Centenary Celebrations

During Labour weekend 2009 the Union Cricket Club celebrated it centenary.

On the Friday night a get together was held at King George Park. A raffle was drawn with a number prizes from DB Brewaries and presentations to Robert Bowman and Robert Mason of their 100 games caps, while the teams were named for the following two days.

The following day two games where played at King George Park with the senior team playing a past team on the number 1 while a mixed past and present team played a past team on the number two. For the record the past team recorded a win on the number two ground with John Anderson and Gary Tempero both notching up half centuries. In the game on the number one, the Senior team scored 159 in its 20 overs. Thomas Shields top scored with 52 while Ants Cromwell recorded 26. In reply the past team scored 132 in its 20 overs with Craig Campbell in a typically big hitting innings top scoring with 39 not out.

That night the formal occasion of the weekend took part at the Homestead with the guest of honor being former New Zealand Cricket President Don Neely. Jim Hopkins proved to be the hit of the evening entertaining all with his good natured humor and with one ex-player recieving a new nick-name thanks to Mr Hopkins.

The third and final day saw Union play traditional rival Naseby on grass in a fourty over match. Batting first Naseby batted 39.3 overs with James Pyle top scoring with 55 and Tim Greer recording 34. Duncan Drew was the best of the Union bowlers taking 4-28 of ten overs, while Paul Johnston took 3-27. Union lost opener Jermiah Shields for 14 early in the innings but in a display of power hitting Duncan Drew and Thomas Shields took to scoring runs quickly and brought up the required total in only 16 overs. Drew (43*) and Thomas Shields (67*) in an unbroken 109 run second wicket partnership.

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