‘Take the long way home’

When we get frustrated at having to get to and from games and negotiating Pennant Hills Rd just spare a thought for those folk travelling long distances each week to play for us:

• Kyle Faber (A2 and pictured 3rd left) – studies and works at Newcastle, a round trip of 290 kilometres to the Sports Club and back
• Simon Smyth (A2) – travels from San Remo (near Budgewoi) – a 184 kilometres journey
• Dan Costigan (A1) – travels from Magenta (near Toukley) – 180 kilometres
• Lachlan McBrien (B1) – travels from Green Point (near Woy Woy) – 136 kilometres

Add to this, Taki Manolelis who fills in for B1 / B2. Taki lives in Scone and travels 516 kilometres there and back for a game.

We can’t forget the legendary Bill Peterkin who runs Kanga and fills-in for Seniors lives at Maroota – 72 kilometres.

“I would walk 500 miles…”

The famous 1987 song by the Proclaimers (here ) comes to mind when thinking about Tim Worthington (C1 Captain).

When you think of players passionate about their cricket we have some amazing characters including many of today’s players – just think of Simon Smyth, Justin Paterson and Buzz. Tim is up there with the best. He is currently playing with a broken hand and has often played when sick or carrying some other significant injury.

Tim lives at Hornsby and is the Head Ground keeper at Pymble Golf Course – on his feet all day. It turns out that Tim also walks to and from work every day – 16 kilometres in total and it takes about 2 hours & 10 mins each day.

We found out about this story when literally bumping into Tim on the Train on his way home. It turns out that Wortho had done so much walking this week that his legs ‘felt like jelly’.

If anyone even comes close to this commitment then let me know.

Making a difference

Recently we ran a story on Sreeni Pillmarri (C2 and pictured 4th left) who has organised a walk from Parramatta to Canberra (380 kilometres) to funds for our drought affected farmers between 21 September and 2 October. Read about the walk in the attached link – here

Space Cadets

This one goes to the boys scoring in the C1 game. To quote Tim Wortho:

“Captain Wortho had just got out for 16, walks back to find in the scoreboard. Tim Worthington b Tim Worthington 16 somehow got myself out.”

Connor Mayoh (D1)

There must be something in the water at the drinks break in D1.  This game we have Connor Mayoh who kept the Space cadet tradition going by leaving his kit in his mum’s car before she went back home.

Stu Fiedler (C2 Blue)

Stuey Fiedler (C2 Blue) is in the form of his life on the field. He is also setting standards off the field are up there with his best.

While discussing Alex Chidgey’s personal Tinder experiences, Chidge made the well researched assessment, I am told, that there are a lot of Danish women on Tinder.

Stu thought about this one pretty hard and commented “I thought Danish was bread”. Thinking about this further, Stu was sure about his understanding of Primary school geography and confirmed, confidently: “I didn’t know they were people”.

There is no doubting that the lad is in form – on and off the field.

Bookends

Just on 26 years ago to the Day (Round 3, 1992 pictured right with peter Lees and Peter Heidegger), Buzz Burrows (C3 Captain) was playing C1 Grade for Hornsby against West Penno at Campbell Park – the spiritual home of cricket for WPHC. Buzz scored 110 and pounded our boys around the Park.

Fast forward 26 years and Buzz is Captain of West Penno against Hornsby! This game (Round 4, 2018)also played at Campbell Park, Buzz hammered a chanceless 53* with shots all around the ground.

For those with long memories, the scorecard of the game follows:

Hornsby Heights 5/372 (Steve Burrows 110, T Hill 92, M deLooze 45) defeated WPH 82 (G Smith 5/40) and 6/185 (John Archer 61*, Mark Stevens 74*)

The bookshelf was finished on week 2 when WPHC beat Hornsby – mission accomplished and a happy ending.

Young Leaders

Michael Gunn (B1) is our youngest Seniors Captain (Colts excluded) at just 20 years and 9 months when he took the field for his first game.

In Round 5, Matt Digby (C1, piturde left) another young Leader stepped up to add to his already growing pedigree of being an outstanding talent. Taking on the Captaincy from Tim Wortho who was unavailable this match, Diggers took on the Captaincy responsibility at just 18 years of age and while doing his HSC.

How did he go? The boys won their first match of the season.

Revenge is sweet

Way back in 2012/13 Andrew Fiedler (Seniors Director & C2 Captain) & Steve Quanborough (D1 and pictured) were opposing Captains in the C2 local derby played at Campbell Park (5^th January). After dismissing Andrew in the 1^st innings (stumped off Quan’s bowling for 11) revenge was reaped when Andrew dismissed Quan (bowled for 1). So…Captain’s 1 dismissal each.

