|
Beach Cricket Lives!!!
By Charlie Faulkner, Phillips Petroleum Company Australia
In
time honoured fashion, handed down through generations of Perth explorers,
a challenge was made to meet in the swash zone of a Perth beach and do
battle for what must be the Olympic gold of trivial trophies: The Beach
Cricket Cup. The challenge, made in good faith, was duly accepted by PGS
and decades of tradition heaved a sigh of relief to see this most revered
challenge reinstated after a short absence.
Skullduggery
played a part in the lead up to the challenge. The trophy was in the hands
of dark forces who were conspiring to keep both the prize and the event
a dim and distant memory. Disappearing in the chaos that ensued after
the ExxonMobil merge-over the trophy entered the black market, passing
through many hands before surfacing on the book shelf of an unnamed CBD
exploration manager's office. Within this company, the explorationists
were considered a patchy lot and unworthy defenders of the cup, so in
an action reminiscent of recent treaty diplomacy, the forces of good (Phillips
Petroleum) negotiated the liberation of the cup. Thanks Paul.
Late
in the season, with the weather closing in, a venue and a time were set.
Trigg Surf Life Saving Club at 1:30pm on Friday 4th May. A ramshackle
group of people was hastily assembled by both sides. A team comprising
Phillips and friends faced a formidable and dedicated team from PGS with
oil company blow-ins.
PGS
were to bat first in the hope that more of their team may eventually arrive.
The bowling opened from the Scarborough end and remained there throughout
the course of the afternoon. The plucky PGS battlers laid out a modest
total of 24 for the challengers to pursue. Martin Bawden produced a captain's
innings but spent some time figuring out how to score runs without actually
having to run. Alas, he realised that to produce fours and sixes would
require a 'Step Change' in his batting ability so he settled for knocking
it into the sea for one at a time. In reply, there was an astounding opening
partnership by the light headed Oakeys, led by well marinated ringers
Sheppey and Devereux, setting the scene for a huge total by the end of
the day. A middle order batting collapse brought the scores back to near
level (losing two runs for each wicket), before old Ampolexians Ashby
and McInerney steadied the Bartlesville bunch late in the day. A winning
total of 41 was the end result.
The
spirit of the Don was alive and well on the beaches of Trigg in the form
of firm but fair umpire, Don Poynton. He later went on to win an award
along with almost everyone else. Notable awards went to Matt Quinn for
Best Bowler, Paul Sheppey for Best Batsman, Frank Krieger for Most Technically
Incorrect, Matthew Battrick for Best Water Baby, Veronica Wilkinson for
Best Wicketkeeper, Mark Sloan for Best Dressed (ensemble included tracksuit
pants) and Graham Pound for Worst Dropped Catch. Martin Bawden also won
a special award for bowling a ball that went behind him!
The
gods were kind, a simply gorgeous afternoon was laid on by the Perth skies,
and a most enjoyable time was had by all participants. Companies represented
included PGS, Phillips, Agip, OMV, Landmark, Woodside, Strike Oil and
IHS. Thanks go to PGS for sponsoring the event and Trigg Surf Life Saving
Club for their hospitality.
At
the post match windup Bill Ashby, representing Phillips, the victors,
once more issued a challenge and invited all beach cricketers of the WA
oil patch to reunite and assemble in one year's time in the swash zone
of a Perth beach and do battle for the Beach Cricket Cup. That challenge
was formally accepted by Martin Bawden for PGS.
The
legend continues...
Snow
Forecast For PESA (SA) On June 17th
If
the weak Australian dollar forced you to cancel this year's ski trip to
Aspen, PESA and SPE have a solution that's bound to cheer you up.
This
year's Family Fun Day will be held on June 17th at Snowdome Adelaide –
Australia's largest indoor ski slope and ice rink!
All
PESA and SPE members, partners and children are invited to attend and
join in the tobogganing, skiing and ice-skating that Snowdome (previously
Mt Thebarton) has to offer.
In
this, its fourth year, the Family Fun Day organisers hope to see more
than 150 people attend on the day.
The
entry charge of $5 per person includes a hotdog or pie, chips and a drink,
which the organisers feel is much better value than a trip to Aspen.
Anyone
interested in attending should contact Lisa Hosking (Ph: 08 8224 7389
or Email: Lisa.Hosking@Santos.com.au) no later than June 8th, for tickets
or more information.
|
