together. Play got underway around 1pm Bradbrook. The ball was most definitely It was only the combination of Foster with Matt strolling to the crease with his missing both off and leg stumps but rupturing his Achilles tendon and the 2015 BRINGS AN brother, Victorian First Class Cricketer quite possibly not middle. steady loss of wickets that halted the run and triple Ringwood Premiership Player chase and saw Great Preston eventually Michael Foster’s retirement after a David King for company. By 1.30pm dismissed for 176 in the long twilight typically hard hitting innings showed the crowd had swelled considerably with a couple of their allotted overs why he is the only Great Preston player as word swept through the village that remaining. Great Preston legend Gary to have gone on to first class honours Matt’s brother David was unleashing an Richardson showed courage under fire in the English system and brought 10 innings of poised yet powerful batting when Fotia was brought back in to the year old Sam Giles to the crease to EPIC GOOD the equal of any Berry Lane may have attack to try and wrap things up and get bat with his Dad for the first time in a witnessed. Meanwhile, some relative the GFS boys in the bar, which won him a game. Sam got off the mark in far more hasty re-assessments by those who had whole new generation of admirers. convincing fashion than his father before elected to park directly behind the wicket START TO THE well-travelled GFS Invitational, Paul Smith Sam Giles was exceptionally unlucky were needed. of the Warwickshire Imps & Stoneleigh not to claim his first English wicket with By the time David departed at the canny CC, rounded the innings off with some a controlled display of economical leg bowling hands of David Flint, the GFS effective, if slightly unconventional spin, not helped by his father making Invitational XI were approaching 100 off stroke play. a meal of a relatively straight forward the opening 10 overs and this platform chance at mid-wicket off his 10 year old GILES FOSTER A break for afternoon tea involved a allowed the GFS Invitational XI to reach opposite number, Ben Foster. sumptuous spread, some strategically an imposing 3/302 (plus numerous encouraged pints for the two Australian Adrian Thomas delivered a mesmerising retirements) by the time afternoon tea Under 19 Representative GFS Opening spell honouring his brief visit to SCHOLARSHIP was called. After a typically scratchy Bowlers, Ringwood’s Matt Fotia and Ringwood. It should also be noted on beginning former GPCC Professional Michael Topp and a fundraising raffle the accompanying scorecard that David and Ringwood 1st XI player Jason Evans drawn by Epic Good Foundation King’s figures of 2/32 probably flattered produced a cameo of epic proportions. Co-Founder, Cathie Reid. to deceive after the scorers failed to Many in the crowd with memories dating realise during the middle part of the back to Jason’s 1995 season at Great When play resumed all eyes were on the Great Preston innings he shared the Even the eternally optimistic disposition and positive Preston were heard to rue the fact that two quicks, and they didn’t disappoint bowling duties (and wickets) from the far they’d got him 20 years too early and he snaring early wickets, and overcoming attitude of Epic Good Foundation Co-Founder Stuart end with St Kilda’s Josh Drummond. was just maturing into a real player now the generously provided pre-innings beer Giles may have been tested if you had suggested in his mid-40’s. to bowl with great pace to an aggressive Great Preston Chairman, Andy Clark gave field. Great Preston’s start was aided by a brief but heartfelt speech and presented to him that the inaugural year of the Giles Foster Other highlights of the innings included Michael Foster - who with his competitive some fantastic memento’s recognising the appropriate partnership of Giles/ Scholarship (GFS) launched by the Foundation would juices flowing elected to bat again for the the Epic Good Foundation support via Foster arriving at the crease together home side - and they managed to find the GFS. This was reciprocated by the have resulted in: following a dual retirement. It was themselves ahead of the required nine presentation of a Kippax Cricket bat nearly a short lived partnership though run an over mark throughout the opening signed by all seven capped Ringwood and some might suggest that it was his overs. match participants to be displayed in the “Patron” status that allowed Giles to • A title winning season for host club BUT, the reality is that the 2015 GFS year Great Preston