Twenty - Weston Creek Cricket Club

Weston Creek, Cricket ClubThere were many other memorable performances in thoseearly years in the Twilight competition - a game at which theCreek seemed to excel. Brian Kensey's square cut for 6 overthe sponsors car at point at Manuka and Greg Irvine's cloutover the trees at Kingston and down the street towardsManuka Football Club will never be forgotten. My workmates tell me my first ball duck in a Twilight matph againstQueanbeyan wasn't bad either. The picture of my middlestump cartwheeling out of the ground which appeared large aslife on the back page of The Canberra Times the followingmorning was the talking point of work colleagues for somedays. What the side-on picture didn't show, however, wasthat perhaps this was the best ball ever bowled. It dipped,swung, cut, moved off the seam etc, etc, etc before knockingback my middle stump. (Editor: Trying to leg glance astraight ball off middle stump will often bring this result.)The efforts in those early matches set the scene for somewonderful games over subsequent years and, no matter howthe team was progressing in the Saturday competition, theteam rose to the occasion in these Twilight encounters. I amsure this had a lot to do with the large support the playersreceived from fellow club members and other supporters.However, the support was not always welcome! In theTwilight final against Wests in 1979, Ray Williams was hit onthe head by a ball from Wests paceman, Andy McDonald.Now, WCCC supporters, buoyed with some refreshments,really did let fly with abuse and questioning of Andy'sparentage which only made Andy bowl shorter and faster. Hehad a fiery look in his eyes. Not much joy for those of uspadded up waiting for our turn to bat.The Creek developed a proud tradition of top lineperformance in this type of limited over game. I am sure theperformances in those early days contributed to the futuresuccess.68