General News
16 February, 2022
South West veterans going strong
THE South West veterans’ cricket side claimed its second win on the trot with a victory over Ballarat in Buninyong last Sunday.
THE South West veterans’ cricket side claimed its second win on the trot with a victory over Ballarat in Buninyong last Sunday.
Ballarat batted first, making 9/158 from its 40 overs, but the provisionally named South West Volcanoes chased hard, making 6/165, passing Ballarat’s score in the second-last over.
Leigh Graham was South West’s best bowler, taking 3/12 off his eight overs, and was ably supported by Geoff Pulham (2/34), Andy Lamont (2/39), Heaton Jarred (1/10), and Peter Dickson (1/23).
Peter Dickson retired for the Volcanoes on 24 runs, while Stephen Cain (24 retired), Andy Lamont (21) and Leigh Graham (18 retired) also contributed at the crease.
South West administrator Graeme Fischer spoke proudly of his players, noting the side’s disadvantage of being so widely spread.
“Because they come from so far, so many different areas, to actually train is impossible. The Ballarat and Geelong guys have a huge advantage as they train once a week,” he said.
Fischer said his long-term vision, which was shared by the association, was that western Victoria could establish its own competition in the future.
“We want a comp in western Victoria that would probably include Sunbury, Hoppers Crossing, Geelong, Ballarat, Hamilton, us, maybe Warrnambool,” he said.
“We’d have it regional (rather than state-wide) so there’s not as much travel.
“It’s a bit difficult, there was a game earlier in the season, during cropping season, against Richmond, but we couldn’t get enough people to go because of the travel.”
Fischer said he’d observed the growing sense of mateship among the team throughout the season.
“The camaraderie after the games has been fantastic, and I’ve seen that develop wonderfully,” he said.
“I think it’s good for men’s mental health, older men, I think’s that’s been positive.”
Fischer believes the sense of belonging the team can provide is important for older men.
He shared an anecdote about a new player who, when filling out his membership form, struggled to think of someone to name as an emergency contact.
“I immediately thought, it’s good for this man to play cricket.”
South Western veteran’s next match will be against Hamilton on Sunday, February 27.