Unley Cricket Club

Unley A Grade Mid Season Wrap 2006/2007

Round 1 V Payneham - UCC 258 def Payneham 211 & 2/20

The season started off with a home game V Payneham on a flat Billy K manufactured deck. The A Grade had two new players to the club in former Melbournian opening bat Andy Cotton and a blonde left arm quick and another former Unley High boy in Ash Randall. Also making his A Grade debut after a fine junior career at Unley was Nick Hussey (who played in last seasons losing D Grade GF).

Payneham batted first and made 211 with Hayden Daley leading the way after being given the ball to bowl his offies from stand in skipper, Greg Vaughan, and he took 4/43 off 14 overs. Warren Ainscough also collected 4 victims in his 18 overs, taking 4/61 and with new opening partner "Derek" Randall taking 1/42 off 14, with the new ball combination of pace from the youngster and the usual pies from the big fella. Chris Terry took 1/10 and last seasons leading wicket taker Tim Shortt snaring 1/32. Dan Ainscough also bowled 12 over of swing, cut and guile but remained wicket less in his 12 overs. With Matt Dean and last seasons Association Keeper of the Year chasing his dream to get his PGA tour card in America, former keeper Mick Nolan chasing schoolies on the Gold Coast and young 17yo B Grade keeper deciding to strap horses on Saturdays, the rock star Andy Caire took the gloves for the first time and did a fine job in conceding only 1 bye off a wayward leg side delivery.

Chasing Payneham's total the next week proved a bit more difficult then some had thought and we had to rely on some late middle order help from little Danny A (28) and Ashton Circus (31no). Groom to be and Sunday Mail gossip column veteran, "Arthur" Daley made 83 to see us all out for 258.

We had to bowl 10 overs at Payneham and had them 2/20 with CT and Shortty each taking a wicket.

Round 2 v Pooraka - UCC 143 lost to Pooraka 6/354

With petrol tanks full and a jerry can in the boot we headed off to Lindblom Reserve to face Pooraka. Paul Dixon had quit the club during the week and followed his heart to the Riverland and CT had a double solarium appointment so Captain Andy Weinmann (who was still recovering from his second knee reco in 3 years) and former A-Grade captain and Coach Brenton Wilson making his first appearance for the year. Greg Vaughan captained the side for this game as Stinky Wineman was taking his lovely missus away next game for a dirty week on a yacht cruising around the Whitsunday's (on a public servants wage?).

We batted first and had a good opening stand between "Fine" Cotton and Stink with the first wicket falling at about 70 with Cots out for 32 (and in the process was involved in some lively chatter with the Pooraka boys). From there it was a precession , Caire "Bear" made 19 and "Bevan Spenser Von" Weinmann top scoring with a patient well made 52. Unley all out for 143.

Having to bowl at Pooraka that night we set ourselves a target of a couple of wickets to put us back in the game but unfortunately they were 0/70 over night and we were one bowler down with Wazza trying to bowl with a bulged disc in his back. Week 2 came and the story was the same, Pooraka amassing 6/354. Pick of the bowlers was veteran and OT Club founding member "Snooza" Ainscough with 2/59 off 19 overs but many chances went begging. "Derek" also bowled a couple of tidy spells to finish with 1/44 off 22 and Haydos snared 1/59 also off 22 overs, we also got 2 run outs.

Round 3 V Old Iggies - UCC 3/332 & 4/51 def Old Iggies 229

With the nightmare at Pooraka in the past we set ourselves to get back on track and play cricket how Coach Prime wants us to play. We had two more forced changes with Stink off making home movies and Randall having exams and Shortty was sent back to the B's to regain some form and confidence. Coming in were Grassy Nolan (back from his Gold Coast shag-a-thon), Steve Brennan (making his A Grade debut after two 5-for's and a couple of 50's in the B's) and Chris Terryopolous.

Elk won the toss and elected to bat on a good looking deck. Opening up with Grassy and new recruit Andy "I will abuse anyone who will listen" Cotton they got us off to solid start with both batsman running well between the wickets coupled with some outstanding shots which made the boundary. Grassy fell for 20, this bringing Elk to the crease. Cots and Elk continued to peel off the runs with Cots just about to reach his 50 he tore his quad off the bone but refused a runner. Next ball he leant back and smacked a boundary to bring up his first 50 for the club. A couple of balls later Cots was out caught trying to put one out of the park. At this stage Old Iggies had been very quite, except for opening bowler Smith who continued to appeal for anything, this was much to the amusement of the umpire, with Smith being reported (and again later in the day). With Iggies continuing with the 3 medium pacers, Elk and new batsman Haydos Daley were set and went about their task, much to the delight of their team mates and a growing crowd of supporters. Haydos was given out LBW for a well complied 67, laced with boundaries, if hawk eye was on I doubt the ball would have registered on the TV (but that's cricket). CT joined Elk and watched him bring up his first A Grade ton for the club in style, both Elk and CT kept turning over the strike to keep the run rate at a good click. With another left/right handed combo Iggies fielders were getting tired and CT used this to his advantage to finish up on 51 no and Elk who batted magnifically ended up undefeated on 125, with one of the best A Grade knocks seen at Kingswood for a long time. At the end of the day we finished at 3/332, in a good team batting performance.

