Written by Paul "PJ" Johnstone & Captain Hevey

The Blackmans Bay side arrived at their home ground in Sherburd Park for the first match of the Summer with the news that Thomas McDonald had suffered an injured hand playing indoor soccer the previous evening. Coach Harrison almost suffered a heart attack as a result, as it would be the second player he has lost to the sport in his tenure at the Club. It was to be that Bubba would be entering the team to take the wounded McDonald’s place.

The coach and assistant coach were greeted at the ground with a most incredible sight – Luke Barlow turning up on time. His prompt arrival was put down to the fact that he may have soiled his bedsheets. The reason given by Luke, was in fact that he had soiled the bedsheets, however, not in quite the same fashion as anticipated by the coaching staff.

A rainy morning hampered the team’s warm up, as did assistant coach Paul Johnstone being cruelly peppered with tennis balls, first by Damien “I’m not as mature as a person of my vintage should be” Minehan, and then by perennial trickster Gordon “Wayne” Kerr. Johnstone got his own back by calling Kerr and Minehan some nasty names, and calm was restored to the area.
Captain Hevey almost caused the boys further dismay by ‘tossing a liner’ by landing the coin bolt upright in the Sherburd turf. Finally though, following a tense re-toss, some toss success for BBDCC, with John’s son correctly tossing in our favour, and decided he would let the Mecca have a trundle at the Bay boys.

Steven Morgan took the place of TMac at the top of the order, and opened the innings with Captain Hevey, fresh from his toss win. The innings started steadily, however Morgan was removed with the score on 11, well caught at first slip off the bowling of Aron Cherry. PJ was brought to the crease to join his captain who was happily knocking the ball around. PJ and Heves began to build a solid partnership, and the score passed 50 in the12th Over. The boys continued steadily and PJ brought up his 50 with a flick to the square leg boundary. Heves followed suit not long after with a briskly run 2 down the ground. This would be the skipper’s first half century for the club, after 44 matches. Hopefully for the Sharks, the next one doesn’t take as long.
With the score ticking along nicely after a well earned drinks break, the boys looked to move the scoring rate along, Hevey dispatching the hapless Margate side to all corners of the ground, before being trapped LBW for a beautifully compiled 64.

Enter Gordon Kerr.
Kerr proceeded to rip the heart from Margate with a blistering innings of 58, coming in less than 40 balls, including one memorable 6 over cover from the bowling of Aron Cherry. Kerr’s run blitz was perhaps only equaled by the amount of ego on the field at one time, with he and PJ facing some of the finest that have ever graced a cricket ground in the competition (again, not the authors own words)
PJ was next man to go, caught behind for 73, also his first half century for the club. Minehan, Barlow, and Andrew “Red” Barron then exited within 5 overs of each other, and the Bay looked to be behind the 8-ball slightly.
Marty Elliott joined Bubba-Gump Shrimp at the crease, and together the youngsters proceeded to demolish the Mecca with a partnership of 51 coming in just 6 overs. The highlights of the partnership being a towering six from the Thighpad bringing back memories of Polmear smashing a floodlight not a fortnight ago. Not to be outdone, Bubba sent a ball flying high, long and hard over the clubhouse and cannoning into the bonnet of Luke Barlow’s car.

The Bay closed their innings with a handy total of 6-283, setting the Mecca a menacing 5.68 runs per over to gain the points, a rate which the the great Viv Richards should have been quite content with.
The Margate side started their chase solidly, and despite some early LBW shouts, were making steady inroads into the target.
Luke ‘Spread the Love” Barlow opened his account first with a neatly taken catch by Wayne Kerr at mid off, and the Bay were looking to get on top. Nathan “Powerchords are the best People” Walton was brought into the attack by Captain Stubing of the Love Boat with immediate success, not just any success mind you. No, Wally doesn’t mess around with no-names this season. The man with the double facial piercing glazed Cherry with his fourth delivery, sending him packing for a quick fire 42.

Todd Waters came to the crease and made PJ look like a 4 year old, and at the drinks break, Margate were 3-124, and looking at 6.4 runs an over to win the game.
Well after drinks things started to go the Sharks way, with sub fielder Jay “is it pJ” Summers taking a good catch of Marty’s bowling to dismiss the solid Loveluck. Marty’s next over took the game away from the “mecca” when he removed Fish brother number 2,bowled, and added the prize scalp of Jamie Knott first ball for a blob. Marty finished his beautiful spell of swing bowling with the figure 4/22, capping off a great day for the bloke who wears his thinghpad on the outside.

With the early departure of Papa Minehan (only had a half day release from the retirement village) and PJ (Gamblers Anonymous Meeting) the sharks were down a few bowlers and with “Muddy” Waters 50 odd not out and the Mecca captain at the crease the game was far from over.  Enter the man we call “Baz” on for his first A Grade spell. With Heves up to the stumps Baz started with a few lil wobblers before unleashing a big inswinger which swung past the pad of Waters only to find its way somehow into the gloves of the Captain who wasted little time in removing the bails, Waters out stumped for a well made 60, Baz with his first A grade wicket in his first over and when Wally found the faint outside edge of Tim Wass’ bat the Mecca were reeling at 8/145. The Mecca avoided a hundred run defeat with some good late order batting by Captain Eric Monaghan (58), Kerr cleaning up the tail. Margate all out 213 and another 4 points for the Sharks.