Ate The Como Courier

Edition 3 October 2012

South Yarra Club (The Yarras) Como Park, corner of Let’s play… Williams Road and Alexandra Avenue, South Yarra I’m excited. There’s no position for us to find focus on the non-cricketing www.yarras.com point denying it. ourselves in. However, this achievements of 2 of our may well work in our more artistic playing Established: 1866 (?) Following on from last favour given the often members. We will also President: David Hill season’s Premiership I variable availability that we continue our focus on the Editor: James Dixon wasn’t sure whether my have. club captains in our player appetite would be there for profile. [email protected] this season, but pre-season In the background, the has now come and gone committee, captains and Finally, I would also like to (sadly ending with a loss in chairman of selectors have take this opportunity to the North-South Shield – been working hard to make welcome back our sponsors more on that later) and I, sure that we get off to the for the coming season, for one, can’t wait to get best possible start this Windsor Community Bank that ball in my hand come season. and The Union Hotel. I the first game of the would also like to introduce Keep watching this season. Special mention should go and welcome aboard a new space - Upcoming to Sumo for his ongoing sponsor for this season, Milestones As you all probably know organisation of our pre- Ownership Matters. by now, the gradings and season training and also to Batting the fixture lists have come Braden for his efforts in Without their support the Robert Fisher – 87 out, and there is no doubt providing batting coaching Yarras would be a much runs that the grading gods have to each and every one of us, more expensive club to play Will Hone - 936 runs smiled nicely on us (for the regardless of whether we for, so lets make every Bruce Haack - 970 runs first time in a while). wanted it or not! effort to get behind and Pasquale Scrimizzi – support our sponsors for (still) 1,495 runs The changes that have In this edition of the this season. Chris Connelly - 1,959 taken place within the Courier, we will provide a runs grades means that we have quick review of the annual With all that said, let’s play! Gideon Haigh - 2,908 3 one-day sides this year, pre-season game against runs which will be a novel East Coburg, and will also

Bowling Stuart Norman - 44 What’s coming up at the Yarras wkts James Allen - 44 wkts What When Where Martin Reidy - 93 wkts Robert Fisher - 95 wkts Outdoor training Every Tuesday and Thursday Como Park, South Yarra commences (hopefully) night from 6pm Matches Stuart McDonald - 46 Yarras Fantasy Cricket Season-long, beginning with the www.yarras.com Braden Grigg - 46 League – FREE ENTRY opening weekend of the season Shaun Robinson - 48 Richard Halpagoda – The annual Gideon Saturday 27 October Como Park, South Yarra 49 Haigh book launch Pasquale Scrimizzi – 98 Page 2 The Como Courier October 2012

Getting to know…

Having focused in the last Statistics: edition of the Courier on the one new captain within the club Debut – Saturday 17 October for this season, it is only fair 2009, 1st XI Vs Reds, MCA A that our attention turns to the Grade (scored 2 runs and did other skippers that have come not bowl, even though back for more punishment. Strauchnie did!)

On that basis, the next in-line to Games played – 43 be introduced is the 2nd grade captain, Stu Norman. Runs scored – 749 @20.81 Stu has been down the club since the start of the 2009-10 Highest score – 107 Vs Sacred nd season, when we moved across Heart 2 XI, Saturday 11 completely to the MCA, and has December 2010, MCA B Grade. taken part in the finals during each year of his Yarras career : 44 @ 14.95. (which may suggest that he is a Best : 4-2 Vs good luck charm). Let’s hope this good run continues into Melbourne University, Sunday 2012/3. 9 October 2011, MCA A Reserve

What brought you down to So there I was with what seemed thought it best I not start with them the Yarras? like a pretty good group of guys as I could be constantly compared I moved to Melbourne from the when some stupid Yorkshireman to him. So I played with Wendouree Riverina in September 2009 and bowled me a Yorker (which I before later going back and playing was living in South Yarra. I started missed) and broke a couple of bones for Brown Hill. looking for a cricket club close by. in my foot (Ed: It was a great !). And as they say in the In the mean time I had played three I emailed and called a guy at classics it’s been downhill all the seasons for Yarraville in the Sub- Middle Park and got no response. way since then. district competition which is where Not long after I emailed South I learnt a lot about how to play the Yarra and Braden got back to me Talk us through your game. I also played Dowling Shield within 15 minutes. cricketing past for Collingwood, East Belmont in Well I’ve been a bit of a journeyman Geelong, Eaglehawk in Bendigo and The next day or so I was at indoor when it comes to cricket clubs the Town Cricket Club in training at Clayton where some big having moved around a lot with Deniliquin. tall guy grabbed my hand and work. welcomed me to the club. He It’s safe to say that I’m now a Yarra seemed like a good country bloke Although my family had been highly for life and not looking to be going and I automatically felt at home. involved with Brown Hill my dad anywhere anytime soon.

