DDCA  executive member and St Mary's junior coach Anthony ``Nutter'' Hamilton has set aside his  razor and is supporting Movember to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Beyond Blue: The National Depression Initiative. Anthony   was saying last week that  he  hadn't  sprouted  hair above  his lip for  about  18 years. ``It's terrible,'' he said when  asked how it felt to be back in the mo  club.  But  a Snicks  donation of $20   took him up to $395 as part of a work team effort of almost $5000. It's all a bit of fun. But, of course, there is a serious side to it. It  turns out Anthony's   neighbour recently  died  of prostate cancer at the age of 62, just six  months after diagnosis.  If you want to get behind Anthony,  go to www.movember.com.au.

Keeping it together

ASSOCIATION executive member and  Doveton wicketkeeper  Robbie Turner  sounded suitably sheepish on the DDCA Radio Show on Saturday  morning when quizzed  about  being reported    on the second day of the match against Buckley Ridges. On a day  when things got a  bit fiery,  Robbie  went into the book and he's subsequently missing  this round of matches.

Captains argue the toss

AND there  was plenty going on at the Mordialloc  ground after a  hole in the covers  prevented play between Mordi and Berwick. It's fair to  say some hot  words were spoken as  the home team pushed to get  a  start  and  the Berwick  players held firm, adamant the conditions  were unsafe.  Mordi captain-coach Brett  Ernst later  said of the Wicks: ``They just didn't want to know about it in the end. They basically played the safety card and the umpires fell for it. It was pretty ordinary.''  Berwick captain Paul Evans responded: ``It wasn't damp, it was wet. They (Mordi) had ample  opportunity to do something about it but they didn't do anything  until 2.30pm. ``Then they  complained at 3.30pm that they weren't going to get on.'' Evans said  the wet area extended across the batting  crease, presented a safety issue  for the bowlers and   would have made it  difficult  for the batsmen to stand up. From all accounts things got  pretty heated and you'd expect the next meeting  between the clubs to be keenly contested.

In the book for a cook

AND what about  the former Turf 1 star, well known for having a box of fielding subs in his kit, who was caught short last Saturday. He was attending his daughter's concert and by the time he got to the ground his side  was all out  for 27 (he must not have been able to arrange a batting sub). The big fella didn't get much value for money in the second dig either, being adjudged leg before for not many and  then earning a hearing before the tribunal  for giving a respected umpire a fair  old cook. Not the greatest day in his  long career, that's for sure.

Walton  cameo

HIS name was tucked away in the  fine print of the  results. R Walton, 4/28  for Hallam Kalora   Park against HamptonPark in C Grade last week. Turns out that  great fast bowler  Rob was filling  in for the side after his son  Jake hurt himself in the Under 17 game earlier  in the day. HamptonPark resumed at 5/91 chasing 147 and  fell three short, with big ``Waldo''  generating nice pace off only  four paces. ``Gee, they were slapping into my  gloves, Dad,''   young Hallam keeper Mitch Cox told his old, Nick.

HSD out of Twenty20

HSD is fuming that   it has been tipped  out of the DDCA's Sandown Sixes Twenty20 competition  for playing  St Kilda footballer James Gwilt.  Heinz's  appeal  to the DDCA was dismissed last Monday,  allowing North Dandenong to    progress  to the quarter-finals. As reported last week, Gwilt signed with HSD on the Thursday  before the game against North Dandy  but then played in a one-day match for East Sandringham in the CMCA  on the Sunday, November 8. Because he did not have a clearance from East Sandy, he was deemed ineligible to play in the Twenty20  comp.

Chewy tucker

COOMOORA stalwart  Spud Sikora  is having to answer to ``Rover'' and  dog whistles at the moment. You see, Spud and his partner Michelle  decided last Wednesday  night to tuck into a  feed of tacos. Michelle  dutifully prepared  them and   had first chomp while Spud  looked after their littlie. When it was his turn to tackle the tacos he  noticed that the meat wasn't of the best quality.  He felt it  had too much gristle and said as much to Michelle. ``I wasn't going to say anything,'' she replied, ``but I think I actually  used the  dog mince''.

Vale  Les Vagg

OUR old mate Ian  McDonald reports the death of DDCA life member Les Vagg,  who played with  Dandenong A Cricket Club from  1945-1962 and was a  Country Week representative.  Les  was also a foundation member, vice-president and secretary  of  Dandenong Cricket Club. But he  was a man of all sports: he also served  the  Dandenong  Baseball Association as a  player, tribunal member and umpire; was   vice-president and team manager of  Dandenong Football Club (with Lionel Farrow he recruited  Frosty Miller and  Alan Morrow to the Redlegs); and was a life member of Dandenong Bowls Club. A funeral service was  held last Friday.

Ashan's top ton

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Ashan Wijayakumara gave an  outstanding performance for  Maranatha-Methodist in B Grade  on Saturday,  making  101 not out against Doveton.  The lad went in with the score at  3/4 and   settled in to play a long and impressive knock. He shared a partnership of 103 with Brad Gay (54) and   led MM to a handy 6/190 off 72 overs.  And he gave not a chance.  Ashan is obviously a  player to watch, as Maranatha Methodist  stalwart Rob ``Bloody'' Wilson indicated in a phone message to Snicks  on Saturday night.

Knock-out  blow

SPEAKING of centuries, Springvale South  opener  Mark Keatinge  crafted  one against Berwick in Turf 2 on Saturday. His  teammates will long remember  it,  not  only for his strokeplay. Completing his 100th run, ``Keats''  launched into wild  celebrations,  jumping in the air and  waving  his bat. Trouble was, he failed to keep his eye on the return from the outfield and _ whack! _  he copped the ball  right in the  chops. His  mates went from clapping to  laughing in  two seconds. Thankfully Keatinge was unhurt. He  picked himself  up off the deck and proceeded to bat  out the day, going in unbeaten on 111.

Dan's duck pond

KEYSBOROUGH   Turf 1 wickie  Daniel Papa  completed  his  Olympic   rings on Saturday,  collecting his fifth  duck of the season. We're sure  Daniel wouldn't mind all those zeroes  on the end of his next pay cheque. Anyways, we hope  he can get a few runs soon, for he's a  good young player for Keysy.

Pants down

WHY did the  Parkfield-Hallam Kalora Park  Turf 1 match start a  tad late on Saturday?  You could say umpire  John Kristy  was caught with his pants down.  He forgot his strides and had to dash  home

-- Edited by the persuader on Monday 30th of November 2009 04:21:56 PM