Australasian Masters Games 07

The medal play offs were rain affected with the number of overs reduced to 10 per side. The Masters got off to a strong start making 130 from their 10. Unfortunately the reigning gold medallists batted magnificently that day and made the runs fairly easily. With a loss in the first game the masters needed a win to avoid bronze, and with a very solid batting effort and an excellent bowling and fielding perfomace the game was taken by the Masters.

The final game to determine the medal placings went down to the wire with the reigning gold medallists losing by a run. So all medallists had won a game and it now came down to wickets and runs. Unfortunately the Masters fell a few wickets short of gold but were good enough for Silver. A magnificent effort from the lads and magnificently managed by Darren Cheek who could not take part as a competitor (he still snagged a medal though). Scott Ellis topped the batting for the tournament with 254 odd runs from his 8 digs at an average of 127.

Grant Wannan, Mike Cheek and Mike Maclean (yes Kiwi) shared the bowling for the Masters with 6 wickets apiece. Standout fielder goes to Mike Cheek who hardly made an error and to go with his 191 runs was probably the Masters player of the tournament. Peter Murphy was magnificent behind the stumps and everyone else contributed equally to what was a very handy cricket side. Next stop New Zealand in 2009 for the Trans Tasman Masters Games and a GOLD medal. Giddy Up.

That's not all...

That was not the limit of games success experienced by a member of the Coromandel Cricket Club. The fittest and one of the more experienced members of the club also participated in some other events. On day 1 of the games Andrew Magarey participated in the 3000m winning himself a silver medal. He then fronted up for masters cricket in the afternoon and contributed significantly. Two days later he was at it again participating in the 8km cross country where he finished first in his category and won a gold medal. Not done with yet he continued to compete in masters cricket, winning another silver before rounding the week off well with a gold medal performance in the half marathon on Sunday. What a magnificent performance, 2 gold and 2 silver. Congratulations to Andrew, a magnificent effort.