Fast forward 6 years and a case of history repeating itself, this time (in C2 again) Indranil Mukherjee (C2 Red Captain & 11 runs) took a catch to dismiss Andrew (C2 Blue Captain, 3 runs). So….Captains 1 dismissal each again.

Quotes of the Year

Dominance with a Capital ‘D’

In the A1 T20 Grand Final, Phil Wurth (93 and pictured) and Ashane De Silva (53) came together at 2 down and belted a 74 partnership in rapid time and led us to 5/199 in 20 overs. It is how they did it that is amazing:

• Phil – 93 runs with 9 x 4s and 6 x 6s = 72 runs in boundaries
• Ashane De Silva – 53 runs with 6 x 4 and 3 x 6s = 42 runs in boundaries

The night before the GF, Phil sent a message to the Team group saying:

“I was going to do this to the Berowra openers

Boys if we do get on tomorrow just calling it now I’m gonna be like this guy from Ball 1 – here”

Life priorities

This one from Simon Smyth regarding selection problems in C3 last match with 3 players having to leave the game at 4.30 pm to watch their daughters in a School dance spectacular.

Buzz Burrows (C3 Captain) was explaining to Simon that as their daughters were involved they were under threat of divorce from their better halves if they put playing cricket first.

The exchange from Buzz and Simon:

Buzz: “…..so any threats from me don’t have much weight!”

Simon’s reply:  “So they get to play cricket and get a divorce. I don’t see any downside?”

Dry weather bowler

After going for 12 runs in his first over, Napier Gryst hit back with two wickets in his second. Napier explained to all:

“I just can’t bowl in the rain, I’m a dry weather bowler!”

The showers had ceased between his two overs – future Captains check your weather report before bringing Napier into the attack!

Child Genius

SBS ran a fascinating series earlier this season on discovering Australia’s Child Genius for 2018. To qualify for entry people needed an IQ of 140 plus which is the top 2% of the whole population. The show had the smartest 19 young people (U13 years) in Australia.

Our own Sumedh Kundu (U13 Purple) was on the show and made it through to the Semi Finals – the final 8 across Australia! It was great to see Sumedh training at Greenway Park in his West Penno gear and mention when interviewed that he wouldn’t have gone on the show if it meant missing his weekend game of cricket. Sumedhu plays in our Purple Team that is coming 4^th and he already has a top score of 63* this season.

We are all very proud of Sumedh and his wonderful family.

If you missed the show, you can catch it via this link: here

The Sting

For those who love great films there was beauty way back in 1973 called ‘The Sting’. We had our own version this season.

With 20 overs to go in the A1 Grade game Vs ARL (@ The Glade) legendary Umpire Geoff Hasler called skipper Justin Paterson aside with one of his serious, unblinking conversations “We need to have a chat”.

At the end of the game, as the boys were walking off the field, Geoff called Justin and Phil Wurth (pictured right) aside to discuss something ‘very important’. Geoff advised the Skipper and Phil that we were at risk of losing 3 points for the match. The reason – Phil had his bright blue boots on and that they were not predominantly white – an Association requirement.

After thinking Geoff was joking he was met by Geoff’s unwavering stare and poker face.

Phil took great ownership of the situation and after a bit of thought blamed his Captain “JP didn’t tell me”.

Eventually Geoff offered Phil a compromise. He won’t pursue this as long as he brings along a lobster and a dozen oysters as a suitable bribe. Stung!

What would you choose?

You are playing at Campbell Park are 61* and will bat on next week after already winning on the 1^st innings. But….you have a commitment to get to at 5.45 pm with just 15 mins to bat. This was the choice facing Pratah Sinnetamby (C2 Blue).

The commitment Pratah (pictured far right) had to get to was Cinderella at the Opera House – “This magical romance, with its swirling planets and Dior-inspired ball gowns, returns to Sydney Opera House for an exclusive encore performance”.

Pratah chose Cinderella Vs a ton. Whch would you choose.

John Howard bowling

During the cricket recently they screened John Howard, our former Prime Minister, bowling to our Troops in Afghanistan – here

For those who didn’t know, John played B1 to C2 Grades for West Penno between 1962/63 and 1973/74. His batting was much chop, scoring just 260 runs @ 9.8. But sticking to the bowling theme he bowled 1 over for 19 runs (B1 Grade in 1968/69) so it doesn’t surprise that the video showed a less than inspiring spell.