Despite the very wet conditions before and during the carnival, it was managed brilliantly by organisers and most games were played in some form, turf or synthetic.

The division one squad, led by Wauchope’s Merv Bourke, performed credibly in their pool and had close matches – all being decided in the 37^th of 40 overs.

The first day, the side was defeated by eventual winners Penrith Sixers in a close fought match.

Scoring was difficult due to good, tight bowling and a slow field.

Bruce Jackson (29), Warren McWiliams (21), Barry Everingham (28) and Paul Price (25no) all did the job with the bat but it wasn’t enough as the classy city slickers reached the total in the 37th over.

Steve Sullivan, Warren McWilliams, Gavin Gillard and Steve Cass all bowled tightly and without a lot of luck, whilst Paul Price won the man of the match for his excellent form.

Ultimately the Sharks were beaten by the better side.

The second match against Port Jackson White was another close affair with some excellent bowling and batting seeing the opposition kept to a reachable total of 166.

Wickets and a superb tight spell by openers Peter Morris, Keith Platt and Steve Sullivan saw miserly figures and a wicket apiece, with the opposition having to chase quick runs later and Steve Cass again chiming in to grab another.

The chase saw openers Jackson (33) and McWilliams (20) do the job, ably supported by Morris - who bludgeoned a quick fire 27 and Everingham (42 not out).

He saw the innings through with the tail for a well earned win – again in the 37th over.

Steve Cass did an amazing job for the opposition who lost a player through injury, fielding for 30 overs of the innings before having to be pulled from the field to pad up and help his team home with the bat.

Morris was a worthy winner of the man of the match for his sharp bowling and blistering batting.

The third match against Central Coast Cyclones was to decide an entrant to the third and fourth playoff.

The Sharks were the first on the turf against tight bowling. This saw the top order fail with only Warren McWilliams (20) adding substance.

At 6/52 in the 23rd over, it was looking like an easy chase for the coastal ‘brothers’.

A late order surge by Steve Sullivan with a brilliant and stylish 42, Ken Ogilvie with a fighting 22 and an energetic 18 not out from Steve Cass resulted in a total of 9/146. The Cyclones started like their name and were in swashbuckling form to be well on top before a mid-innings tightening saw the Sharks fight it out to the 37th over once more.

Miserly spells by Gillard and Morris, ably supported by McWilliams and Sullivan was not quite enough as the top order batting failure came back to haunt the Shark’s result. Sullivan was a clear man of the match for the Sharks.

The playoff for fifth and sixth was a replay of last years finals against Port Jackson Red, who had struggled for fit players and was added to by the willingness of an ever eager Steve ‘Momma’ Cass, who had become such a great team contributor in all ways.

Following on from his extra overs in the field helping PJ Whites, Cass proved a saviour for his erstwhile team mates, rescuing them from a batting collapse which was pointing to an easy chase for his Sharks.

Teetering with just 5/63 at the 23rd over mark, Cass helped his city cousins with a brilliant and controlled innings of 35 not out to see them reach a defendable 8/157 on what was a slow outfield at the beautiful Seaham Oval.

The chase proved a dour affair as last year’s winners fought it out strongly.

McWilliams with a stoic 23 and skipper Bourke with a patient 45 retired saw the total diminish, aided by Everingham who also retired at 45 which saw the rest of the crew requiring a run a ball to finish the job.

This was not an easy task and again it was Sullivan who stepped up, calmly building the innings to a last ball crescendo with 23 not out.

The ‘bye’ which brought victory was somewhat an anticlimax to the previous few overs of tension and a tough way for the opposition to lose but the Sharks had done the job well and deserved the win.

Man of the match was skipper Bourke who had led the team well all week.

In his after match wrap up, Bourke was glowing in his praise for the team spirit and never say die attitude.

“Whilst the results weren’t as we’d hoped as far as finishing up top, we were competitive and played each game in a wonderful spirit – as expected in Vets cricket,” he said.

Bourke was particularly thankful for the scoring done by Deirdre McWilliams and her apprentice, Sally Sullivan, who kept the books accurately and correctly.

“It’s great when you can actually read some of the names and numbers in the scoresheet,” he said.

