By Casey OÇonnor
Stunned Mullets continued their winning run at the Warwick Australia Day Cricket Carnival at the weekend.
Despite losing their first wicket in the final before a run was scored Stunned Mullets proved too strong for Mitch and Brownie’s team who had cruised into the final on the back of some very big wins.
Set a target of just 95 runs to beat, Stunned Mullets cruised to victory.
It was the team’s third title on the trot, and now have the enviable record of winning six of the past 10 Carnival titles.
Warwick Cricket Association President, Andrew Bryson said on Sunday afternoon organisers were pleased with this year’s event.
“We are really pleased with the way the Carnival has gone,” he said.
“There was a threat of rain but were very fortunate that the rain we did get early in the week created only a minor hiccup with the Day one scheduling.”
Bryson said despite the longevity of the Carnival it remains very popular.
“We are already fielding inquiries regarding the 2024 carnival, which is sure to be even more popular as it is a long weekend and will be run over three days” he said.
While 2024 may be popular with players and supporters but it will certainly test the staying power of the organisers who on Sunday afternoon were looking forward to a quiet drink and an early night.
Summers XI captain Lauchlan Hoey, whose team their semi-final game to eventual winners Stunned Mullets, said the competition meant a lot to him, his team and their supporters.
“For Summers XI and most other teams the weekend is all about reuniting with old friends,” Hoey said.
“Some are school mates, others childhood friends.
“Everyone grows up and grows apart, normally because you move away from Warwick for work or study and it is easy to lose touch with mates.
“In 2010 we got a team of 11 or 12 blokes together and played our first carnival as Summers XI. “This year we had to order 60 shirts for players, supporters, kids and not quite the dogs but almost.
“Now there are wives, partners, kids and parents who all want to come along and enjoy the atmosphere and catch up.
“At the end of every Carnival, we block out the dates for the following carnival in our diaries and the planning begins.
“This year Luke Costello not only hit a six off the final ball of play on Saturday to get the team into the semi-finals, but he also bought along his bagpipes to pipe the team onto the field in each game. “It is little things like that which make the weekend special for us.”
Individual teams have developed their own rituals. Mitch’s XI and Heads XI have their annual Skulling Boat Race. Four members of each team must in turn skull a cup of soft dink (and yes, it is soft stuff).
This is serious business and on Sunday Mitch’s XI claimed an early victory but there was a protest and in true NRL style the opposition called on the video replay . There was some conjecture but appeared that a winner was too close to call.
After each team had time to digest their drinks there was a replay – the clear winners this round were, you guessed, Heads XI. The impressive Boat Race Cup was wrestled from captain Matt Grew who was adamant Mitch’s Xi were robbed.
These rituals are part and parcel of a weekend that is about a lot more than cricket. It’s mateship banter and a lot of good fun. No doubt Matt Grew’s scars of defeat will have healed by 2024.
