Thank you

James Makin, our record breaking A1 Captain has decided to step down from the Captaincy next season to just play and help with his successor’s transition. James is a Club legend who leaves a Leadership legacy that may never be bettered.

James is our 22^nd A1 Grade Captain and led A1 for 8 consecutive seasons which is the equal highest in our history. He is also our most successful Captain with 7 Premiership wins:

• A1 Grade Club record 4 consecutive Rofe Shields
• 1 x A2 Premiership
• 2 x First Grade T20 Premierships
• 1 x A1 Runners-up
• 1 x Runners-up T20.

As James is playing next season his playing record is still running but suffice to say he is one of our greatest ever players – 5,145 runs (9^th highest in our History) and 367 wickets (8^th highest).

Well done and thank you James on everything you have achieved and what for more will be achieved as a player.

James successor will be our 23^rd Captain.

7,000 wickets

When Dave Behlevanas (C2 and pictured) wound the clock back with a brilliant one-handed pick-up and side-on throw to run out the 3^rd Kenthurst wicket on Saturday, it was the 7,000^th C2 Grade wicket taken in our History.

For info, wickets taken in other Grades are:

• A1 – 6,010
• A2 – 4,196
• B1 – 7,120
• B2 – 5,037
• C1 – 6,137
• C2 – 7,000
• C3 – 2,242
• D1 – 4,856
• D2 – 3,404

Convoy

Spare a thought for Ryan Gunn (B2 and pictured, right, with James Makin) on the Australia Day long weekend. Coming back in convoy with the Team from Mt. Ku-ring-gai Oval with his Green P’s Gunny was the lead car heading back to the Club after the game.

With all the roadwork going on, the speed limit in a small stretch dropped from 80 to 50 klms and Gunny was doing 70 along with the rest of the boys. Unfortunately he was the first car and got caught and with double demerits lost his Ps for 3 months. To make it worse, Zac Morris was in the passenger seat and filmed the exchange with the Policeman. By the time the ‘transaction’ was done it was on social media and the world knew.

The silver lining though, as told by Gunny, is that he can now come back to the Club and have a beer or 2 – great to see a positive thinker.

Recalled

If nothing else, our B2 boys and Ben Meikle (pictured right, with son Andrew) in particular are up there with the best in sportsmanship. Ben was bowling in a game that a win would put us into the top 4.

The batsman slammed it from his bat to the pad and after a muted appeal was given out. Ben’s comment to the umpire was “You can’t give that out” and after Aaron (Skipper) was consulted the boys recalled the batsman. So while we ended up drawing the game we walked away with something a bit more important than 6 points.

10 times your average

How about Phil Wurth (A1) who, by his lofty standards has had one of those seasons. After averaging just 4.4 with the bat, especially after his heroics in last year’s Grand Final the big fella came out firing. He scored a powerful 47 which is more than 10 times his season average.