What has been your career There have been a couple of individual What are your passions/interests highlight to date? highlights, including a hundred on a outside of cricket? There have been some real day when it was so hot two fielders Well I’d have to say I have some fairly individual career highlights fainted due to the heat and a 7 eccentric tastes. Sport of any kind would which have included bowling haul against Melton. There have also have to be one. I also love food but you and facing test cricketers but been a few decent sixes in amongst. wouldn’t have to be a genius to figure that it’s funny that I don’t tend to one out. I love live theatre but don’t get to remember many individual But the main highlights, other than see enough, and being a country boy at things... what do come to mind last year’s Premiership win, have been heart I love getting out in the bush are the catches I’ve taken. some victories where the team I have enjoying the sight, sounds and smell of been playing with have come from this great country. In my mind we could rank them nowhere to win. starting with classic catch A Who would be your 3 ideal dinner taken at mid-off in a semi final The best of these was two seasons ago guests (dead or alive)? in Ballarat, Catch B Como East in the 2’s when we took the final 7 Frank Sinatra, William the Conqueror (or in a 2’s semi final fielding at wickets for something like 15 runs to as us Norman’s call him, ‘Uncle Bill’), and mid wicket off Rick. win. Jesus Christ (Ed:for the water into wine?)

Page 3 The Como Courier October 2012

Dear Auntie Sue...

Dear Auntie Sue, Dear dad to be, 1. Bring the whole family and combine cricket and the family. Firstly, is the spelling of Aunt(ie)y 'ie' First of all, thank you for your question and Feeding of the baby could be part or 'y'? That should clear up my first seeking the advice of such a worldly woman of the afternoon tea break. domestic. as myself.

But now to more pressing matter.... I look forward to meeting this fiery, 2. Reinforce to the mum to be that independent woman. She sounds a lot like absence makes the heart grow My wife and I are expecting our 1st me but with a Northern English accent. fonder and there is not much you child in mid January and while she is can do anyway in the first six incredibly understanding; nay, LOVES Whilst I do want to address your new role of weeks(unless you know how to cricket, I'm wondering how I balance father to be I would like to go back a step to lactate). the amazing new role I'll undertake as your comment of ‘pivotal role as a number 4 a dad with my equally pivotal role as batsman’. number 4 batsmen in the 1s. 3. Follow through on some of your I am encouraged by you talking yourself up, past bromances, knowing you Both are/will be hugely enjoyable but as only god knows that I’ve talked up some won’t get any love when you get my comment that we're going for back of my performances in the past as well. It’s home. to back flags - and that, really, the new amazing what a grand final win can do to the bub won't remember these first few memory. I trust you find these options helpful. By the weeks have been met with, should I sounds of things my advice on how to say, less than normal enthusiasm. Balancing ones family life and cricket is a conceive has obviously worked. delicate balance so I have three options for How do I placate a fiery, independent, you to discuss with your English Rose. Auntie Sue (definitely with an ie) pregnant Yorkshire woman?

‘Stat’s amazing’- best bowling by a current Yarra

Player Season Grade Opponent O M R W RickAll us Derons cricketers love a good statistic,2009/2010 so each volume C Gradewe will bring you someReds stats from the Yarras. Let’s begin14.3 with last7 season:19 8 Travis Hughes 2008/2009 C Sunday Grade Emmanuel Sth Oakleigh 9 3 17 7 James Dixon 2010/2011 A Grade Sacred Heart 12.3 1 23 7 Martin Reidy 2009/2010 A Grade Reds 18 5 32 7 Andy Campbell 2001/2002 C Grade Emmanuel Sth Oakleigh 15 3 37 7 Rick Derons 2009/2010 C Grade Sacred Heart 19 5 40 7 Rick Derons 2010/2011 B Grade Power House 15.1 3 50 7 Gideon C Haigh 2004/2005 B Grade National 5 1 6 6 Andrew Hawthorne 2011/2012 A Grade Parkville District 14 8 9 6 Rowan Hanna 2009/2010 C Grade Sacred Heart 7.4 2 12 6 N.B. The club’s best ever bowling figures are from Nathan Kincaid: 12-6-9-9 Vs Sacred Heart, MCA A Grade, 2005/6.

