The cricket season is well upon us with the Aussies rampant and crushing their Kiwi and Pakistani opposition. On a more modest scale, a great 20+ year tradition continues with the annual PESA SA Branch Hydrocarbon Invitation Cricket Cup, or HICCUP.

The HICCUP has been a feature of Adelaide oil patch summers since the very early 1980s, with teams playing user-friendly modified-rules cricket (everyone gets a bowl, retires at >14 runs and no lbws) and socialising over a few beers on Friday evenings in the Adelaide Parklands.

The season commenced on November 19th with six keen teams ready to wield the willow and drink a few ales. There are three teams from Santos (Geology, Engineering and Western Business Unit); a combined Australian School of Petroleum and Schlumberger team, joined by players from Amdel and Fyfe Surveyors; GHD Pty Ltd and PIRSA, Stuart Petroleum and Department of Water Land Biodiversity and Conservation are fielding a side. Players range in age from teenagers up to retirees (who attract a useful age bonus) and the competition is always friendly.

This social and sporting event is seen by many members as a highlight of the PESA SA year. The actual CUP is named after the late Terry Watts (former Deputy Director General of the SA Department of Mines and Energy) who enthusiastically put in many years as HICCUP Supremo and was a tricky fast bowler.
This PESA event is generously supported by the following sponsors:
o PIRSA Petroleum Group
o Petrosys Pty Ltd
o Challenger Geological Services Pty Ltd
o Fyfe Surveyors Pty Ltd
o GHD Pty Ltd
o Amdel Ltd
o Santos Ltd
o Schlumberger

So far two rounds have been played, with three to come from January 21st to February 4th. Santos Geology is currently on top, with PIRSA a close second:

If you're interested in playing, please
contact Elinor Alexander (HICCUP organiser in 2004/5) phone 8463 3211.

Team Wins Run Rate (cumulative) Santos Geo 2 6.5 PIRSA 2 6.4 Santos WBU 1 5.6 Santos Engineers 1 5.2 GHD 4.6 ASP 4.1