Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Dress Shirts

There are only two dress shirts now available for distribution to players who have completed paying their fees. All of them are L or Large size. The first in, best dressed players of that size from the following list can receive their shirt from Kathy Lawrence at 36A Peel St or ring 0419 490 534. Those who miss out will have to wait until next season when new sponsors will be sought for the remaining shirts. Those eligible are: Jack McVey, Isaac Kensell, Gary Whale, Paul Hagley & Luke Hagley, Bede Young, Cale Penrith, Matt Ballantine, Terry Skewes, Bill North.

Meeting Report

Dress Shirts
As a result of decision taken at last night's club meeting, there are some changes to the distribution of the dress shirts. As we have been unable to secure sponsors for half of the 52 shirts we had made up by Monogram It, the meeting decided that the balance of the shirts will be held by the club and not distributed until sponsors can be found. Therefore, the last sponsored shirts still available will be distributed on Saturday.
Players who have paid their fees but miss out on a shirt may collect their promised shirt next season once sponsors have been found.
Any comment or discussion on this matter can be directed to the Executive and those present at last night's meeting.
Presentation Night
Saturday 9th April from 6:30pm. Details still being worked out. Invitations will be posted to all members of the club. It will be important to RSVP with numbers attending as we are having a formal dinner this year so numbers must be obtained for the caterers.
Executive Resignations
Both Claude Orenstein (Treasurer) and Deb Batley (Secretary) told the meeting they would be resigning at the AGM.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Next Meeting

The next meeting of City United will be held at Tamworth City Bowling Club on Tuesday 22nd February from 6:30pm. All ideas, great and small, are welcome.

Friday, February 18, 2011

City United v Souths 19/2/11

First Grade
City United 6(dec)248 (Bede Young 81x, Shane Rutley 63, Peter Mead 24, Nathan Whale 16, Bill North 16) & 4-58 (Ross Steyn 25, Richie O'Halloran 22) defeated Souths 162 (Nathan Whale 4-23, Peter Mead 2-21, Cale Penrith 2-37, Bede Young 2-49)
A fabulous win by the firsts and their first for 14 months (19/12/09). Congratulations from all the club members to a first grade squad (including those blokes from 2nds who have filled in and done their share) who have toiled hard and often this season. These are just the first steps towards a premiership in four years time. Well done one and all but special plaudits to the senior players who have put so much time and belief into this side.
2nd Grade
City United 161 (Anthony Cashman 54, Michael Bellamy 41, Chris Langston 23) & 3-66 (Hamish Batley 21, Paul Fisher 18x) lost to Souths 7(dec) 250 (Isaac Kensell 3-62, Leo Steyn 3-68)
3rd Grade
Souths 328 (Tim Hunt 3-53, Terry Skewes 2-40, Andrew McDonald 2-57, Luke Lawrece 2-79) defeated City United 133 (Terry Skewes 17x) & 109 (Cory Callcott 41, Claude Orenstein 21x) outright
4th Grade
City United 205 (Mark Chew 45, Mick Cullen 36, Neil Cooke 31, Tait Jordan 22, Paul Hagley 16, Tim Painter 15x) defeated Souths 103 (Tait Jordan 3-16, Lachlan Cooke 2-11, Paul Hagley 2-15) & 2-110 (Luke Hagley 1-12, Neil Cooke 1-16)