Bourke went on to award the teammate of the week award to Steve Cass.

His selfless attitude, fun demeanour and ‘get stuck in and have a go’ manner, as well as a willingness to show you’re never too old to learn and excellent onfield performances, saw his award a no-brainer.

The team spirit of not just the Sharks, but the two MNC Squads was encapsulated in this award and the fact that a large number of the Dolphins had found their way to the ground to watch the Sharks wrap up the match.

The division two Dolphins had a tough week against good opposition and with the oldest average age of any group, still proved competitive across most matches.

Their first match against eventual ‘joint winners’ (the final being washed out) New England was a tough initiation.

On a slow ground and against a classy outfit which would have been competitive in division one, they struggled their way to 7/ 132 with vice captain Dave Relf (28), Alex Rullis (21), James Laurie (19) and Russ Harris (16no) leading the batting.

Against a powerful batting line-up it was never enough and the Tablelands scored confidently to pass the total comfortably.

John Lambert, Kev Pike and Mike Bulmer all took wickets whilst the evergreen Les King bowled well and without luck.

In their second match against Hunter’s Lord Taverners, the slow ground was again a hindrance an they fought their way to 9/134.

Relf (40), Mike Steinmetz (27), Russ Harris (23) and Mike Bulmer (18 not out) all aided the score but it was not enough as the opposition passed the total in the 36th over at 5/136.

The bowlers toiled manfully though as Pike and Rullis grabbed one apiece, whilst Steinmetz bowled a miserly spell and Les King again proved he was in the game with a fine performance and two wickets.

The Dolphins third match saw them take on a strong Port Jackson and put in what was arguably their best performance.

Again battling the slow field demons but thrilled just to get on the park, the lads did well to build a good total of 9/155.

Relf (15) again showed commendable form to help Alex Rullis, with a very well compiled 45 retired, form a good opening.

James Laurie (44) and Mike Bulmer (20), aided by Kev Pike with 12 not out were the only ones to build on the start but it was a defendable total.

Once more the Dolphins showed they were up for the battle and bowled well against their more fancied opponents – winners of last year’s division three title.

Openers Bulmer (3/33) and Lambert (2/19) cut a swathe through the Port Jackson waves and the Dolphins looked to be riding the crest of victorious wave with the opposition at 6/53. An almighty fightback saw the city slickers, despite Les King again bowling a tight spell and grabbing a wicket in the second half onslaught, squeak home in the 38th over in what had been a great match up.

Meeting another group of like minded country chaps in the Western Wildfires, saw the last match reduced to a 20/20 format.

The Wildfires set a 3/126 total. Lambert, Pike and Don Berry all took wickets in the cut and thrust of swing and miss cricket on day four of a big week.

Relf finishing the week strongly and retiring again for 21, Rullis (14), Harris (18), Ted Bowen (18 not out) and Don Berry (16 not out) all pushing hard towards the total which was ultimately a bridge too far.

Skipper Dave Wilson was proud to have a group who had a dip in every match and were in the mix in all bar the first against New England.

“All of the guys had a go and we combined well as a group. The onfield and off field camaraderie was as expected and we did the area proud,” he said.

MNC Secretary and chief organiser Kev Pike, who did an outstanding job for all players in both squads, was moved to comment.

“Thanks to Dave Wilson and Dave Relf in leading the Dolphins this week.

“As the oldest team in the carnival with an average age of 67 we were reasonably competitive and far from disgraced, although we didn’t manage a win.

“Thanks to all the players for their support. Dave Relf batted well in taking out the batting award for the week and Les King proved again that he is still a force, winning the bowling award,” he said. 

With a number of new players in the area and more wanting to play, Pike spoke of the big season to look forward to. 

“We have a large 60s program already in place with matches right through the season and the 50s group are gearing up for a number of games and the State Championships in Orange in February.”

Pike also congratulated a number of players who will represent NSW at the National 60s Championships in Penrith in November.

Barry Everingham in firsts, Bruce Jackson in seconds, Dave Relf and Warren McWilliams in thirds, Alex Rullis in fourths and Ted Bowen on the reserves bench.

Anyone interested in playing veterans cricket with the MNC group are welcome to inquire and join in the season.