The Premier League season
By Dom Bunning
After triumphing in the inaugural HKCA Premier League last year, hopes were high that HKCC’s side, to be led once more by Courtney Kruger, would be able to top the tree again. With the League spread over three formats – 2-Day, 50 Over and T20 – the season proved somewhat disjointed, and HKCC struggled to make consistent performances throughout the year, with availability an occasional issue but not an excuse.
The season started well with a 50 over victory against LSW Prism. Captain and Head Coach, Kruger, and Mark Wright, scored the bulk of the runs, with new recruit Daljeet Singh also contributing. HKCC’s 256 was always too much for LSW, thanks to four wickets each for Singh and Andrew “Horse” Norwood for whom the early season form looked good to firm. He also benefited from some wind assistance at the Garage end to end with 4-50.
After that start, hopes were high for the match against Pakistan Association, who had strengthened their team over the off-season. Once again, HKCC batted first but, with only 2 batsmen making double figures, looked down and out at half way, mustering only 69 runs in 20 overs. An early finish beckoned, but between “the Horse” (4-35), Mat Rafter (3-18) and the wily Northern seam of Richard Gomersall (1-15) HKCC stayed well in the game right up to the end. An 8th wicket partnership of 40 finally put the game beyond reach, but there was still plenty to play for in the season.
The Independents were the next opposition in the 1 Day competition, and the bowling once again performed well with 3 wickets from Chris Williams and Rafter, alongside 2 from Singh, keeping the score down to 188. However, the batting once again came up short, despite a decent start from Tim McMahon – captain for the day. HKCC ended up 40 runs short, and with that the one-day title hopes faded. The final game of the season, versus KCC was sadly rained off as the one-day season fizzled out with a whimper.
The T20 campaign was back with a vengeance in 2013 and while HKCC’s opponents may be more suited to the “hit and giggle” format of the game, the season got off to a strong start with a tight win over LSW. Norwood, Wright, Bailey, Jones and Adnams all contributed to keep LSW to 113 in their 20 overs. Wright, McMahon and Kruger then saw HKCC to 86-2 before an horrific collapse saw us 98-9 and needing 16 for victory. Luckily, Jones and Bailey (two cool heads) saw the side home with 3 balls to spare.
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Match Report - Taverners v Rugby Section, Saturday 11th May 2013
By Kieran Hale
“The Laws of Cricket tell of the English love of compromise between a particular freedom and a general orderliness, or legality” Sir Neville Cardus Quoted in Sir Rupert Hart-Davis Cardus on Cricket (1977).
 It’s that time of year when the curtain draws on another Cricket season at the Gap, when mothers dream of releasing their tethered offspring on to the hallowed turf on a Saturday afternoon, Joel dreams of lazy afternoons under the sun and when Lawn Bowlers begin to froth at the thought of a roll-up during daylight hours
However, ‘Gatekeeper’ George, not wanting to see an empty ground on any weekend continues to ‘squeeze the marrow’ out of his aged Taverners, demanding even more public appearances.
Rugby, a sporting discipline that embodies all that is good in sport; spirit, competition, loyalty, teamwork and above all, strict adherence to its long established Laws….perhaps not!
It would appear, on this occasion, that HKCC Rugby was not only relying on their youthfulness, athleticism, speed, agility (Sidney, please dismiss yourself at this juncture) and traditional ancient Maori tattoos.
In addition, they would also be relying on interpretations of The Laws of Cricket which have since resulted in consternation in Long Rooms around the Globe.
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