This year The Willows 35 years plus side travelled to Auckland for the delayed 2022 edition of the Kindred Club finals. North Shore Cricket Club hosted the event at Devonport Domain and The Willows featured a solid core of former winners out to secure their fourth successive title. Sam Davis stood down from the leadership this year (to protect his legacy) and handed the reins to Chris Mugford. The team was hastily assembled and featured the debuts of Simon Carrodus and Mark Murphy.
The first round saw The Willows drawn against hosts North Shore who were also putting up the Chatfield Shield. Winning the toss we batted on a pitch which played well but a sluggish outfield meant that our total of 127 from 20 overs felt fair. Jonny Davidson added the impetus with some big hitting in his innings of 45. North Shore never got going and two wickets apiece to McFedries, Carrodus and Murphy restricted the hosts to 115; much to the organisers and entire tournament’s lament.
The win meant we were into the Premiership semi-final versus Clifton. After a raucous Friday evening at the Viaduct the team was still well warmed up in the morning. Being put into the field, the Clifton openers put on 72 but never gained any real momentum. They limped to 121/7 with Carrodus and Murphy getting wickets and McFedries, Nicolson and Mugford putting on the screws. In reply, the total was always well within reach. Jimad Khan stroked 38 and supporting roles from Glynn Howell, Robert Dunne and some lusty blows from Davidson got us home in 19.4 overs.
With the Chatfield Shield secured, thoughts went to the final to be played against a stacked Seddon team featuring first-classers James Marshall and Jaden Hatwell. The length of the day was starting to be felt and the morning lazing in the sun on bean bags saw energy levels deplete. Mugford led the team into battle, reminded by Howell and Davis that no Willows captain had ever lost this tournament.
The Willows batted first. We were soon 3 for 3 with McConnell and Howell gone inside two overs. Dunne (36) and Khan (22) rescued the innings and some big blows from McFedries and Mugford got the team to a defendable 129. The Willows however started with 6 wides and 4 long hops and after four overs Seddon were 27/1. Bowling changes occurred regularly but wides and four balls kept coming. James Marshall looked a different class until Howell caught him spectacularly on the boundary for 30. At 51/3, The Willows were confident. Alas, the wides continued and despite late wickets, Seddon chased the score down inside 17 overs. Wides contributing 40 runs.
All dynasties come to an end and I am sure an enquiry will be held into this disastrous campaign. However Seddon were deserving winners in a tournament revitalised by our wonderful hosts from the North Shore. The guest speaking of Jeff Thomson and the local fireworks extravaganza was also a big highlight.
[Maybe the skipper’s reference to a “ disastrous campaign” is a bit harsh; afterall didn’t Meat Loaf sing “Two out of three aint bad”? – Ed]
And by way of postscript it only got better for Skipper Mugford in April 2023 when he successfully led his team to defend “The Chats” in the final hit-out of the season. This game was played under lights at Seddon Park Hamilton against the same foe as the North Shore final. Seddon batted first and scored 218 off their 30 overs on a very flat international track. Both Rob Dunne and Mark Murphy picked up three wickets each. In what proved a decent chase The Willows knocked the runs off with three balls to spare! This was thanks to a fine 78 runs from ex-ND star Nick Horsley and 58 from planted Cantabrian Ben Rae. And so the Chatfield Shield was defended in what was a fantastic occasion. Rightfully so, Chris can contentedly rest-up over the winter before it all goes on the line again in the season to come.