Norfolk Island has hosted the Mulgoa Cricket Club

Over the past week Norfolk Island has hosted the Mulgoa Cricket Club – a team of cricket tragics from all walks of life who first played as a team back in 1990. Since then, they have been on many tours to various locations such as England and New Zealand as well as some lesser-known cricketing nations such as Argentina, Romania, and Belarus. Whist his name’s sake decided to stick strong to Captain Bligh and never went to Pitcairn Island, Mulgoa Cricket Club stalwart John Fryer, a 70 odd year old who has played over 60’s cricket for Australia and still bowls a brilliant swinging delivery has come to Norfolk Island. He recalls the time he got to bowl to the former New Zealand international Mark Greatbach in a golden oldies match in Christchurch. His first ball was a beautiful outswinger, followed by a fantastic inswinger in which John thought he had the measure of the former kiwi opener. The next ball, however, was a straight one and Mark Greatbach showed his test status putting the ball onto the local highway. This is one of the many great stories of meeting and playing against famous cricketers, told by a group of wonderful people who just love their cricket.

Dr Adrian Sheen has done some work at the Norfolk Island Hospital and is also the inventor of the Widdlometer, an easy-to-use device aimed at detecting warning signs of bladder and prostate cancer. Dr Sheen loves his sport and whilst working on the Island, has sponsored the Widdlometer Cup at both the Bowling Club and Golf Club. Last April with Norfolk Island Cricket Club having just been reformed a chance discussion with Cricket Club Secretary, Michelle Dowling at the Golf Club, suddenly became a full-on cricket tour just 12 months later with Adrian Sheen and the Mulgoa Cricket Club adding Norfolk Island to their long list of tour destinations from around the world. The team arrived on Sunday afternoon with 20 supporters in tow with the first game scheduled for Easter Monday – A forty over match against a much younger but very inexperienced Norfolk Island team who had little practice at playing anything longer than a Twenty20 match.

On Magical Norfolk Island morning, Mulgoa captain Bill Kuipers won the toss and elected to bat. Peter Hopcroft opened the bowling for Norfolk Island, and it was almost the perfect start with Mulgoa opener David Keevil edging to Shane Blanch in the slips. Unfortunately, he was unable to wrap his fingers around the ball and put down the chance. Mulgoa was dismissed for 142 with their top scorers Darren Thomas (30) Doc Strachen (26) and John Fryer (26). The pick of the bowlers for Norfolk Island was Pete Hopcroft who bowled brilliantly taking 4/23 off his eight overs. Jordy Jones, Karen Shaw, Alistair Innes-Walker, and John Groat all took a wicket each and Shane Grace was fantastic in the field, effecting three run outs including a direct hit to dismiss the dangerous Doc Strachan.

Norfolk Island’s chase started poorly with Karen Shaw dismissed first ball and John Groat also for a duck and after one over Norfolk Island were two wickets down with no runs on the board.

It was duck season with lots of quack quacks, with Jordy Jones going for a duck and Luke Howlett dismissed first ball. At 5/29 Mulgoa were preparing a victory speech however a solid partnership between Shane Grace (32*) and Peter Hopcroft (30*) aided by Kieran Lawler (25) and 17 by Alistair Innes-Walker put Norfolk Island in a winning position. Captain Teddy Evans had a cameo at the end scoring 20 not out including hitting the winning runs via a boundary to get the Norfolk Island team over the line by three wickets. It was great to face some of the Mulgoa bowlers particularly their opening bowlers Spiro Gouriotos and Darren Thomas who showed discipline accurate bowling, rarely seen on Norfolk Island with both taking two wickets each. Player of the match was awarded to Pete Hopcroft taking 4/23 and scoring 30 not out.

Wednesday’s game was a shortened 25 over match with Will Buffett, Rhys Burns, Cameron Christian, TK Morgan, and Alex McGillycuddy joining the side with Alex taking over the captaincy in the absence of Hadyn ‘Teddy’ Evans. Alex won the toss and elected to bat with Rhys Burns and Will Buffett opening. Both openers retired however, like the first match the Mulgoa team got on top with Norfolk Island 5/91 after some impressive bowling. Kieran Lawler (17) and Alistair Innes-Walker (14) steadied the ship taking the score to 125 before a brilliant over by John Fryer where he bowled both Alistair and Kieran again had the Norfolk Island team in some trouble. A 50-run partnership by the Shanes

