Navy
triumphs at national cricket titles
WO Gary Fuss proved the destroyer and bowler of the series as
Navy successfully defended its national crown at the Australian
Services Cricket Association National Carnival at Nudgee College
in Brisbane on November 20-22.
Competing against Army and RAAF, Navy proved itself the ADF
premier cricket side by comprehensively retaining the Lindsay
Hassett, MBE, National Inter-Service Championship Trophy for
the second consecutive time.
To ice the cake, LSET Joe Rule (HMAS Parramatta) was named batsman
of the series.
Navy was also well rewarded by having eight players named in
a combined squad to play the Queensland under-19 side. Queensland
(9-210) won that match comfortably against ASCA which was all
out for 84.
As the reigning services title holder, Navy rested while Army
played Air Force for the remaining spot in the final.
Army bowled the RAAF out for 53 in 26 overs, and passed the
total with the loss of only one wicket (1-55), leaving Navy
to play a dead rubber against Air Force.
Navy captain LSCIS Luke Grimmond (HMAS Sydney) won the toss
against Air Force and had no hesitation in batting first against
the RAAF on a good pitch.
Opening batsmen WO Gary Fuss (Defence Recruiting Brisbane) and
SMNWTR Nick Magafas (HMAS Harman) opened the batting and put
Navy in an excellent position by posting 98 for the first wicket.
SMN Magafas was run out for 47 and with the loss of another
quick wicket, LSET Rule came to the crease.
WO Fuss and LS Rule put on 43 for the third wicket before WO
Fuss was bowled for a well-made 73. LS Rule continued to bat
in partnerships with the middle order, including 52 runs for
the fourth wicket with LS Grimmond, who compiled 27 in quick
time. At the end of Navy’s 50 overs they were 5-275, with
LS Rule remaining on an excellent 76 not out as top scorer.
WO Fuss ensured a horror start for Air Force by having the opening
batsman caught at first slip with the first ball of the RAAF
innings. RAAF lost a second early wicket before compiling partnerships
of 92 and 70 for the third and fourth wickets respectively to
keep them within range.
Unable to maintain the required run rate, Air Force was dismissed
for 256 in the 49th over after a spirited chase.
The best of the Navy bowlers were LSATA Glenn Cleary (723 SQN)
who took 4-51 off nine overs and WO Fuss with 3-43 off eight
overs in ideal preparation for the final against Army.
In the decider, LS Grimmond again called correctly and elected
to bat. Navy lost two early wickets to be 2-11 after six overs,
bringing LS Rule and ABMT Nick Herb (FIMA Sydney) to the crease.
AB Herb was bowled in the 31st over for a solid 44, having helped
compile 103 for the third wicket.
Another quick wicket brought CPOCSM Rob Pringle (HMAS Watson)
to the crease, and with LS Rule he helped put on a quick partnership
of 48 in seven overs with LS Rule before LS Rule was run out
for 64 in the 39th over.
LSET David Jeffery (HMAS Sydney) occupied the crease well to
make 20 runs before being bowled at the death, while CPO Pringle
blasted away to remain on 65 not out as Navy made 7-244 off
its 50 overs.
WO Fuss continued his outstanding carnival by reducing Army
to 5-16 after nine overs, including three bowled and two caught
behind. WO Fuss was relieved by LSCIS Grant Malouf (HMAS Melbourne)
at the top end, and he finished the Army innings off with an
excellent spell of pacy in-swingers as Army was bowled out for
38 after 15 overs.
WO Fuss finished with 5-16 off six overs and LS Malouf had 4-3
off two overs. Senior ADF cricketers in attendance, including
Navy Cricket’s patron CDRE Mark Campbell, could not remember
a final being so one-sided.
LS Rule was named batsman of the carnival with an aggregate
of 140 runs and WO Fuss was named bowler of the carnival with
combined figures of 8-59.
Navy was well rewarded by having eight players named in a combined
squad to play the Queensland under 19 side: WO Gary Fuss, LSCIS
Luke Grimmond (captain), LSCIS Grant Malouf, LSET Joe Rule,
ABMT Nick Herb, LSET David Jeffery, LSATA Glenn Cleary, SMNWTR
Nick Magafas, LEUT Matt Ryan DJFHQ (M) (manager).
