Still Swinging At 40.

Congratuations and happy birthday to Kerry Aitken, swing bowler and erstwhile (look it up) umpire who turns 40 on the 30th of November.

Many happy returns from the club Kerry.....

Your Turn Black Caps

We are of course stoked that Dan Vettori is a Star man. But keeping it low key, we don't make a big deal about it when the big fella finds time to play for our club.

This weekend, all Star players should savour the fact that one of our clubmates will be leading our national cricket side.

The club would like to wish Dan all the best as he leads the Black Caps out against the Aussies.

Looking back the Aussies have been taking a right old stuffing all over the world. But the big codes are Rugby, League, Netball and Cricket, and with the Hadlee-Chappel Series about to start, there's an opportunity for New Zealand to complete a Tasman Grand Slam.

Go you good things!

Denied

Set up for a long bat on a flat deck in pursuit of 408 for 1st innings points, the Prems we denied on the weekend by a combination of heavy rain and freezing temperatures.

All cricket was cancelled which means the Division I side will need to wait for redemption against Melville. Eddie Marr the Melville groundsman obviously knew something the rest of us didn’t because he didn't bother to cover the pitch at Melville at all...

Vaseline.

A bit of a bleak weekend for the Prems and Div Is, with some chafing experienced by both teams....

The Premier side took a pounding from Te Rapa who finished with 407. (We won the toss and put them in. Shades of JG Wright in Perth....) In reply we are 112/3. An opportunity there for someone to make a name for themselves on a very flat deck.

The Division I side allowed Melville to reach 217 in their match on a typically low Melville deck. In reply the Div I side were all out for 133, with 3 overs left in the day. (Bummer if it rains next week...)

On a brighter note the Division II had a cracker of a game against Melville Green. In a 45 over match Melville scored 237, and our boys chased that total down with 3 overs to spare. Special nod to John "Rowdy" Blair, who smashed a half century, catching the eye of noted long-baller Damien Morrow. Good on ya lads.

The short-boards will go up when the editor receives them....

Two Star Articles in One Week!!

A Spot at the Top of the Order Would Be Fine (stuff.co.nz)


Nice picture here of the big fella in Star Colours too!






The picture is from BRUCE MERCER/Waikato Times.

Weekends Draw

Here’s the games for the weekend.

• Premier Vs Te Rapa, Galloway 3. That’s the pitch out in front of the shed. Te Rapa are on covers.
• Division 1 Vs Melville, Melville High School. Melville are on covers.
• Division 2 Limited Overs Match Vs Melville Green, Galloway 2. That is the pitch in the corner of the “L” Shape. We are on covers.
  

Huge game for the Premier side versus Te Rapa this weekend, both sides should be at full strength. Bar up boys!

The Division 1 side will remember that Melville beat them on first innings last year, those lost five points cost us a place in the final. The game was also memorable for the distinct lack of LBWs (except for Gus) and a century to Dave Gunn, breaking a 3 year drought for that side.

The Division 2 Side finds themselves on one of best pitch/outfields in Hamilton. Should be nice to have an actual changing shed……

Competition for places is HUGE so best you get to training this week.

Star Varsity Makes the Papers.

We've made the papers, (and not the courts section either) thanks Dan.
See this link:

Waikato times Article

Funny how a lazy fiddle outside off stump appears as a delicate late cut when you get to a certain level.

And here's the official result in case you missed it:

Goatherd Makes Good

Congratulations to Raj Korde, Goatherd Leg spinner who has the attention of the Hamilton selectors. He’s off to the Naki with the Hamilton side on Saturday.

Luck Raj!

Ring-In Gets The Nod

There’s a few changes for the Prems on Saturday. Despite some excellent form in the Division I side, a ring-in mate of Rob Brown and Shoston is playing.

Some guy Vettori.

Come down and have a look as the Prems go after 248 for first innings points, apparently this Vettori plays a bit.

We’ll just see won’t we.

Normal Service Will Resume Shortly....

Mixed weekend for the Division I team.

On Saturday the guys completed an outright win over Fraser-Tech before 4 o'clock (on the first day). Dan Hennebry was positively miserly with figures of 0/4 off 3 (3 Overs, 4 wickets, no runs.) in Techs first innings of 28.

Special guest Damian Morrow followed up Dans bowling performance with a bit of his trademark woodchopper-style batting, bashing 84 before finally skying a top edge to a very relieved first slip.

On Sunday, nearly the same team put in a flat performance against HBHS in the Division 1 Limited Overs final. After a solid start the Blues were eventually bowled out for 178 with young Mike Rowlands compiling a classy 68, and topping the tackle count. (Speak to D Hennebry)

In reply the Blues had HBHS 6 for 60-odd, but weren't able to finish the little buggers off. HBHS won the game, 179/9.

For those of you with an eye for history a young man by the name of Thomas bowled legspin for HBHS. The player in question is the son of Star stalwart Red Thomas. We didn't sledge him at all.....

The First Deck of Summer.

Most un-Galloway. Quite hard, not a lot of grass.

Predicting some up and down, and spin.

Pray the weather holds. It's on!

Draw For Saturday 5th

Premier vs Fraser Tech at Galloway 4, we are on covers.
Division 1 vs Fraser Tech at Galloway 1, Tech are on covers.
Division 2 vs Te Rapa, at Jansen 2, we are on covers.

Blues Roar into the Division I Final

After a very nervous wait, the Star Varsity Division 1 Blues have made the final of the Limited Overs Competition, to be played against HBHS Sunday November the 6th at 10:30 am.

The Blues made the final on run rate, with a net run rate over 3 games of 10."something or other" to Old Boys 7."something else"

Now the selectors have the job of picking out 11 players to represent the club this Sunday.

Rrrrrockin.....