Aurora,

 Like C Grade, D Grade didn’t get off to the start we would of like, going down to the Hall King Browns in a great match at Rivett.

 After losing the toss and being sent into bat the Bears started Season 2014/15. DB and Popey strolled out to the middle, had a conversation about getting our eye in and scoring some runs. Well it soon became apparent that DB was not really listening during the conversation, as he got out for a duck at the end of the first over. Reppo came in to steady the ship and build a partnership with Popey. The two proceed to block out the good balls and dispatch the bad ones. On the last ball before drinks Reppo went for a big 6 but was caught right on the boundary for 23.

 So at drinks the Bears were 2/75 (or something like that) with the instruction of trying to make another 100 in the second 20, Mcgyver and Popey went back out to the middle. Mcgyver smashed a very quick 19 (including some massive 6’s) before departing to an extremely nice Yorker on middle stump. Magic was next to the crease and continue to build on the Bears total. Popey was the next to go, scoring 77. Thrompfie came in with one mission on his mind, he would smash the opposition into submission. After a few nice hits around the ground, he unfortunately came unstuck on 11. Damo made the long walk to the crease (and the extremely long walk back) after facing two balls and being trapped LBW for a duck.

 One of the Bears newest recruits Josh (aka Venom) went out to the middle. After hitting a very nice 4 he was also bowled for 5. This left HP and Buttsy to add the icing to the top in the dying overs. Well HP added 12 by smashing three consecutive 4’s and Buttsy not getting to face a ball were both left not out in the end. At the end of 40 overs the Bears managed to score 179 (or was it 189 or maybe 181 the score book didn’t quite add up) so doing the right thing the Hall King Browns were set a total of 180 to secure the victory.

 The Bears practice catching before taking the field (not that it helped us during the game but more to come on that) and out into the field we went. We could not ask for a better start with Reppo taking two wickets in the first over. With the Bears on a high we continued on to HP’s first over. The first ball of the second over saw us miss our first catch. From that point on it was all downhill for the Bears. I think the old saying “catches win matches” could not of be any more true for the bears… One of the highlights (or are they lowlights) for the game had to be that the Bears managed to drop the opposition captain 4 times (with the first being while he was on zero) while he went on to achieve a triple figure score. Thank god we caught him on the fifth attempt or else he might of went on to make a double century.

 The King Browns had some big hitters and proceeded to smash the ball further and further out of the park (literally some of the shots were heading down the walkway)… From that point I think most of the bears realised that it was just not our day in the field. With plenty of drop catches and a lightening quick outfield the King Browns were able to amount runs easily. However, just when it looked like the chance of a Bears victory was all but out of reach, the Bears fought back bravely and started taking wickets. Towards the end of the game we even had them 9 down but unfortunately the damage was already done by their top order and the Bears just fell short of snatching an unlikely victory.

 On the positive the game was played in the “true spirit of the game”, with plenty of sledging and good natured banter going on between the teams throughout the day. After the game the two teams proceeded to sit around and enjoyed a cold one together, while we reminisced the funny moments from the game and what might have been if only we held some catches.

 Lastly, I would like to say a big thank you to the guys who brought the gear along, cooked the BBQ and arranged a make-ship esky (as I forgot the esky – yes I know my bad).

 Even know the result was not what the Bears had hoped for, I think everyone found the day to be really enjoyable and it was a great indication of the season to come.   

 Cheers

 Popey