mmg.com.au

This year the cricket club joined forces with Heathcote Football Netball Club to raise funds for a mobile defibrillator.

Eight teams battled it out for the honour of taking home the Defibrillator Cup.

Mary Dent’s team from the Commercial Hotel may not have gone home victorious, but should have taken home a trophy for the most creative uniforms for the day, while last minute football club recruit Christine McGibbon earned herself the nickname ‘Chucka’ after bowling a Heathcote hospital batsman with her sensational chucking action.

It’s possible McGibbon learned the skill from little Oliver Ayres, 5, who had everyone in stitches and just a little fascinated by his baseball-like wind-up action before bowling a surprisingly accurate ball.

The grand final saw Joel Condon’s cricket club team go head-to-head with the football club side and, in a result that was no surprise to some and a relief to others, the cricket club emerged victorious.

Heathcote Cricket Club’s Laurie Conforti said the day had been successful for the club and was pleased with the way it had turned out.

‘‘It was a really successful day,’’ Conforti said.

‘‘In the end we had eight teams and raised $1600 on the day. We have to say thanks to Mitre 10 who donated some great prizes. And to Gordon and Jenny Fraser who donated the Ben Cousins jumper for the raffle, which was won by Lyn Edwards at the Union Hotel. We had a lot of fun.’’

Heathcote Cricket Club president Ron Sheppard said the day had been fantastic

‘‘A lot of people contributed to the day and we’ve raised the money we needed for the defibrillator, so it’s been very successful.’’

The club was disappointed there were not more children to take part in the junior clinic, but were surprised to see many of those who did come along were girls.

Cassie Morgan, 10, said she had a lot of fun playing cricket and would like to play again, while Grace Edsall-French, 8, said wasn’t so sure, though she’d had a lot of fun.

‘‘There wasn’t a big number of kids, which is disappointing,’’ Conforti said.

‘‘We’re trying to increase the numbers so we can get a side together for next season.

‘‘It was surprising to see so many girls turning up so maybe we should get a girls’ side together. We have enough for Milo Cricket, so that’s good.’’

Heathcote Football Netball Club president Andrew Conforti also said it was disappointing more children had not come along for the clinic, but it was also good to see more had come along to Sunday’s clinic than to previous clinics.

‘‘It’s a good starting point,’’ he said.