MARCH
POUTU-TE-RANGI 2021
Eastbourne cricket turns one hundred…and one! by Carl McRae
'Better late than never' was the verdict of the organisers of the Eastbourne Cricket Club’s One Hundred and First celebrations, held last Sunday, at their home ground of HW Shortt Park. ECC members were in the throes of organising their centenary in 2020, when lockdown and all things Covid intervened and the whole affair was placed on hold. Then, in February this year, as they were preparing to re-host the celebrations, albeit a year later, the country suddenly went back into lockdown and once again plans were indefinitely shelved. But co-organiser, Neil Gray, says that in Members from both sides gather behind Georgie Gellatly (8) and Sam Delaney (6 - the youngest members of the end, the club couldn’t have wished for a the Eastbourne Cricket Club), while cutting the Centennial cake prior to the start of the festive cricket match. better day or turnout from the community, Photos: Phil Benge. who scattered themselves right around the delivery from Mayor boundary rope, enjoying both the cricket Barry and clipped him and the sun. “It was a wonderful promotion for over mid-wicket and Eastbourne,” he said. “We were staggered by onto the beach for six. Among the stars the turn-out and guesstimate that there were at least 250 community members gathered to were two Silver Ferns, help us celebrate. It was a great way to honour two All Blacks, a junior the 100 years of the club and all players and All Black, a member administrators who have put in the hard years of The Blaze and an Olympic bronze medal in the past.” Rowan Swain, the man who led a big winning rower. Stephen ‘Beaver’ team of organisers in getting the day finally to Donald, the man who fruition, agrees. “In the end, we had a great mix of players kicked the winning in both teams, most of whom were able to share penalty in the 2011 their back stories regarding who was and wasn’t Rugby World Cup final, Chris Martin, Four Square owner and former Black Cap, in a pose familiar to cricket followers, delivers while Hutt City Mayor, Campbell Barry, ensures playing, as the event itself swung in and out of took to the local attack, he stays in his crease. causing a few who had all the Covid-interruptions.” Cap and four test veteran, Bert Vance, who has parked in Oroua Street to On the field, there were six former Black hastily move their vehicles. One six even cleared family connections in Eastbourne, announced Caps, including our own local greengrocer, the road completely, landed in someone’s front that this would be his last ever game of cricket. Chris Martin, who provided one of the day's yard and was never recovered. Former Black Bert captained the Invitation side. highlights when he picked up a back of a length