We welcomed the Christchurch Golf Club cricket team to the Valley on a typically hot (for this summer) 30-degree day for our much-awaited annual fixture.  The Golf Club brought along a youthful team with more than an ounce of athletic ability, armed with the “eye” and coordination that good golfers inevitably have. With 10 of their 11 players selected by manager MacAlpine being single figure handicappers, the only hope we would have on the golf course would be playing Stableford, but on the cricket field, our wily veterans considered experience might be a big enough advantage. Proud member of both clubs, David Eathorne, lead host for the day, predicted the match would be a tight affair. As a former employee and member of the CGC, I agreed that we would be in for an even match.

Resplendent in their newly acquired CGC 1st XI caps, the Golf Club boys were ecstatic when Captain Glenn Bongartz called correctly and decided to bat on a good looking wicket.   Unperturbed by watching their experienced opener Sanders being hit on the helmet for 2 (almost 4 ) head byes, the CGC moved nicely to 28 off 7 overs when the danger bowler Nathan Robinson managed to get Sanders to flick a solid strike directly to Chris House for a well-taken catch.   CGC Open Club Champion Russell Fildes followed, watching his off stump cartwheeling first ball.   The hat trick didn’t happen, but a period of tight bowling from Ben Larter and House slowed the scoring, the highlight being the one-handed catch by Geoff Olsen in the 18th over just after the first drinks break.   Captain Bongartz was progressing nicely at this point and joined by Tim Kirby went through to the next drinks break unbeaten.   The highlight of this spell was the bowling of Ben Larter, bowling all 10 overs on the trot (at his request I will add!!) in high temperatures. His figures of 0-19 don’t tell the full story, the control of line and length was exceptional.

Due to this spell, we had restricted them to 140 for 3 off 36 overs, when the re-introduction of wily off-spinner Tony Gray paid dividends with two quick wickets, then in the 40th over, he also dismissed Bongartz for a well compiled 88. His next ball was also successful, leading to another hat trick opportunity that passed us by. Some lusty (and very clean) middle-order hitting then raised the run-rate to see CGC at 200 for 7 after 44 overs. Enter Geoff Olsen, with three wickets in four balls he literally cleaned up the innings in the best way possible.   He will have to wait until next year’s fixture to complete his hat trick.   So 201 was the target, Mr Eathorne seeing it as evenly poised and serving a great lunch with the help of John Kerrison and young Dougy Bongartz (assistant host).

Resident Valley statesman Bert Walker informed me we would have been chasing less if we had a better catching success rate than our actual 38% (5 from 13) and while he benefited from a couple of these, a word about Captain Bongartz. I have played over 30 years of backyard cricket with Glenn, won golf pairs competitions and he was the best man at my wedding, this was his best ball-striking performance I had seen from him. But for me, the Chatfield like bowling of Larter, late wicket-taking of Gray and Olsen along with Robinson’s opening two-wicket spell kept the scoring to a realistic chasing level.

Choosing an opening pair was easy, you must go with a man named Adonis and the other, a not so well named but cricketing god Walker. They kept out the good ones and dispatched the others to get to 45 off 12 before Linden departed to the bowling of Fildes followed by two more wickets to have the home side 75 for 3 in the 23rd.   The arrival of Music had seen each bowler seemingly increase their pace by 5 to 10kmph, and I enjoyed the insightful running commentary, in good humour, of my batting and the match situation by several fielders. I wasn’t aware that the CGC is where Sky Sport need to get their next commentary team from! Watch out Doully and Rigor!!

The CGC bowling, by their own admission, was a mixture, a few too many no balls and wides for their liking. Amongst this, Ben Larter struck a quickfire 22 (4 fours), his 30 run partnership with Music lifting the Valley to four an over, 146 for 5 off 35, both teams feeling like they were in the game.   A mixture of patient batting, luck and some extras saw the Valley get home in the 49th over, Greg Jones 8 not out and Music managing to pass 50 an over or two earlier. Captain Bongartz highlighted (and lamented) the extras total (51) as the second best contributor to the Valley innings.   It was a factor in helping a run rate that Sanders (1-14 off 9) and Roche (0-17 off 10) in particular had done much to stifle.

In the end, a Valley win by five wickets, and personally, it was great to have Mr Bongartz handing over the trophy (not sure if it has a name and apologies if there is a history but on this day it was renamed the David Eathorne Trophy) to me, my first win as a Valley Captain!! (actually my first win as a captain in NZ ever but another story for another day)   The game was played in fantastic spirit, the history of both clubs being respected and hopefully added to just a little by the day. For any Valley golfers, do visit the CGC, their hospitality will match ours.

Thanks again to Chris, John and the grounds team for a nice wicket, David and John behind the bar and to all that work behind the scenes to keep the Valley functioning.  To my team, thanks for turning out and doing your bit with bat and/or ball.  To those who “postponed” anniversaries or did extra chores to get a Sunday pass, my particular thanks.

We look forward to hosting the Golf Club in December 2018, the main early question for commentators to chew over is whether another year of experience for them or another year of age for us will be the biggest factor.

Match Summary

Christchurch Golf Club 201 all out off 45.4 overs.

G. Bongartz 88, T. Kirby 25, B. Dyer 24, T Gray 4-71, G. Olsen 3-39, N.Robinson 2-31

Valley of Peace 202 for 5 off 48.1 overs

T. Music 58*, R. Walker 26, B.Larter 22, R.Fildes 2-26

Valley of Peace win by 5 wickets and retain the D. Eathorne Trophy.

Tom Music

Valley of Peace Captain for the day

Trophy presentation Valley of Peace

Presentation of the D. Eathorne Trophy