Australian Veterans Over 70s Cricket Championships - Adelaide (a)

The 1st Australian Veterans Over 70s Cricket Championships was held in Adelaide from 4 - 9 November 2017.

We arrived in Adelaide early on Saturday afternoon, 4 November, then travelled to the Comfort Motel in Anzac Highway, Glenelg, by taxi - a short drive from the airport. Once we had settled into the room we decided to explore the area. There was a shopping centre with a supermarket not far from the motel. The shopping centre opened on to Jetty Road, more shops and at the end, the beach.

In the evening we travelled to the Marion Club for the Meet and Greet, the opening event of the championships.

GAME ONE
The first day of competition was Sunday 5 November. The Victorian First Team was scheduled to play at Duncan Fraser Reserve at Gepps Cross, north of Adelaide. The game did not start until after 12.15 as an under 10 game was being played first. By the time they got on the ground the players were well warmed up. Game one was against Western Australia.

Members of the Victorian one team: back row from left - Ian Sharp, Ian Gibson, Ian Longmuir, Arthur Pritchard, Dick Stumbles, John Costello, Robin Court, Ron Kasputtis.
Front Row - Wavell McPherson, Les Payne, Graeme Freshwater, Bruce Pooley.

Victoria batted first and at the end of the innings were 6 for 182. after 40 overs. Dick Stumbles retired on 40. Wavell McPherson 33. Arthur Pritchard (Captain) retired on 43. Ian Longmuir 17.
WA were all out for 88. Ron Kasputtis 1 for 14 off 6. Robin Court 2 for 19 off 7. John Costello 2 for 26 off 7. Bruce Pooley 2 for 24 off 6 and Ian Longmuir 2 for 0 off 4 balls. A great team effort and a good start for the championships.

During the afternoon a pair of ibis visited the ground. This one had no interest in Robin's bowling.

After the game the Victorian players celebrated with a few stretching exercises.

The weather was scheduled to be warm and was sunny when we left the motel. Unfortunately there was a cool (cold) wind during the afternoon and I had not brought a jacket. I made sure that I was better prepared for the other games, no matter what the forecast.

GAME TWO
Monday looked like another good day, weatherwise, and this time we set off for Unley Oval. This ground was closer to the motel than the ground for the previous match.

As this information post outside the ground indicate Unley Oval dates back to 1892.

Victoria one vs NSW: Victoria won the toss and batted first. 1 for 202 off 40 Overs. Ian Gibson 40 retired. Dick Stumbles 27 caught. Wavell McPherson 40 retired. Arthur Pritchard 41 off 31 balls. Ian Longmuir 36 not out off 37 balls.
NSW 7 for 98. Ron Kasputtis 1 for 12, Robin Court 1 for 25, John Costello 1 for 20, Ian Longmuir 1 for 6 off 7, Graeme Freshwater 0 for 8 off 6 Overs, Bruce Pooley 0 for 25 off 7. This was another great result.

Robin bowling in front of the Harry J McKay stand. This stand provided spectators with a good view of the game.

A feature of the ground were the numbered pickets with the names of people who had sponsored each picket.

Tuesday was a well deserved rest day for the players.

Other posts about the over 70s cricket carnival in Adelaide:
See Day 3 and Day 4 for information on the other two games.
Rest Day touring Glenelg
Glenelg Architecture
The Motel