on Friday night / early Saturday morning. Anyway, still suffering from a big night & morning, Ben was handed the new ball, bowled 7 overs and took 0/30. While no wickets let’s celebrate the fantastic effort from a great Club Person.

Photo: Ben (right) with Dad, Steve ‘Buzz’ Burrows at Lords (Day 4) – 2 July 2023.

Friends

A great photo from Saturday’s A2 game with a fantastic cover story. Way back in 1989, James Makin, Craig Hutchinson & Michael Banner played together in C1 Grade. Fast forward 25 years and the boys are now joined by the next generation – Todd & Jack Hutchinson + Oliver Makin.

How about this for a pedigree. James has scored 6,531 runs, taken 371 wickets, is our most successful A1 Captain (4 Premierships) and is our most capped Grand Final participant (20 Grand Final for 12 wins). Michael Banner has scored 6,805 runs, taken 39 wickets and played in 10 Grand Finals (7 wins) and Hutchy has scored 2,358 runs & taken 237 wickets. So…..a combined 15,694 runs, 647 wickets and played in 30 Grand Finals. If only we knew then what we know now

What better theme music than the theme from Friends – also celebrating 25 years: Friends theme

Photo: from left: Oliver Makin, Jack Hutchinson, James Makin, Todd Hutchinson, Craig Hutchinson, Michael Banner – The Glade – 05102024

Space Cadet

We are privileged to have 2 Space Cadet achievements in 2 weeks. This week the distinguished honour goes to Tim Sachdev & Mihir Vaidyasnathan (D1 Red) tasking the ultra conservative approach to batting. Picture this, the boys were playing St Ives Wahroonga and we needed the last over (30 overs) was being bowled. We were 6 wickets down with one ball to face for our allotted overs. It was great to see 2 x players padded up to face the last ball. Tim, who is completing a Chemical Engineering and Computing degree is obviously highly skilled at working out the complex equations – 1 x ball to be bowled and 2 x batters padded up.

Our Space Cadet theme music for these 2 super keen players – Space Oddity

Tons

Round 1 has been completed and we already have 2 tons scored – Luke Tabone (C4 Blue) with 126 and Vinoth Sambasivam (D2) who scored 119. Last season we scored 19 and the record is 23 scored back in 202/13. With a start this good, early signs yet, but this could be the start of a big run scoring season.

Photo: Lakshya Rao – 137 no Vs Kissing Point @ Samuel King – our 536^th century –on 20 December 2024

What would your Decision be?

Question 1

During the bowler’s run up the fielder positioned at first slip runs behind the keeper to leg slip. The striker has given no indication she was going to play the ball to that vicinity. The bowler delivers the ball down the leg-side which the striker plays directly to the fielder now at leg slip, who completes the catch. The fielding team appeal. As an umpiring team what do you do now.

Question 2

A batter plays a fair delivery to a close in fielder and both the batters set off for a single. The fielder takes hold of the ball in his right hand and runs towards the stumps. He trips and his right elbow subsequently breaks the wicket with the non-striker out of his ground. How shall the appeal be answered?

Photo:

Rob Hanich receiving 4^th Grade T20 Trophy from Umpires Simon Moore & James Fernandez – Les Shore Oval, 30th October 2022