Postcard From Downunder: From North Sydney Oval

 

21/02

Hello,

 

A warm and sunny day at the picturesque North Sydney Oval ground. My main reason for attending Day 2 of 2 was to see Notts CCC man Joe Pocklington. He has been doing well taking wickets with his slow left arm bowling and opening the batting. A wonderful feature of this venue is its old fig tree just outside the boundary.

 

I arrived just in time to see Joe get the last wicket of UTS's first innings.( UTS = University of Technology Sydney). The batter being caught at long off. He finished with 3 for 33 in 13.2 overs. Joe picked up another wicket in their second innings ( 1 for 32 in 18 overs )when UTS  followed on .

 

The final score was:

 

Gordon 317

UTS 140. &. 217 for 8

 

Gordon won on first innings but do not gain bonus points as they did not win overall

 

Whilst watching the game I saw Polly Rhodes and her husband. They were on holiday here. Polly retired from being Somerset CCC's scorer at the end of last season. A lovely person and very popular within Somerset and on the County circuit generally.

 

Joe and I had our photo taken by Darren Goodger. He was one of the umpires, an umpiring tutor to many including yours truly. A top top bloke 

 

Joe. seems very popular at Gordon CC. They are a good old Grade club playing at Chatswood Oval north of Sydney. I understand that Joe isn't playing in the final Grade fixture as he's heading back home and the new season at Trent Bridge.

 

I took a photo too of an old tram stop, well preserved and just outside the ground. How wonderful it must have been in the old days hopping on a tram from central Sydney travelling on the Sydney Harbour bridge and getting out at North Sydney Oval.

 

I mentioned to Joe to look up Harry Butler Daft, where the rest of the [Andy's] shared photos can be found.

 

All the best everyone 

 

Cheers

 

Andy