Light Pass Cricket Club

The A1 reserves played Greenock at Nuri main on Saturday in the grand final. Skipper Craig Todd won the toss and elected to bat first but the Nuri curator obviously had the bowlers in mind when he prepared the pitch dishing up a trundler friendly green top for the last match of the season.

The first innings was a disaster with wickets tumbling early putting all the pressure on the batsmen, even Greenock’s mistakes were yielding wickets, twice edges were misfielded only to bounce up and be taken by another fielder. Steve Gallasch showed some resistance scoring a hard fought 15 before getting some glove on one and being caught out. Mick Braunack hit out late in the innings smashing a couple of huge 6’s and scoring 28 but that still only got the lads to a score of 81 before the last wicket fell.

Any suggestion that the pitch was not influencing play were quickly dispelled as Dimi Camilleri removed the first three Schlunger batsmen within the first few overs of the defence, but Greenock’s main man hit out taking the score to 67 before Mick Braunack took him out of the equation. After the fall of that wicket the scoring all but ceased as the Light Pass bowlers tightened the screws and Dimi’s reintroduction to the attack couple with some amazing wicket keeping by Andy Davidson brought more wickets and a sniff of victory. Unfortunately the batsmen simply had not given the team enough runs to defended and the day was summed up when Greenock’s tonker French cut the ball for three taking the Schlungers past the total. With the fist innings lost it would have been easy for the lads to give up but the bowlers were still out for blood and two wickets fell in the finals overs of the day leaving the match wide open for an assault on the outright with the score on 9/94 at the end of play. Wade Gripton and Mick Braunack picked up a wicket each but Dimi Camilleri’s figures were extraordinary taking 7/35 from 17 overs.

Most of the players and supporters would have woken to the unwelcome sound of rain on the roof Sunday morning but in a brave decision the umpires deem the field fit for play and the match resumed. Steve Gallasch removed the last Greenock wicket with the score on 100 even in the 5th over.

The Schlunger’s reluctantly went out into the field and the Baggy Greens went in search of quick runs. Wickets fell early as the batsmen went after the bowling but the runs were coming and Greenock were becoming increasingly nervous as Steve Gallasch, Andy Davidson and Craig Todd all made runs giving the lads a lead of 118 when the declaration was made at the tea break.

Sadly the chance of victory was lost as consistent drizzle had rendered the pitch unplayable and Greenock refused to take the field, while that was frustrating most agreed that if the roles were reversed the lads would have done the same thing. That handed Greenock the premiership and the boys in the baggy green were forced to settle for second best after a season that has been great for the team and the club. The “Stockwell Hotel” man of the match was undoubtedly Simon “Dimi” Camilleri.

With the Season done and dusted there will be time to reflect of the year and celebrate some wonderful performances by the boys in the baggy green at the Presentation dinner that will be held at Stockwell park clubrooms on the 10th of April, tickets cost $25 but remember that all financial players have free entry. Come along and celebrate a season that saw three senior side play finals with a great meal and perhaps a bottle or two of the 75th Anniversary Shiraz. Please RSVP to Richard Mattner so catering can be finalised.

The Junior Presentation day is on the 9th of April at Stocky clubrooms starting at 6:30, please BYO drinks and bring a plate of food to share, once again this is an opportunity to look back on a good season for the junior’s, both junior sides narrowly missed out on finals action but none the less it has been a good year, come along and support all of the platers and volunteers who help to keep our junior sides healthy. Bad luck lads, back to the end of the mark next season and do it all again, Don’t give up, Don’t give in! Till next season Yip Yah Light Pass Duckpond Bill