The Valley Of Peace Cricket Club Inc.

We welcomed back to the Valley of Peace the Christchurch Golf Club XI team on a warm summer’s day for our much-awaited annual fixture. After the win at the STAC #1 ground last season, the Golf Club brought along a youthful team to defend their title, some golfers with representative cricket pedigree grouped with a bunch of good athletes (and an international super coach) gave their side an average age of around 30, along with a strong favourites tag.

The Valley selectors countered with a team built around experience. Three members of the NZ over 70’s training squad provided our core bolstered by some youthful newcomers and Valley regulars.

The CGC had won the premier Woodward Cup golf competition this year and the manager of that successful side took the reins as usual for their First XI. Captain Glenn Bongartz won the toss and with no hesitation on the new look Valley ground decided to bat, partnering chief selector Callum MacAlpine at the crease.

The Valley, against all odds, had the better of the early exchanges. English import, James Hamilton, a young man taking the kiwi summer to further his cricket education at the Heathcote club and under the wing of Stan Wooliscroft, bowled with great control and pace to take two wickets for only 9 runs off his first five overs. Wooliscroft himself, bowling first change, took two further wickets and along with Chris House, the VoP had the Golf Club reeling at 57 for 5 from 18 overs.

The Valley’s fielding and catching had been exceptional to this point, a matter raised in the huddle. In the ultimate commentator’s curse, the next 20 overs were not to be so flash. Unfortunately, this coincided with former international Warren Wisneski and Premier grade and youth rep Callum Cameron being at the crease. While Andrew Levenger bowled tidily, our spin attack was taken to the cleaners with some class batting. You would think golfers would avoid hitting into the rough but Wisneski (8 times) and Cameron (6) cleared the boundary into the adjoining fescue grasses with regularity, long searches and two lost balls being the end result. A 143-run partnership later, our catching returned to earlier heights dismissing both danger men. Dale Stevenson, coach behind another CGC member Tom Walsh’s rise to fame, added a couple of more big hits but it was number 10 bat James Pearson, with 9 fours in the last 6 overs as part of his 44 not out, that boosted the CGC total to a formidable 275 for 9 off 50 overs. The two Michaels, Davidson and Mahaffey, stemmed the tide somewhat but the damage had been done.

In reply, the VoP got off to a good start, Davidson’s return to the Valley being highlighted by some fantastic strokeplay.  After 22 overs, at 89 for 3, we were ahead of the golfers, by comparison, a good achievement against the aggressive open spell from Pearson, Mika MacDonald and a very proficient support cast that followed. Riley Smith along with James Hamilton provided some solidity but the run rate proved too daunting as the Valley worked its way to 162 all out, our final wicket falling in the 44^th over with Stan unfortunately unable to bat due to an injury while bowling.

The CGC wickets were spread around their attack but mention must be made of their fielding effort. As a unit, several runs were saved from well-struck Valley shots and some excellent catches were taken. A fantastic all-round performance in all three facets of the game meaning a 113 run win to the visitors.

Both captains made mention of the facilities – the ground is an absolute picture so sincere thanks to the committee, members and friends of the club that put in the foresight, expertise and time to give us such pristine conditions. To David Eathorne (CGC for the day rather than VoP) Scott and Nick behind the bar thanks for the excellent service.

We look forward to the next decade where the battle will resume. Congratulations again to Glenn, Callum and the CGC team.

Match Summary
Christchurch Golf Club 275 for 9 from 50 overs.
W. Wisneski 86, C. Cameron 62, J. Pearson 44* M Mahaffey 2-19, J Hamilton 2-23, S. Wooliscroft 2-33

Valley of Peace 162 all out from 43.4 overs
T. Music 37, M. Davidson 30, R. Smith 24, J. Carson 2-15, M. MacDonald 2-40

Christchurch Golf Club win by 113 runs.

Tom Music
Valley of Peace Co-Captain for the day

It was truly great to be back at The Valley on Sunday plus what a game then, against the Millbrook Cricket Club, one of the very best and most enjoyable I’ve ever played in there! It was full of swings and roundabouts, ie they were 30/4, then 174/6, but 175 all out with 3 overs to go. While we were similarly 29/4 (not a good day for the top order batsmen!), got to 131/8 and eventually, the last pair got us home with a stand of 20 odd, on the back of a great innings of 64* from Ben Larter – which dare I say it, even at this early stage of the season could/should make him a leading contender for the H. Waters Cup again…..

But regardless of the result, the weather was perfect, everyone in both teams got a bat, all bar 2 got a bowl, the game went to the wire and we also had a very good crowd there – including lots of lovely Millbrook ladies, while a number of Valley luminaries such as Messrs Banks, Olsen, Smith and Woodfield (plus Phil Harris and Graham Inglis) were spotted desporting themselves among the friendly gathering!

And Barry Frost excelled himself with the splendid range of salads on offer at lunchtime, especially as he told me he’d only got back home at 9.00 pm the night before from 12 days away (and had storm damage to attend to), which makes his effort all the more meritorious! So can you please pass on my warmest thanks to Barry, it was just a pity that he’d (naturally) had to leave before the speeches and missed all the justified praise in his direction.

While John Kerrison did well too – Paul Bateman, his friend Brian Plaskett and I were the last 3 away at 7.30ish, after tidying the pavilion and giving John a hand with the shutters etc, he seemed to have enjoyed the day and a splendid one it was :-), although funny in a way, of course, without the big tree on the field, after I’ve had 40 years of playing with it there……

And finally, I left a copy of the Henry Blofeld book there for The Valley, the one where he writes so well about his visit there – I put a note on the front of the book about it, and highlighted the start and end of his lovely half chapter article.

Thanks and cheers,
Bert Walker

The wheels of commerce need to keep turning in the Christchurch technology sector, so it was agreed that a 40 over match starting at 12.30 would take place against Tait Communications XI on the scheduled Friday afternoon at the Valley of Peace cricket ground in the Hoon Hay Valley.

Typically, match reports include statistics, however, this one will not, as there are no favourable VoP statistics to share. In brief, we got comfortably thumped by a team that was younger and more skilful!

Everyone enjoyed the afternoon and post-match drinks … and as the saying goes … ‘it is better to get thumped at the Valley on a Friday afternoon than be at work’.

Phil Smith