The Valley Of Peace Cricket Club Inc.

Thick and unrelenting drizzle meant cricket bags didn’t get beyond the car park at the Millbrook Cricket Club home ground in Arrowtown. A quick decision was made to settle in at a pool hall in Queenstown instead. Valley of Peace Cricket Club players showed sensational form on and around the felt, especially Niven Boyle, who, if he had shown equivalent skill on the cricket field, had play gone ahead, no doubt the VoP would’ve won by at least 150 runs.

We had our usual dinner and drinks (including WAGs) at the Fork & Tap in Arrowtown on the Saturday evening and did similar on the Sunday evening. Everyone had a good time!

Phil Smith, Jesse Tritschler

The fixture against the Deans XI cricket team is one that has been played by the club for about the last 80 years. The Valley of Peace won the toss and elected to bat on a beautiful day at the picturesque Glentunnel Domain. Three of the top order, Paul Bateman, Tom Hills and Andrew Nicholls all managed to get to 50 before retiring, which gave the innings a great start. They received good support from Tim Fulton (34), Willy Blake (48) and George Ritchie (38) which ensured that an impressive total of 317 had been reached when the last wicket fell in the 50^th over.

In reply the Deans XI never looked likely to chase down the big target, but they did manage to reach a respectable 216 before being all out in the 46^th over. The most successful bowlers for the Valley were George Ritchie with 3/22 and Hamish Cochrane 2/15. But the pick of the bowlers was the evergreen Stan Wooliscroft, who bowled 8 overs and took 1 for 13. The innings featured a sensational one handed outfield catch from Tom Hills, and also included three tidy overs and some enthusiastic fielding from 10 year old Alex Fulton – who looks to have inherited some of the family’s cricketing skills.

All in a very enjoyable day, well hosted by the Deans family – and a good win by the Valley team.

Scores: Valley of Peace 317/6 (P.Bateman 50 ret, T.Fulton 34, T.Hills 51 ret, A.Nicholls 50 ret, G.Ritchie 38, W.Blake 48, T.Ensor 2/33)

Deans XI 196/10 (J.Smith 50no, G.Todd 47, H.Cochrane 2/15, G.Ritchie 3/22)

Greg Hills (Captain)