Week 2 and Unley's bowling stocks were looking thin. Wazza was crook and had the shits all week (losing 10kgs) and wasn't going to play but due to Cots tear of his quad and only having 1 sub fielder available went out to field. Scotty Brennan picking up the first 2 wickets, with both catches going to CT. Dan and Scuba Steve bowled well along with Haydos who has a knack of picking up wickets. CT was given a bowl and didn't let Elk down taking 4/34 off 12 overs. Haydos ended up with 2/68, Brennon 3/61 with the usual run out effected. Bowling Iggies out for 229 was a good effort with being a bowler down and the conditions really favouring batsman.

We had some overs to face and ended up being 4/51 with Huss and Pup both making 15. A good win after the previous game and one we can build on.

Round 4 V Kilburn - UCC 243 def Kilburn 232 & 4/57

Returning skipper Stink Von Wyman asked how much a fine was for not bring your whites and shirt? A quick you're a f*%king idiot from Wazza was all that was needed!!! Anyway Grassy had a spare dirty pair of whites and Stink wore a white training shirt and away Stink went to have a toss with his counterpart. Kilburn won the toss and wanted to have a hit.

Into the side was captain Bill Weinmann, and Phil Alphabet at the expense of Dan Ainscough (another founding member of Club OT, along with Wilb, Waz and Stink) and a yet to be initiated Club OT member Andy Cotton "Twill". Filthy and Wazza opened up with "Sports Med" Brennan, CT and Haydos also bowling throughout the Kilburn innings. Wazza back was as stiff as a 15yo boy on prom night, bowled an unpenetrating 16 overs for 0/32. Phil "Special" K took 2/39 off 15 overs of swing and cut, Jessica Brennan taking 1/51 off 11, Haydos took 4/38 off 16 overs and Chris Umar Norman Terry bowled 21 beautiful overs taking 3/62 but had more than a dozen edges fly pass and through the slips cordon. We ended up bowling them out in 79 overs for 232.

Our innings got off the a great start with Stink and LG Nolan seeing us through to the first break, Mickey ended up with 35, then Sideburns Vaughan scored 30 at better than a run a ball for us to be 1 for 100 odd and in total control. The gods turned on us and Elk was out, then Haydos first ball, CT following shortly after for 3 and King Cairey battled hard for 19. Stink fell after tea for a patient well made 47 off about 423 balls, Huss was another first ball victim, Wilb went cheaply for 8 and were 8/161, still 71 shy of the points. Second gamer and rectum thermometer cleaner Scotty Brennan and Phil K edged us closer with Killer out for 20 and the score at 9/205. In strode serial pest Wazza and informed Stevie if we pass them don't celebrate because the 500 bikies attending the wedding in the clubrooms may be offended. Wazza tried his best to get out and was lucky none of the bowlers bowled a ball at the stumps. Stevie B had been battling sensibly for a young punk and with occasional edge from Wazza we were creeping closer and closer to the score. Bang, 4, we win and then the Kilburn keeper calls us a team of spastics, I suppose he has no mirrors at his place. Stevie eventually was out for 40 and Wazza ended up on 17. All out for 243, first innings points and we were all about to enjoy a winning beer until they wanted to bat for 8 overs.

Phil bagged 1/18 and Stevie 2/38 with Kilburn being 4/57. It's going to be nice to get back to the club and enjoy a pale or two, cheers.

Round 5 V Grange - Heated out

Round 6 V Fulham - UCC 203 lost to Fulham 233 & 1/55

Fulham won the toss and elected to bat on a flat track with a nice tinge of green about it and a very lush outfield. We had Cots, debutant Tom Rodant and UCC's answer to Andrew Symonds Graeme Blurton coming back into A's after some strong bowling performances in the B's. Out went Grassy (who went on another holiday), Stevie Brennan (MIA, no-one has seen him since he was exposed on Today Tonight re-using rectum thermometers on unsuspecting patients) and the dirty whore Nick Hussey was sent back to the B's (where he made 103no in a match winning performance).

We collected some early wickets to be in strong position but a good 3rd wicket partnership saw Fulham take control, then we took some quick wickets to have them 9/170 and we were back in control. Burts was unlucky not to be given a LBW with the number 11 on 0. The last wicket put on 63 to have Fulham ending up on 233 and captain Stink was steaming (I think it has started to turn his hair grey).

Another good opening partnership of 70 odd saw us off to a good start with Stinky first to go for 28, followed by Cots for an even 50. Elk and Haydos were together and the boys strapped themselves in their chairs waited for the show to begin, unfortunately Elk went for 13 and Haydos caught on the fence for 20. CT and Cairey were patient but both fell in quick succession, Pup for 7 and Tezza for 29. Wilb and Dan also went quickly so it was up the great Gra Gra and Tommy to bring us home. The boys batted for 18 overs and were frustrating the Falcons, putting on 40 odd and taking us over the 200 mark. Young Tomster went for 11 off 51 balls and this bought old man Waz to the crease to have a chat, past president to current president. Disco Burton popped one up straight to cover to see it somehow fall out of his hands, this must be a sign from above that we were about to get out of jail again!! Two balls later Shaggy played the same shot to the same fielder at cover for him juggle it a dozen times before finally keeping a hold of it, all out 203.

We had to bowl 10 overs and they ended up on 1/55 with Thomas Rodant getting the "pole". A loss to the bottom side, chasing 233 on a good deck to be out for 203 is very disappointing but that's cricket. We have Christmas and the New Year to celebrate get back on the track and look forward to playing a finals contender in Athelstone first game back. As a mate once said to me "it's now or never" (I think that he later made that into a song). And the great Ross Nicholson all told us last year "control the things that you can control".

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