Regular meeting

The bi-weekly (every two weeks) meeting of umpires went well. I was a little late because I ate supper late, and leisurely and chatted to my beloved, then realised I had to be away.
The grading of umpires by captains came up, and it was almost amusing to see the look on one very experienced umpire's face when he got grades of five and six out of ten.
I was complimented that I did well by the observer, which was good to hear. We were also told that we are unlikely to get games outside Otago if we are over 45, which is me. Oh well.

Still, a game on Saturday and then on Sunday I will watch my son play. I guess I might as well watch from the middle.

Cancelled game

I forgot to post that the women's game I was supposed to umpire was cancelled. So when will I learn if I can make 23 women happy in one day?

Country vs Town

Were there any particular problems in this game? Well, I didn't think so. I was sure about the LBW that a player asked me about, and in other points I gave a caught behind that was pretty guaranteed. In the first innings I gave the LBW that I already mentioned, and which the player asked later, at the innings break, where I thought it had hit.
I was then very circumspect, as I thought that perhaps I was concentrating on line, but not paying enough attention to height. But the Otago Country innings opened with an LBW appeal early on, and it was so plumb I gave it. I wonder if Green Island thought I was an easy umpire, because they then appealed for half a dozen chances, which I gave not out. When I mentioned this to my other umpire, he said that it was perhaps a game, to see who could appeal the fastest and most enthusiastically. I did not mind it, as I was sure that the ball was going down leg side.
Funnily enough, at the end of the game, someone said, 'good decisions' to me, though I don't know if it was ironic, or a mickey-take, or to tease the guy who had complained...

2nd Senior Game

My second senior game of the season was between Otago Country and Green Island, and it ended with a fairly convincing victory for Green Island. One player said that I'd given him out LBW when it hit him on the thigh pad, but I am still sure, and my square leg umpire backed me up, that it was the right height.

I will add more to this, but I have to go and umpire another game. Unfortunately it is pouring with rain and a cold southerly is predicted to bring weather havoc to the South Island, so I don't think there will be a game!

Two senior games so far...

Country vs Island

I'll be umpiring Otago Country vs Green Island on Saturday, which should be interesting. I don't know if this is Otago Country's first game in the Dunedin league, since I did not see or hear of them playing last weekend. Still, I understand that a number of the players used to play in the Dunedin league so they should be familiar with the situation. The game will be played at Sunnyvale; I don't know if that will be on the artifical or the real grass. I can't actually remember if there is an artificial at Sunnyvale.

Then on Sunday I may umpire a woman's game; Aotea Electric Otago/Southland Womens Competition, and it seems it is a 40 over game starting at 11.30am. I put my hand up when it was offered, but have not heard back. This would hit one of my goals; umpiring different types of cricket.

Should be interesting.

UGCC vs Taieri

Curiously, the Taieri side decided that they would like to bowl, and so they put University Grange under the cosh early on. Taieri opened with Brad Frost and Callum Thompson who managed to contain runs but only managed to pick up one wicket. It was a pretty good day too, with the sun shining, and although the temperatures would have made many quail, sunshine and still air and 15 degree C is great for Dunedin, and especially for Ocean Grove ground which can be freezing!
The we had another Callum bowling, this time Callum Johnson, a dyed blond chap who normally plays in Southland but was looking for the greater professionalism and competence of Otago Cricket. He was variable, and even though I was at square leg, I could see he was left and right and up and down. Still, he managed ok, but will be hit around as better players come in later in the season. Ben Kidston, a name to remember as he is the captain of Taieri, bowled well and in fact bowled his ten overs consecutively (though there was a drinks break) and picked up a couple of wickets. Then a spin bowler did ok and then one rubbish bowler undid all the good work of the others by being bashed around and having a front-foot no-ball, which meant a free hit.

Still, the University Grange lost wickets regularly and were all out for the slightly low score of 168. For a 50-over game, that is not competitive.

In the first over, Taieri were clearly over-awed by speed, and lost a wicket. Then they struggled to put on any runs, but one of the batsmen, despite needing a runner, managed to last out quite well, though he will have a few bruises in the morning! There was another wicket in the 7th over, but it seemed to be going well and solidly, even though perhaps rather slowly. But Patel, who I'd last seen bowling in 2nd grade, bowled really well and picked up five wickets. He had two LBWs while I was bowling, and they were plumb in front, so though I know the Taieri players looked unhappy, they were pretty obvious decisions.
And so the game wound up. Some good play by the bowlers. A good day of weather, and enjoyable. I had problems with one decision, in which I called a deadball when a player tripped over at the wicket, but otherwise fine.

Taieri vs University Grange

My first umpiring at the senior grade is tomorrow, Saturday 2nd October. Originally the game was to be played at Taieri at Memorial Park, but a burst water main means a flooding in the outfield. So instead I will be umpiring at Ocean Grove, which is notorious as the coldest ground in Dunedin. It is located here;

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I do love the name "Tomahawk Drive"; how did it get that name?
Anyway, last year University Grange were about the best team, and I got on pretty well with them. Perhaps it is because they were good and young, they just got on and played the game.

Still, I suspect I will get quite a few games this summer as we seem to have one less umpire which is a problem.