Along with the champion female Aussie squad becoming world champs again, vets cricket, along with our women and girls cricket influx, is one of the burgeoning areas of the game we can be satisfied will keep the game alive.

With dads, mums, siblings and even ‘grandies’ still playing, or taking it up again, it’s an area to smile about for many reasons.

In the area of our men’s vets programs, the main focus is about getting players back on the park to be part of the men’s shed on the field, where everyone is involved and given the chance to try and be a Peter Pan for the day.

Local games are the bread and butter of such matches whilst there is a myriad of other opportunities in various organised tournaments and tours out there.

A MNC 50s group travelled to Tamworth last week and played at the iconic Number 1 Oval, scene of a number of famous country and even international matches, where many had the thrill of playing under lights for the first time.

In that match, the Coasties dominated with the ball and bat.

Breaking the game into sections, playing 20 overs each and then having a dinner break, the half way mark saw Tamworth 6 for 82 and MNC 3 for 106.

The second session saw the locals fight back to post a total of 158.

Batting in the dark, the visitors powered up, enjoying the lights and the scenery as well as the host’s bowling to bat out their second set and finish with 7 for 243.

Barry Welch bowled and fielded brilliantly to be awarded Man of the Match honours from the hosts, with 3 for 25 and 28 with the bat.

Darren McCudden also snavelled a brilliant one hander in slips and took 3 for 28, whilst youngster and ring-in future vet,Tony Bransdon took 3 for 7 and scored 32 retired.

John Kessey and Dom Ashe took a wicket a piece as all bowlers did the job in tying down and helping each other in a beaut effort.

Rob Mooney (21), Bransdon, Jamie Hall (18), Greg Hall (16), Welch, Ashe (31 retired) and Darren Hall (43 no) all spent valuable time at the crease in what was a dominate performance.

Tamworth are keen for another match and a date for same will be set at some stage.

In Sunday’s practice match, players from as far north as Coffs joined the fray at Tuncurry Oval, home of the Great Lakes Cricket Club, and had an excellent hit out amongst players having their first go and others who’ve already confirmed their nomination to attend the State 50s Championships in Orange in early February.

The game at Tuncurry saw lots of fun with newcomers and old mates making new ones, whilst those who’ve been involved since the start of the season continuing their camaraderie.

There were some excellent performances with bat and ball and some very good fielding which made some birth certificates brought into question.

Darrell Nash, Barry Welch, Rick Clark and Chris Steinmetz (helping 50s numbers for the day being an absolute false ID guy as a supposed 60+) showing throwing ability and field movement which much younger players would crave!

Bowraville’s Terry Baldwin showing class last’ with a well compiled 30 retired, Dom Ashe continuing his club form, ‘recycling’ for a second hit with 48 no and Nash (27 retired) were those who kept their wickets intact, along with Mike Steinmetz (14 retired) and Clark (27) showing their ‘touch’ is still there.

Others had a couple of lives but were allowed to bat out the 25 ball limit to score a few with Welch (29), Lindsay Dickenson (22), Rob Mooney (27), Rohan Kew (18), Kev Sherwood (20), Tony Bransdon ((32), Darren McCudden (17) Troy Highlands (18) and Darren Hall (17) all spending good time at the crease.

The Coastie Squads for the 2019 State Championships will be confirmed over the next few weeks with  another practice match hopefully to be held in Port during December.

Organisers hope to have all nominations in by this Thursday so two squads can be confirmed re availability and enabling the entry of a team in both 1 st and 2 nd Divisions of the event.

With teams coming from towns and/or regions including; Port Jackson, Southern Highlands, Riverina, Western Macquarie Valley, Tamworth, New England, Central Coast and Western Wildfires – some entering two or even three squads, the event will be huge.

The games will be played over three straight days on February 10,11 and 12 at various venues in and near to Orange as over 200 players converge on the Central West .

Having hosted a very successful National 50s Carnival back in Easter of this year, organisers are gearing up for more great vets’ cricket and a continuation of the spreading of the word.

This will be a challenge for some Peter Pan pretend bodies but all are sure to have a heap of fun meeting up with old mates, making new ones and playing a good standard of cricket.

A bonus for those interested and/or able, will see the event be part of the process of selecting NSW 50s squads for the next National Carnival which will be held in late 2019.

That will then lead on to the next National Squad being selected for whatever is planned for those more elite players who are part of the Vets’ movement.

With a the first ever World Cup 50s Tournament currently being held in Sydney, there is the full range of opportunities for players of all abilities on offer from this age group through to Over 60s and 70s.

In addition, there are moves afoot for similar type events or matches to be held in areas of interest for over 40s cricketers as well.

The MNC 60s continue their full on program with the annual inland tour seeing matches in Tamworth, Quirindi and Armidale this coming Friday through Sunday.

The travelling squad has a great mix of players from various parts of the coast and those who haven’t played for a while will be keen to get stuck in.

Those members of the squad, who were recently involved as representatives of NSW in the week long National 60s event at Penrith, have had a week recovering from four days of very competitive cricket and will be pleased to back with their local mates and enjoying these challenge matches with friends across the range.

The three days will see a continuation of everything that is good about the vets cricket scene.

Anyone keen to be a part of this can contact the MNC vets secretary, Kevin Pike on kevanddiane@bigpond.com.