New Zealand Cricket took its final lurch to ignominy in its centenary year when the Willows XI suffered its first defeat of the season, and the first in its brief history, by the Medbury Headmaster’s XI.

There were mutterings of drug taking, Brian Hastings’ lack of match preparation, inconsistencies in selection, and doubts over the renewal of Mike Fisher’s captaincy contract. These criticisms did not take into account the machinations of visiting cricket guru David Brooke stationed at first slip for the duration of both innings, Nick Davidson’s sure hands (four catches), Mark Lane’s dashing innings of 94 and the lack of Waihi Old Boys amid the Willowers.

Mike Dormer’s inability to start the barbecue at the end of the day merely underpinned this Bloody Sunday!