The match on Saturday saw Rob Mooney, Brett Jones, Peter Morris, Mick Hourigan and Daz McCudden all do well with the bat.

Warren Preston, Darren Hall, Mick Connolly, Dom Ashe and – taking off the gloves, Rob Wicks, did well with the ball.

With over 350 runs scored (Team A 202 to Team B 171) in the 35 overs per side trial, the day was full of action and the after match chat was full of good banter and camaraderie.

Organiser Greg Hall said “it was great to see and we hope to spread the word.”

“We really want to get more games going in various venues around the coast and we will rely on you telling all how much you enjoyed it.”

Discussion shifted very quickly to the naming of others in various towns and clubs nearby and it’s a near certainty that we will see some excellent 50s cricket to become part of the local coastal season.

With veterans cricket booming in all age groups – 50s, 60s and 70s – the day saw 23 cricket tragics have a beaut hit out, play some good standard cricket, have fun with old mates and make new ones.

The wicket preparation and chasing up of players done by local Greg Hall paid dividends with everyone being very positive about the experience and all expressing interest in further matches during the season. 

The first of these will hopefully be a match in Newcastle against a team from Merewether and surrounds, followed by proposed trips to Tamworth for a game under lights.

A stoush with the New Englanders from Armidale will follow and hopefully a squad from Coffs Harbour/Grafton and the strong central Coast squad will visit in the latter part of the season. 

Mid North Coast has also entered two squads for the state championships which will be played on February 10-12 in Orange.

“It is hoped there will be plenty of interest to nominate for these squads and that the Coasties can be very competitive against the best from around NSW,” Hall said.

A number of locals played for NSW in the National Championships in Orange back in Easter and all performed creditably.

As a result of the surge in interest in the 50s Division, a World Cup is to be held in Sydney in early December with eight national teams entered and playing at some excellent venues about the city.

The Australian squad will be selected at a ‘diluted’ nationals event in Brisbane in the near future, with two teams from every state and territory participating, rather than the many that featured in the Easter event.

It will be a great experience for those who are up to the challenge and can play at that higher standard.

With a smattering of ex Test players and first class rep players in each of the squads already selected, the standard will be very good indeed, with the organisers having done a fantastic job in securing venues and planning to make the overseas players enjoy cricket in Australia in their later years.

However, that ‘elite’ level event is not the main focus of the Vets movement as players from all backgrounds and abilities get together with their mates to play local matches, travel to regional centres and perhaps play in state championships if work and time permits.

Catching up with old mates and making new ones,  whilst having fun and keeping the body going, is a key aspect and Vets Cricket  is often referred to as ‘the men’s shed in the field’.

Anyone interested can contact Greg Hall on gregh@betterhomes.com.au