Since Christmas the rain had become incessant, Queensland’s
tropical trait of stifling heat with thunderous precipitation a nagging bore on
the mind. Coaching, training, games – all rained off. Beach – wet. Cabin fever
at least meant journalistic work could be pursued ferociously, but Australian
TV’s relentless broadcasting of England’s epic failure in the UAE did not help.
The games that escaped the rain were incredibly hard-fought.
A first innings defeat at Caboolture – where we batted in tough conditions only
to bowl on a road in blazing sunshine the following week – was particularly
feisty to say the least. This preceded a trip to picturesque Tewantin-Noosa CC
on a sweltering day. At 30 for 4 we had made early inroads and hoped for an
early finish to their innings, but watched on helplessly as their first grade
batsman hit 160 and kept us in the field for the full 80 overs.
The positive element throughout the climax of the season was
undoubtedly the banter and merriment had with all of the lads at Nambour
Cricket Club, and also the learning experience and support when training with
the Sunshine Coast Scorchers rep side.
With the Australian summer ending, the only up side to the
rain was the more pleasant conditions with which to play football. Knowing my
time on the continent was short I decided to sign up and play a handful of
games for Nambour-Yandina United in the Sunshine Coast league. Training twice a
week, the football was taken very seriously and run ultra-professionally – but
all at the same standard at Wilstead firsts. My debut was surreal in the
extreme; a PA announcer greeted the 100-strong crowd in our small stadium
ground and with victory at the final whistle we were ushered over to salute the
fans for their support. I was reliably informed that for the big derby versus
Woombye Snakes FC, private security guards have to be hired to control the
rival tension amongst the 250 fans.
As I bid farewell to the country more torrential rain
and flash flooding swept through the Sunshine Coast and I escaped just in time,
with a host of great memories fully intact.
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