The Antiques – back row, from left, Tony Watts, Gary Webb (c), Arron Hills, middle, Chris Powell, Darin Armstrong, Jason Mitchell, Alan Hayward, Neil Rogers, front, Murray Mayston, Phill O’Connor, Rudie Swanepol.
The Cambridge Antiques cricket team has finished its season with bodies and minds intact and players’ stories already starting to become the stuff of legends.
Two losses from 12 matches made for a great season which culminated with a loss in the provincial final against Hamilton Plans on Seddon Park in Hamilton.
“Whilst we didn’t quite win, the team fought the whole way, with not a pair of clean whites to be seen, a testament to the effort,” said club spokesperson Jason Mitchell.
The team is made up of over 50 year olds, although the odd over 40-year-old has managed to break into the side when numbers are light.
Matches are played in Cambridge at the Town Square with some away games at exotic spots like Matapihi, Tauranga, Rotorua, Karaka, Onehunga, New Plymouth and Kaipaki.
Club spokesperson Jason Mitchell said the team is as diverse in its make up as it is in its ability.
“We’ve got teachers from St Peter’s and Cambridge High, business managers and owners, rural and urban folk and retired old heads.
“We also have players who have played to high levels provincially mixed with players who last batted at high school.”
The team is competitive, but fair.
“We celebrate success however that may look.”
Mitchell said success could be winning the game, ending up not out, taking your first wicket of the season or getting down to field in a long barrier motion only to see it go past but fortunately not to the boundary.
Some team members have gone on to represent district teams with Simon Dodds and Neil Rogers picked for national age group teams.
“It is great to have such players whose experience is shared with players newer to the game, helping the team become the best they can be,” said Mitchell.
“There’s nothing better than playing at home on the Square. A sunny Sunday afternoon, players in whites, a scattering of loyal supporters picnicking on the boundary, the Town Clock chiming – a time machine back to an era of community, good sports, and fewer worries.”
