Star Fails to chase down The Rapa

Star Varsity Prems once again were lacking in their batting and disappointingly failed to chase down the 267 posted by TR.

Te Rapa batted first and made easy work of the fodder they were fed from the opening Bowlers, especially Morrow who had simply forgotten how to bowl. The runs spurted away on the boys who were gallant in the field all day, a rare sight for Star in past, with ‘Best Fielder’ Andre Le CLair leading the way with his nimbleness and pace around the outfield. It was good to see this aroused Aiden Bingham to display his fielding wares and both were outstanding.

Andre and Aiden’s boyfriend Joel entered the fray to put the squeeze on the runs and bowled good lengths to slow the runs down to singles and saved an aggressive Te Rapa from humping us round the paddock. Bobby Tagore also chipped in with some meagre overs followed by some heavily expensive ones to do his figures some injustice whilst managing to survive a straight drive powerfully hit back at his head. With Ali like reactions to fend it from his face, it could only be described as Animal instincts for survival which saved him from certain death. I was just thankful I didn’t have to give the Butter chicken man mouth to mouth.

Young Paul O’Hallaran snooped doggy dogged himself some wickets including Mark Orchard’s and snuck a little 3- for not too many. Bowled well like a typical Aussie battler who didn’t mind who or when he bowled, he just steps into the mixer, does the job and gets the wickets. Great Effort!

Fielding in general was a vast improvement and finally the boys are seeing rewards from weeks of practise and it definitely saved us chasing 300..

Innings of Star, the typically defiant 'Turtleman' Billington and the explosive Morrow opened up solidly against the swing and guile of Orchard and the accurate pop gun of Irwin. Morrow using his bat like a cannon to launch Orchy to the fence twice with brutality usually reserved for a dibbly dobbler by a batsmen on 250 NO. Irwin also got the cannon blast for a six.
It was 1-55 before Billington had a brain explosion, followed by a Morrow Cannon Backfire and it was all on. Fitzgerald was once again too hungover to perform for his Club added 8, Le Clair 8 and Bingham got his average up form 2.5 to 3. Aldridge provided a steady ship and with craft batted his way to descent 46, with Commins enjoying the middle order role with 32 before they both lost their way. Te Rapa quickly wrapped up the tail and the game without much fuss, leaving Star asking the big questions of it’s batters.