Gordon District Cricket Club - 2003-4 A.W. GREEN SHIELD REPORT

Gordon District Cricket Club | December 12, 2025

We knew we were in for a dramatic season when, after seemingly winning the first match at Campbelltown (amidst great excitement as 1st Grade scored their maiden victory on the adjoining ground), the match was belatedly declared a tie on appeal some weeks later!

Undaunted, the team pressed on to cut a swathe through the rest of the competition to be unbeaten after the seven (7) preliminary rounds.

Results:

Gordon 8-232 t Campbelltown 232

Gordon 6-194 d Easts 193

Gordon 9-239 d Nth. Sydney 92

Gordon 241    d Mosman 66

Gordon 2-171 d Manly 169

Gordon 6-237 d Randwick-Petersham 84

Gordon 281    d UNSW 135

Gordon 9-206 d Sutherland 157 (Prelim. Final)

Gordon 6-215 d Penrith 161 (Semi-final)

Bankstown 6-266 d Gordon 180 (Final)

Gordon then won their way through both the preliminary finals and semi-finals to set up a classic final with the other unbeaten team (Bankstown), on an immaculate Bankstown Oval.

We started well and had Bankstown under pressure at 5-127 after 29 overs, but a badly missed runout and a disallowed caught-behind to the same player were opportunities missed, and he went on to score a century and lead them to 6-266.

James Campbell bowled tightly (1-10 from 6), as did Kai Scott (2-37 from 8), while Rob Crawford and Tim Clifford were unlucky early. The spinners, John Blake (0-37 from 11) and Sam Ranney (1-44 from 12) were economical as usual.

We still fancied our chances of running down the target, and the tone was set from the opening overs with Charlie Lawry taking on the bowlers (and the sledgers!) and blasting 55 from 48 balls to kick-start the innings to 0-69 from the first 14 overs.

Unfortunately, the momentum was slowed with some tight spin bowling and two runouts which brought us back to 4-93, before a productive partnership of 69 between Justin Waller (69) and Rob Crawford (40 from 45) put us back into the game again.

However, the dismissal of Rob, Adam Rezek and Justin in quick succession saw our run-chase stumble again and, with Bankstown quick to seize the initiative, we were finally dismissed for 180 in the 49th.

The final scores disguised the fact that this had been a hard-fought contest, and that for lengthy periods of the match a spirited Gordon side had wrested back the initiative and were able to exert considerable pressure on the opposition.

A little more steadiness and mental toughness at critical moments could easily have seen us take the title.

Whilst disappointing, our inability to win the final could not detract from the fact that the team had an outstanding series, and performed with great distinction throughout.

A large part of their success was due, I am sure, to the fact that they were all quality players; they all made contributions at various times to the team’s success; they were all Gordon Juniors, and so had strong loyalty to the team and the district; they all knew each other and/or were already cricket mates through Gordon rep. teams, and so were pretty firmly bonded already; and importantly, they were a fine bunch of young men who thoroughly enjoyed their cricket, and each other’s company.

To emphasise the all round strength of the team: seven (7) different batsmen scored thirteen (13) half-centuries between them and, perhaps more importantly, there were sixteen (16) partnerships exceeding 50, only one of which was beyond the 5th wicket.

In addition, of the ten matches played, we only failed to bowl the opposition out once, yet only one 5-wicket and one 4-wicket haul were achieved. Everyone played their part! The standard of fielding improved dramatically as the series progressed, and thirteen run-outs was witness to their growing effectiveness in the field.

The club selectors (with a mighty contribution from Geoff Hickman) did a very thorough job in selecting the squad, and Matt Michael performed admirably as coach, and helped bring a much-needed sharper edge to the team’s attitude and performance on the field. Also Andy and Michael Falk, and Ed Howitt, always seemed to find a way to be available to assist with the chore of sweeping and re-marking the pitch during the lunch break at home games.

It was heartening for the boys to see so many club stalwarts supporting their matches, and deriving so much obvious enjoyment from the team’s success – and also from the team’s rousing renditions of the club song after each victory!

Many thanks also to a most supportive and friendly parent group, who were always willing to assist with the many duties associated with running a team including scoring, afternoon teas, covers, etc.

We look forward, with great anticipation, to seeing this group of cricketers continue their winning habits in the Gordon grade teams of the very near future!

Glynn Lawry

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