The North-South Shield (By Gideon Haigh)

The Yarras finished second in this the stumps by Ryan on debut, With the bat, we were frankly year’s North-South Shield against claiming his first Yarras stumping off atrocious. Greg, VB, Mantis and I got East Coburg CC – rather a long way the bowling of Scuz. into double figures before getting out second, with about 100 runs of to average shots. Apart from Ryan, daylight between the two sides. The bowling was OK too, (with one who was sawn off by a bad call (not notable exception). New boy Glen from me, for once), we were all For a team that had done little in the (aka Speedy) used the new ball well, culpable. way of fielding training, we actually on a pitch with plenty of bounce but weren’t too bad in the field, the not a whole lot of width, and Greg Thanks to everyone who played, and highlight being a magnificent and Scuz bowled some tidy overs of East Coburg for being such good running outfield catch by Dragon, slower stuff. However, a score of 220 hosts. The game was played, as and an outstanding display behind always looked a lot to chase down. always, in excellent spirit. Page 4 The Como Courier October 2012

The Review: Not all dancing is done down the wicket By Pasquale Scrimizzi and Vic Nicholas

On a quiet Friday night in the early Member Happy and former captain Murdoch, Facebook, texting and even Spring it can sometimes seem tough Chris Mack happen to also have Shane Warne. to find an appropriate activity. dedicated their lives to an alternative pursuit, and so for this particular From the first scene, involving fans Whilst Adelaide vs Fremantle Friday, it was to be their rendition of (paper, not people), harmonies and certainly held some interest for Gilbert and Sullivans ‘The Mikado’. much merriment, it became some, with a long season ahead of us abundantly clear that our two the chance to secure forthcoming For those of you unfamiliar with cricketing companions had probably brownie points meant that the range Gilbert & Sullivan and The Mikado in spent more time practicing their vocal of options had to be extended. particular (i.e. probably for everyone range than their back foot defensive. other than Gid and Sue), The Mikado And so with that in mind, an offer to originally premiered in 1885 and, Brian Hannan as Ko-Ko, The Lord venture down to the Ringwood though set in the fictitious Japanese High Executioner of Titipu, displays a theatre, aka the Karralyka Centre, town of Titipu, the lyrics to the songs comic timing and genius in his seemed as good a place as any to satired 19th Century British politics performance that was a highlight of indulge my much hidden love of and institutions with just enough the show. Always scheming, prancing the arts (and my love of future twist to avoid them being arrested! about and doling out witty songs, nights drinking on the balcony after “Happy” owned the stage and a game!) In this regard, the lyrics to this reminded those present of the skill incarnation of the Mikado have been and beauty of the now dying art of As luck would have it (and a fair updated to take well aimed swipes at Music Hall entertainment. dosage of design), our recent Life such modern personalities as Rupert

The crowd were frequently doubled For a 30 something bloke from over with laughter at Happy’s sly Shepparton, all-singing all-dancing digs at present day luminaries and stage shows can leave me wondering institutions, all delivered with a how and why I managed to get myself twinkle of the eye and a knowing into this situation, and mostly wink to the audience. spending more time looking at my watch than the thespian performance Chris McKenna was equally taking place in front of me. impressive in his depiction of Nanki-Poo, who as the Emperors However, on this night I can happily son is disguised as a wandering say that I was unable to take my eyes minstrel and is in love with Yum- off the stage. Yum. A thoroughly enjoyable evening, and Nowhere to be seen was the Yarras one I think every Yarra, and every slow bowler with a sense of white- friend of a Yarra should take the time line fever, in contrast displaying a to see if and when they get a chance theatrical craft and stage presence (and if that means one more night that these writers could not have sitting on the balcony having a beer, imagined that he possessed! than everyone’s a winner!).

It is with great pride that we are able to continue to grow our relationship with the Windsor Community Bank during season 2012/3. For all your banking needs, please contact them directly.