 The Freight train keeps rolling.
Defying the odds again Gordon First grade has defeated Northern Districts to now move into 5th spot on the premiership ladder.
Another gutsy bowling performance on a wicket that slowed down once the heat got to it, the Gordon bowlers showed again they don’t give up no matter what the score. This is the 4th win in a row, since St. George scored 4 for 350 chasing our score at Hurstville. You might say that was our last poor performance, however if you ask captain Ed Zelma he will say that the way his bowlers kept to it on a hot day and a very flat track at Hurstville was a turning point in their season. Since then the breaks have come their way through persistence and courage under fire. These are the attributes that Ed Zelma and Matt Nicholson bring to our team.
(Dylan in action at Killara against ND's)
The hero on Saturday was Dylan Connell coming in for Matt Nicholson and collecting 5 for 20 with three very important poles near the end…all bowled. This week Ed Zelma, Jules Stephenson and Brendan McDonald provided the supporting role with valuable wickets.
One of the major differences with this team however is that they had 10 chances to take wickets and all were taken. The final run out was amazing.
 The ball was punched through the gully and two players chased on the fast Killara outfield, one dived first and the ball continued, Rod Hokin coming from behind at gully somehow dived in the same direction the ball was travelling and grabbed the ball with his “inspector gadget arm”. There was confusion with the batsman as they simply wouldn’t have thought the ball could have been stopped. Laying full stretched with the ball in his right hand, Rocket transferred to his left and threw an underarm backward “flip” to the near vicinity of the wicket and Brendan MacDonald did the rest, breaking the stumps with the returning batsman unable to get back.
(Who is this man? With Brett Rosen suffering from cramps, Micheal Michael donned the creams and made his first grade debut at 56!. Seen here moving like a gazelle to save a certain four)
This followed a brilliant fingertip catch off Jules Stephenson earlier. Rocket’s throws during the day were also always straight over the stumps. The amazing part is that Rocket’s throwing arm…his right one is injured and he did everything with his left arm during the day.
The players will know that this is not amazing, just Rocket, who is always the last to leave fielding practice and always practices his left arm throwing in case it is needed.
For all the young cricketers reading this…practice makes perfect!!
1st grade scores
Gordon 179 (Ed Zelma 63, James Packman 39, Julian Stephenson 35)
Northern Districts 150 (Dylan Connell 5 for 20, Jules Stephenson 2 for 29, Ed Zelma 1 for 21, Brendan McDonald 1 for 61)
 Second Grade
The second grade team worked very hard on a difficult wicket to almost pull off a come from behind outright victory. In the end ND’s picked up a first innings win.
After being 54 behind on the first innings, the Gordon bats grinded their way to a score of 7 for 220 when they declared to give ND’s a go at scoring 167 off 30 overs. ND’s finished with 8 for 160, leaving both teams just short of an outright win.
(Well taken Dan, sorry Ian...who did take it?)
In the batting Damon Livermore finished with 68, while Ed Howitt returned to form with 42 not out. For some reason young Will Sweeney is looking for a promotion up the order after his 25 not out and the unfortunate “pair” to Richard Stobo. These youngsters will never learn.
Ed Howitt capped off a good day with 4 wickets, as Gordon fought to hold off the ND’s onslaught while still taking wickets to give them a chance. In the end ND’s scoring runs kept us in the game as they could see 10 points ahead of them.
2nd Grade scores
Gordon 78 (Ben Garratt 22)
Northern Districts 9 for 132 (dec) (Will Sweeney 6 for 36, Nick Dowsley 1 for 18)
Gordon 7 for 220 (Damon Livermore 68, Ed Howitt 42 no, Anthony Sherman 28, Will Sweeney 25 no)
Northern Districts 8 for 160 (Ed Howitt 4 for 58, Will Sweeney 2 for 26, Nick Dowsley 1 for 30)
 Third Grade
The thirds showed us what a good side they can be when they bowled out ND’s for 89, following our score of 271. ND’s went back in to score 1 for 44, when the heat was the victor and they stopped the game with a Gordon first innings win.
(Definitely one of the shots of the year. Josh Ling doing his trapese act)
The bowlers bowled excellent lines on a good track to keep their slim semi finals hopes alive.
The hero was Josh Ling who picked up 4 for 18 off 11 overs with his wickets coming from two lots of two wickets in two balls. It isn’t often you get a chance at a hat trick twice in an innings.
Nick Medcalf showed a lift in pace in the hot conditions and had the bats in all sorts of trouble during his 6 over and finished with 3 for 7.
In his return from the UK, David Thomlinson showed he hadn’t lost his guile with 3 wickets for 25 off 9.
 Third grade scores
Gordon 7 for 271 (Elliot Richtor 74, Reece Bombas 53, Matt Kelly 41 Dean Goldsmith 24, Nick Medcalf 30 no)
Northern Districts 89 (Josh Ling 4 for 18, Nick Medcalf 3 for 7, David Thomlinson 3 for 35) and 1 for 44 (Josh Ling 1 wkt)
(Nick Medcalf thanks Mark Smith for a good catch)
Fourth Grade
Fourth grade had an exciting draw at Asquith with both captains deciding on playing a 48 over game after a delay in the start (of the second day after day 1 was washed out). Gordon scored 9 for 184 off their overs and ND’s replied with 9 for 178. What a finish!
Chris Lee finished with an excellent double of 32 runs and 4 for 48, to almost get the side home. It was excellent to see the sportsmanship of both captains to try and get a result, however as it was the second day of the match and the second team had to be bowled out to force a win.
Fourth grade scores
Gordon 9 for 184 (Chris Lee 32, Alastair Fitzpatrick 25, Rob Evans 26, Justin Waller 26)
Northern Districts 9 for 178 (Chris Lee 4 for 48, Dan Mahaffey 1 for 15, Iqbal Ahmed 1 for 25, David Michael 1 for 34, Rob Evans 1 for 48)
 Colts
What a performance!!
Adam Cubbage has destroyed the UTS Balmain team almost single handily taking 7 for 22 off 10 overs in the Balmain innings of 126 and then scoring 52 before succumbing to exhaustion in the hot conditions at Jubilie Oval.
(Adam Cubbage in action)
Adam had the batsman guessing the whole day and Harry Evans (our Green Shield captain) playing a game of colts for experience enjoyed keeping to him with 3 stumpings and a catch.
We will have to check the record books to see if anyone has taken 7 wickets and then scored 50 in a match. Sam Buono or Dick Huey will know.
Colts Scores
UTS Balmain 126 (Adam Cubbage 7 for 22, Dave Millar 1 for 5, James Ellison 1 for 19, Chris Parfett 1 for 40)
Gordon 2 for 126, (Adam Cubbage 52 retired, Harry Evans 21 not out)
Unfortunately 5th grade were washed out at Somerville yesterday. | 