clubhouse. survive a first ball LBW appeal off the Great Preston (the aptly named has delivered all of the above and so bowling of his former teammate Dave Victory Cup in Division One of the much more. Central Yorkshire League) Things got underway on field in fine • A record breaking 1093 runs at an style across late April and early May with average of 109 in League and Cup Matt getting his UK season off to a flyer Ties for the inaugural GFS Recipient as his first three innings brought exactly Matt King (rising to an even more 300 runs for a single dismissal. He incredible average of 128.75 in displayed a very handy second string to League Games only) his bow with the ball snaring 14 wickets at an average of 23 before a minor injury • A Boy’s Own Annual style century caused him to retire from the Great by Matt in the Top of Table League Preston attack approaching the halfway Clash on the weekend of the GFS point in the season (although he had Commemorative Launch Match done enough by then to eventually add • A full house basking in glorious the competition All Rounder of the Year English sunshine (and record- trophy to his bulging end of season list breaking bar takings) at Berry Lane, of personal accolades). Great Preston to see a star studded Matt was fortunate to live and work GFS Invitational XI with 7 capped with club stalwart and 2nd XI Captain, Ringwood Cricket players take on a Richard “Tiny” White and the cricket Great Preston XI, and gods smiled accordingly upon Tiny, • Australia raising themselves off handing him the prized scalp of Stuart the canvas at The Oval to claim a Giles (himself a 1000 run, title winning stirring Ashes Test win whilst the overseas player for Great Preston “back London leg of the GFS Corporate in the day”) in the GFS Commemorative & Personal Development Program Launch Match in August. scaled even greater heights in the The GFS Game was a wonderful stands overlooking the ground. celebration of the role cricket can play Matt King Flanked by Sam and Stuart bringing communities, both near and far The friendship and fellowship displayed GFS Invitational Innings on the field of play lasted long into the evening and it would be remiss not to at least mention the fact that Great Preston Batting How Out Total won the drinking competition. Their M.King retired 62 decision to run that outcome as their lead social media story on the match D.King c: I.Newton b: D.Flint 46 possibly speaks volumes of northern J.Evans c: A.Clark b: D.Bradbrook 35 English priorities, and highlights the J.Drummond Retired 36 exceptionally hospitable nature of Yorkshire-folk. It’s fair to say everyone M.Foster Retired 41 departed sometime after last drinks Stuart Giles c: D.Ranasinghe b: R.White 14 were called fully committed to ensuring Sam Giles Retired 2 the 2016 GFS match would be an equally significant event on the cricketing P.Smith Not Out 18 calendar. D.Topp Retired 29 The following week saw the GFS caravan M.Fotia Not Out 1 (or more accurately Virgin East Coast J.Conlon DNB Train) head south to London for a series of events at or around the final Ashes TOTAL 302 Test. Matt as the GFS holder and the current Ringwood First XI players in the Bowler Overs Maiden Wickets Runs UK were all in attendance and performed ‘THE GILES FOSTER admirably in the dual role hosting their L.Russell 4 0 0 37 own guests from their respective UK D.Flint 5 0 1 49 SCHOLARSHIP clubs, whilst networking with friends and A.Sharp 6 0 0 34 supporters of the Epic Good Foundation. A.Clark 5 0 0 52 SELECTION The wonderful, impromptu vote of thanks delivered by Matt to the assembled D.Bradbrook 6 0 1 23 COMMITTEE ARE group in the Lord Cowdrey Suite at The Jason Evans back in action with bat and Ball D.Ranasinghe 6 1 0 17 Oval on day two would have provided a R.White 5 1 1 29 DELIGHTED TO BE fitting justification for the entire first year investment to the Epic Good Foundation Board, as it displayed all the aspects of PROVIDING AN personal development, self-awareness GPCC XI Innings and life skills that underpin the GFS OPPORTUNITY FOR A program’s objectives. Coupled with great feedback from all GFS guests (including Batting How Out Total YOUNG CRICKETER TO those English cricket fans who departed M.Foster b: M.Fotia 27 a little less boisterous than they had arrived) and all of the GFS ambassadors, Australia. A skip through Matt’s social C.Wormstone b: M.Fotia 9 ENJOY SUCCESS AT it was a wonderful way to conclude a media accounts confirms he was nearly as prolific in this aspect of his season at J.Marston c: M.King b: D.Topp 14 couple of Epic Good weeks for the GFS in the UK.