Saturday, February 12, 2011

City United v Souths, 12th & 19th February, 2011

1st Grade v Souths at Riverside 1
City United 9-248 (Bede Young 81x, Shane Rutley 63, Peter Mead 24, Nathan Whale 16, Bll North 16) v Souths
Sent in on a hard flat deck, finally some pay off for the hard work our firsts have been putting in. Shane Rutley lead the way opening the innings and featured in productive partnerships with Anthony Dutton, Peter Mead and Bill North before being the sixth out at 134. When North went one run later, all the hard work might have floundered but for an explosive innings by Bede Young and willing partners in Nathan and Dan Whale and Dan Lawrence who took City's total well above anything achieved this season. Souths looked flummoxed at the close of play and will have to bat exceptionally well next week to turn back the rising tide of City men.
2nd Grade v Souths at Riverside 2
City United 161 (Anthony Cashman 54, Michael Bellamy 41, Chris Langston 23) v Souths 1-42 (Anthony Cashman 1-12)
An untidy day which still had many good points to it with City fighting hard to stay in the game. At 7-82, only Bellamy's aggressive opening batting stood out before Chashie and Langers added 41 for the 8th wicket and then McVey and Cashie 23 for the last. It was a low total but with this side being brim to over flowing with bowlers, maybe just enough. The last half hour saw Leo Steyn and Jack McVey flying past outside edges three or four times an over and all the luck rode with Souths. If only 50% of that luck changes, City could well be in this one.
3rd Grade v Souths at Riverside 5
Souths 328 (Tim Hunt 3-53. Terry Skewes 2-40, Andrew McDonald 2-57, Luke Lawrence 2-79) v City United 1-24
Skipper Cory Callcott returned to the side in time for a hiding from Souths off only 67 overs. All the bowlers were punished and after having Souths 3-65 they were pasted, especially in the last 15 overs. Still with similar conditions, City has a good blend of youth and experience and stranger things have happened and this is the side which has already pulled a few miracles.
4th Grade v Souths at Minor League 2
City United 6-104 (Neil Cooke 31, Tait Jordan 22 off 40 overs) v Souths 8-90 (Tait Jordan 3-16, Lachlan Cooke 2-11 off 40 overs)
After 40 overs each, City have the upper hand with wickets and runs in hand. Jordan and Cooke added 54 for the 2nd wicket and their is still some explosive batting to come. Souths reached 1-40 in their innings before Paul Lawrence, Neil Cooke and Tait Jordan ripped through them. Special mention to Lachlan Cooke who again impressed with his well flighted leg breaks in a tight five over spell. What smells like team spirit could convert a good start into a first win next week.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Dress Shirts Sponsorship

An opportunity exists for sponsors to come on board through sponsoring a set of dress shirts.

The standard sponsorship is $400 which pays for 13 shirts which will bear the sponsors logo on the back of the shirt. Last season, sponsors of targeted programs were offered exposure on the website for 12 months. This season, sponsors of the dress shirts program will get exposure on the website until the end of next season, with direct links from their logo to their own website or contact details and exposure on 13 shirts, one of which will be given to the sponsor. This is an infinitely better deal.To date, Six Nines Imagery and Pura Milk Distributors have sponsored two sets of the smart dress shirts. We are currently looking for two more sponsors and all club members should make it their job to help us line up sponsors for the shirts.

Unless we find two more sponsors, there won't be any more dress shirts to distribute or players might have to pay for their shirts. If you have someone in mind or, if your company would like to sponsor a set of shirts, contact Claude Orenstein or Peter Langston.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Website Changes

As a result of a training session provided by Cricket NSW and an examination of the My Cricket website being offered to City United, you will notice some changes to our own website. Most of what is being offered by the My Cricket website we already do a better job of on our own however there are real advantages in incorporating the results and stats sections of My Cricket. Therefore, sometime in the next few weeks you will notice that when you click on the Results or the City Stats links you will be redirected to the My Cricket stats/results pages. By the start of next season, we may also incorporate the selection section of My Cricket which may include email/sms contact with players about availability and selection week by week. There are issues about ease of use and cost in using the selection part of the website which will need to be explored before committing fully to it.

In keeping the best of what we already have and incorporating the best of what is now available, City United will have the best of both worlds. I hope you enjoy the changes which will include a detailed appraisal of each players performances season by season, including charts and graphs not currently available through our website.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

