Channeling their namesakes, Tamworth’s over-50s acquitted themselves well at the state championships in Orange.
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Playing in Division 1, the Hazlewood’s finished third while the Gleeson’s finished sixth in Division 2.
After defeating Hunter/Merewether, the Hazlewood’s went down to eventual winners Port Jackson Red on the second day before accounting for Central Coast. in their third/fourth play-off.
“I thought we played pretty good cricket,” Hazlewood’s skipper Richard Rowlings said reflecting on the three days.
“We had three decent teams to play, two of them particularly.”
A strong bowling and fielding effort saw them roll the previously undefeated Central Coast for 152.
Dean Petty topped the wickets with 3-14 while Andrew O’Halloran chimed in with 2-26 to finish their leading wicket taker for the championships and Greg Kellett 2-55 after copping some stick in his final three overs.
In reply, Tamworth reached the victory target with a few overs to spare.
Rowlings capped off a strong carnival at the top of the order with 41 retired.
Ben Crowe also made 24 and Steve Wilson 22 before Petty got them over the line with an unbeaten 22.
“That was a good win. They had a handy side,” Rowlings said.
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He was named Tamworth’s player of the carnival after also retiring against Hunter/Merewether.
Crowe and Wilson also retired at 40 and Phil Constable 33 as they amassed an impressive 6-255.
They then dismissed the Novacastrians for 175 with O’Halloran claiming 4-53, Craig Salter 3-21 and Constable 2-31.
O’Halloran was also amongst the wickets against Port Jackson, his 2-32 helping them restrict the tournament favourites to 6-221.
The Hazlewood’s reply was marred by a few quick wickets, losing 3-0 at one stage and then 2-5.
Rowlings and Wilson both hit 25 while Salter contributed 26 down the order as they scrambled to 181.
Rowlings said everyone contributed at some point of the carnival.
“The bowlers were pretty solid throughout the few days without anyone taking a bag of wickets,” he said.
He said the secret with the bat is getting players retired.
“Having blokes to recycle, the blokes out in the middle can bat with a bit more freedom,” he said.
“The first day four of us retired so it gave us plenty of opportunity to kick the score along.”
“That was our problem on the second day, we didn’t get any retired batsmen. Three or four us got in the 20s and we got behind the eight-ball is because of that.”
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The Gleeson’s started their campaign against a strong Port Jackson outfit.
Danny Keady anchored Tamworth’s innings with 42 retired while Brendan O’Connor made 19 to lift them to 129. The Sydney side chased the runs down in 32 overs with seven wickets in hand, Norman Duke the best of the Gleeon’s bowlers with 2-16.
The second day transpired to be a special one for O’Connor. After scoring an unbeaten 43 in the Gleeson’s 261 he claimed 5-18 including a double hat-trick (four wickets in four balls) as they rolled the Earlwood Wanderers for 120.
Brett Davies helped out with 3-18, while Dunedoo recruits Sandy Cox and Chris Cox savoured a rare chance to bat together. Opening the innings they both retired, Sandy coming back in and remaining not out on 69 while Chris made 48.
They finished the carnival with a five wicket loss to western neighbours Narrabri in their fifth/sixth play-off..
Some rearguard resistance from Steve Newman (24no) and Duke (29) enabled the Gleeson’s to limp to 111 with Sandy Cox (19) the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
Narrabri replied with 5-113 with Duke and Peter O’Connor the best of the bowlers.
