Related content: Over 50s cricket photos
THE inaugural NSW Over 50s Cricket championships wound up on Friday afternoon.
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After ten games were played over two days, and with kind weather, the standard of cricket was high. Apart from some soreness and stiff joints, the experienced players enjoyed themselves immensely.
The Port Jackson teams performed well but they were not the only teams to impress, as several teams reached scores in excess of 200 runs from their allotted 45 overs.
The championship final was played out between Port Jackson Red and a very strong New England side at Wayne Richards Park on Friday morning.
The Sydney team batted first and compiled three for 209 with Greg Boyer and John Short both retiring after reaching 40 runs. Andrew Burns remained 34 not out.
The most successful New England bowler was RS Macansh who took two wickets for 29 off his nine overs.
New England got off to a bad start, losing opener John Farrar for a duck before they consolidated with Scott Cole scoring 43.
Eric Higgins also batted well scoring 40 runs and was ably supported by Angus Archer who chipped in with 24.
However the run chase was beyond them and at the end of their 45 overs they had amassed seven for 157, leaving Port Jackson Red as the Championship trophy winners.
The Central Coast Cyclones were the ultimate winners in the Conference two play-offs.
Batting first against Port Jackson Blue, they got off to a great start with openers Greg Stevenson and Brian Crutcher both reaching the compulsory retirement mark of 40 runs.
They were followed by Doug Trigg, who also scored 40, and Anthony Formby 34 not out.
In reply to the target of 3 for 227 Port Jackson Blue tried hard but were left well short with their total of 150 runs.
Russell Nation was their top-scorer with 49 having been re-cycled after his compulsory retirement at the 40 run mark.
The best bowler for the Central Coast Cyclones was Colin Hoving with four for 19 off his nine overs. Under the quotient system used for this trophy, the runners-up were Tamworth Hazelwood.
The three Mid North Coast teams had mixed results with at least two of their six games coming down to the last over.
In the Conference two play-offs, the Mid North Coast Sharks came in third place with a win and a loss. The Mid North Coast Mudcrabs also had a win and a loss and gained sixth place.
The Mid North Coast Dolphins had two losses but were competitive at all stages of play. One of their batsmen, Peter Jensen, topped the batting aggregate with a total of 55 runs.