THE Gippsland Goannas have seven players representing Victoria at the Over 50 National Cricket Championships, which are currently in Adelaide. [This story was originally published November 22.]
Anthony Bloomfield, from Latrobe Cricket Club, has been selected in the first team as an all-rounder.
He is an opening batsman and an opening bowler.
Brenton Howe, from Traralgon West, has been selected in the Vic 2 team as an opening bowler and handy batsman.
Brad McDonald from Catani, and Mirboo North’s Steve Rogers, have been selected for the Vic 3 team.
Brad is a top order batsman and Steve is a medium pace bowling all rounder.
Rodney Jones from Sale, an opening bowler who is a handy batsman, and Mirboo North’s Chris Anders, a wicke- keeper, have both been selected in the Vic 4 team, while Sale’s Geoff Wells, a batsman/wicket-keeper, has been selected in the Vic 5 team.
There will be four Goannas representing Victoria in the Over 60 National Championships, with Ray Smith from Churchill selected in the Vic First XI, as a prominent top order batsman.
These will take place in the Barwon region from November 27 till December 1.
Peter Anton (Toongabbie), Neil Meredith (Traralgon) and Ray Floyd (Sale) will play together in the same side in one of the lower divisions.
The Goannas also had five cricketers represent Victoria in the recent Over 70 National Championships.
Kevin Lanigan was captain of the Division 1 First team, which made over 200 in each of the first two games.
Ian Gibson was wicket-keeper and Ian Southall opened bowler in this side.
Unfortunately they were one wicket short of defeating Queensland in the final.
After an early collapse, Vic Blue reached 133, only for Queensland to pass them nine down in the last over.
Gordon Cowling opened the bowling for the Vic 3 team in Division 2, and former Goanna Fred Debono was in the same side.
Their team won the first game by four wickets, and the second by 10 wickets. Game 3 against Queensland No.2 team was a washout, and Vic 3 had a better percentage, so were to play ACT No.1 team in the Second Division final.
After a wet pitch delay, the final got off to a midday start, with ACT winning the toss and asking Vic Blue to bat.
This was to be a major decision in the result of the game.
The Vics batted out the 37 overs allotted, to reach a modest score of 9/109.
In reply, ACT was 0/16 from 10, but collapsed, giving the title to Victoria.
The Vic Blue side in Division 3 also played off for the title, against SA3.
In another low scoring close match the Vics prevailed 5/106 to 7/104.
On the local front, the next game for the Over 70s will be Sunday, December 4, when the Over 50 side is also due to play away against Geelong.