City United v Norths, 5/2/11 - 4th Grade v Wests

1st Grade v Norths at No.1 Oval
Norths 9-172 (Cale Penrith 3-21, Peter Mead 2-47) defeated City United 111 (Daniel Lawrence 27, Cale Penrith 25, Michael Bellamy 17)
Beaten but not disgraced was the story of the day-nighter at No1 Oval. Meady pulled off a master stroke in opening the bowling with leg spinner Richie O'Halloran and his nine overs were a rather tidy 1-34. In fact the bowling was so good, Norths were restricted to 3-68 in the 22nd over. From there things started to get away from the City boys but they came again ten overs later led by the skipper and Hamish Batley, who after conceding 13 from his first over gave up only another 13 from his next five and captured his first 1st grade wicket, caught by debutant Bellamy. Wickets fell regularly and Penrith took three in his second spell. Facing 172, the old problems with the bat surfaced again but it was the youngsters who dug deep. Bellamy batted well, continuing his lower grade form. Lawrence and Penrith combined for 43 runs for the 7th wicket. Another spirited performance by our firsts and a good night to celebrate their continued gutsy efforts. Praise for Peter Mead who nurtures young men by offering them trust and encouraging their efforts.
2nd Grade v Norths at Riverside 3
Norths 3-226 (Robbie Gregg 1-39, Leo Steyn 1-40, Isaac Kensell 1-56) defeated City United 89 (Leo Steyn 41, Robbie Gregg 15)
Hammered in every sense of the word. Jack McVey was easily the best of the bowlers and on a day when all the senior bowlers were bled dry, he only gave up 26 runs from 8 overs. Chasing a motza, Leo Steyn dominated at the start of the innings, taking only 33 balls over his innings . Paul Fisher was the only other City batsman to spend any time at the crease, his 10 taking 33 balls. Sean Hancock run a ball 11 was the next best as the batsmen crumbled to Tim Constable yet again. A bad Day at Black Rock.
3rd Grade v Norths at TREC
Norths 146 (Adam Burgess 3-16, Tim Hunt 2-19, Adam Balantine 2-44) lost to City United 9-147 (Andrew McDonald 27, Claude Orenstein 24x, Terry Skewes 21)
A fantastic win by the 3rds, making three on the trot after a lean start to the season. After having Norths 4-17 with Burgess and Hunt scything through the top order, Norths recovered to post a challenging total in the heat of a TREC afternoon. At 6-67, City didn't look like winners but new man McDonald turned the innings around and then three club stalwarts - Skewes, Orenstein and Rod Prior - took the team to victory. The last unbeaten partnership of 25 between Orenstein and Prior guided the Third Grade ship to a safe harbour with ten balls to spare. Lets send a card to Claude's optometrist who supplied his new glasses!
4th Grade v Wests at Minor League 2
City United 142 (Mick Cullen 42, Neil Cooke 41, Mark Chew 17) & 3-68 (Nick Stacey 39, Neil Cooke 17x, Tait Jordan 15x, Mark Chew 12) lost to Wests 9 dec for 290 (Paul Hagley 3-23, T Painter 3-42, Mick Cullen 2-25, Tait Jordan 2-38)
A long way behind after the first Saturday in this two day game, the City boys fought hard and avoided the outright loss. Painter and Hagley bowled really well after the City first innings collapsed, restricting Norths from further damaging the side. The rest of the afternoon was an act of great survival led by Stacey's best score of the season but everyone contributed in the 38 overs and can hold their heads high.

It was great to see so many players from the lower grades at No 1 to celebrate our club along with our sponsors and life members. On a slightly sour note, captains and scorers are reminded to make sure newsletters are distributed to players. In two of the four scorebooks more than half of the newsletters were returned.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

News From The Club Meeting 2/2/11

The following points of interest should be noted from the club meeting held this week:
  • President Terry Skewes praised the efforts of those who made themselves available for the the roster during Country Music. Feedback was that we were one of the best clubs in executing the tasks set. Thanks to those who participated.
  • Training will now be held only on Wednesdays at McCarthy High School and will commence from 5:00pm. Players should note these changes. This decision does not effect anything which the first grade side have organised for Friday afternoons.
  • Our Annual Presentation Night will be held at Tamworth City Bowling Club on Saturday 9th April from 6:30pm. Cost will be $20 a head. Bookings are essential and tickets paid for in advance. Guest speaker will be former Australian leg spinner, John Gleeson. More information shortly. An official invitation will be presented on the website and email to club members. Perpetual trophies must be handed back to a member of the Executive or team captains by 26th March at the latest.
  • A selection of ladies who work hard for the club will be receiving club shirts
  • All club members are asked to come and watch the 1st Grade defeat Norths in a day/night game at No 1 Oval on Saturday night. Pizza & a drink for $5 ahead or $10 a family. City will be entertaining sponsors and life members upstairs at No.1 Oval from 6:30pm

If you require any other deatils, contact Deb Batley on 0438 024567