- Shane Grace (33 not out of just 14 deliveries) and Shane Blanch (24 off 17 balls) got the score to 184 before both retired openers came back to the crease to push the Norfolk Island score over 200 with Rhys Burns finishing not out on 19 and Will Buffett scoring 33 of 17 balls with Norfolk Island posting 9/203 off their 25 overs. In reply Mulgoa came out with all guns blazing with their top four batters going at a run a ball or better, with their star Darren Thomas again retiring scoring a quickfire 30 runs with Mulgoa well ahead after 10 overs. By the fifteenth overs however the Norfolk Island bowlers had reined Mulgoa in with the age gap really showing but the lower order gave it a red hot crack with Michael Kuipers clearing the fence twice in his 18 run cameo before Darren Thomas returned to the crease but was given out controversy by umpire Brett Leigh when the ball appeared to be well over not only the umpires head but also the batsman Darren’s head when on 44. In the end Mulgoa was dismissed for 134 in the final over to give Norfolk Island a 69-run victory and a 2-0 lead in the best of 3 series. It was a team effort by the bowlers with the wickets shared evenly with one each to Will Buffett, Cameron Christian, Shane Grace, Alex McGillycuddy, Kieran Lawler, Alistair Innes-Walker, and Jordy Jones, with two each to Rhys Burns and Karen Shaw.

Saturday was the final match of the Mulgoa Cricket Club Tour of Norfolk Island. The hosts won the toss and sent the tourists in with Pete Hopcroft getting a wicket off the second ball with a diving one handed catch by wicket keeper Kieran Lawler. Peter Dambrauskas and Darren Thomas put on 62 before Darren was forced to retire after making 30 runs. Peter also retired after hitting 30 runs however the Mulgoa middle order crumbled with the score going from 1/62 after 11 overs to 7/122 after 33 overs. Doc Stachan steadied the ship with his 31 not out before the retired batters Darren and Peter returned hitting 58 runs off the final 6 overs to post a competitive 9/186 from their 40 overs. The pick of the bowlers was Pete Hopcroft taking 2/26 from 6 overs including 2 maidans as well as Jordy Jones who took 2/11 from 4 overs. Alex McGillycuddy, Karen Shaw, Rhys Burns and Teddy Evans all chimed in for a wicket with Teddy unlucky not to have 3 after Alex McGillycuddy put down two relatively easy chances in the field.

The reply started horribly with Pete Hopcroft caught plum in front for a second ball duck and just like Monday’s chase Norfolk Island were in early trouble at 3/19. Ewan Fraser playing his first match despite a niggling hamstring injury played a steady role backed up by Jordy Jones (30) to put on 56 for the 4^th wicket. Ewan retired on 30 runs and Jordy made it to 30 before setting off for a second run after completing his 30^th run and was run out instead of retiring. Just like the Mulgoa innings, wickets started tumbling with the second last wicket falling at 135 – 52 runs short of victory. Ewan returned from retirement and put on an amazing partnership with Karen Shaw (20 not out) with every single run applauded by the crowd. With just 19 runs required for victory and three short of his 50, Ewan received a beautiful ball from Mulgoa star Darren Thomas which tickled his stumps and Mulgoa took a well deserved 18 run victory. Ewan Fraser was named player of the match with his innings of 47.

The week was completed with a presentation up at the Salty Ber Garden with Tour organiser Adrian Sheen handing out celebratory mugs to the tourists. Norfolk Island skippers Teddy Evans and Alex McGillycuddy were presented with the Trophy after Norfolk Island Cricket Club took the series 2 games to 1. Darren Thomas was named Player of the Series scoring 134 runs at an average of 67 and taking 6 wickets.

A huge thankyou and shoutout to everyone on Island who has helped make the tour not only possible – but a huge success. Major sponsors The Salty Beer Garden and Norfolk Island Real Estate plus Glencar Luxury Villas and Norfolk Island Pharmacy. 2 Drips Norfolk Island Water who kept the players hydrated. Kevin Randall and George Murray for preparing the BBQs for our visitors after the games on Monday and Wednesday evening. Brett Leigh for his entertaining commentary, Alex McGillycuddy and Teddy Evans for umpiring and Kirstin Ellard, Ewan Fraser, and Tony Wilkinson for scoring. Thanks to Joanie Blucher and Tootie Wilson for assisting with serving food and Jonno Snell for taking some cracking photos. And the biggest acknowledgment must go to NICC Secretary Michelle Dowling. She had a vision and made it happen not only organising the entire trip but also catering, scoring and DJ-ing all at the same time.

From discussions with the Mulgoa team, it looks as though they’ve already booked a rematch for Easter time 2025.