Well you blink, your break from work is over and cricket is back on! The rumours came true, Santa did indeed make his way to the land of the Magpie recently – with a few of the cricketers finding out that their idea of ‘being good’ wasn’t exactly what Santa was hoping for – there’s always next year lads. Hope all had a terrific, safe, healthy and family filled Festive Season, and are now ready to tackle all that 2014 has in store for us. Great to see that Santa delivered us the Ashes – with the Aussie’s showing that taking the game on whilst having fun, with a great team spirit will see you win more than you lose (something for us all to remember)…

A gentle start to the 2014 cricketing year with only the A’s and B’s taking to the field this week.

After a terrific first half of the year, the A’s headed to Truro for a must win game against the bottom team, and did it well. Batting first we left a few balls in the shed, getting bowled out for 158 with just over 3 overs remaining. Nathan Justin topped scored with 35, Liam Boschen chipping in with 30, brother Mitch Boschen hitting 25, and Shaun Akkerman making 20. In reply Truro could only manage 70, with Mitch continuing his excellent year, taking 5 for 19, Skipper Pete Mernagh a very tidy 3 for 10 and Shaun Akkerman taking the remaining 2 wickets. A great start to the new year boys.

Tanunda Clubhouse player of the week goes to Mitch Boschen, who now has 28 wickets for the year at the remarkable average of 8!

The B’s took on the top side, Sandy Creek at the TCG and had a great win in front of the crowd on the last ball, nine wickets down. Sandy Creek batted first and made a respectable 7 for 150 on a slow oval. Great to see Matt Wegener finding his best form of the year with 3 for 29, Luke Snowden 2 for 14, with economical Sam Cox and Uncle Toby Mifflin taking a wicket apiece.

In reply were looking down and out early before an excellent 55 run partnership between Phil Graetz and Kym Farley got us back in the game. A thrilling last ball finish – with the mix experience and youth (and height!) seeing the boys across the line thanks to a fighting last wicket partnership between the Sam’s (Cox and Dunn). Young Sam Dunn hit an invaluable 15 not out coming in at the base of the order – well done lad. Phil Graetz top scored with 34, Kim Farley with 20 and Skipper Uncle Toby Mifflin 19. A terrific win that may well prove invaluable at the business end of the year.

Ultimate Engineering player of the week goes Phil Graetz, with special mentions to Sam Dunn for getting the boys across the line at the end and Sam Cox for his contribution at the other end and with the ball (not to mention Matt Wegener’s efforts with the ball).

Tanunda Hospital was delighted to hear that the C’s had a week off after players coming for stitches in the last couple of game. Both injuries quite different in nature… with the second injury hard to describe within the bounds of the media laws, all that can be said is that cricket boxes are indeed a wise investment.

Mia Pizza player of the week goes to Mitch Boschen for his excellent contribution to the A grade’s win.

Good luck to all teams this week – with all but the under 12’s returning to the field. Let’s get out there and play with the Aussie spirit.