It is incredible to think that what was once a scratch side of immigrant poms convened once a year to play an equally scratch bunch of Australians has now evolved into a formal cricket club with a home ground and a busy fixture list. But that is in fact what has happened.
Today the Maddogs Blog can announce a full fixture list for the 2012-13 season, with all eight matches taking place at our new adopted home - the Alan Davidson Oval, the use of which we have South's Cricket Club to thank (of whom we are now affiliate members).
The new fixtures list features many of last year's stiff (by which I mean challenging, rather than drunk!) opposition and so promises a number of entertaining matches - and as always provides the opportunity for individual Maddogs to dignify or completely humiliate themselves. This year I'm hoping for once to try a bit of the former rather than the latter!
The Stingers match in particular saw an enthrallingly tight result on a beautiful afternoon and so three repeats of that encounter is quite mouth-watering (not just because of all the beer we'll drink afterwards!)
We of course have our annual series with the Australians, which never ceases to entertain with the many years now of history between us. The Northern Force and The Goons equally have proved worthy adversaries in the past and will again - and every year as our abilities improve, commensurate with our appetite for the post-match festivities, the occasion becomes ever more enjoyable. So here it is - the 2012/13 season, weather permitting:
30th September - 2012 Bronte Stingers
14th October - Newington Fathers
18th November - Ashes
16th December - Bronte Stingers
13th January 2012 - The Goons
3rd February - Bronte Stingers
17th February - Ashes
10th March - Northern Force
So please do come along and watch and join in the festivities afterwards. There are worse things to do on a summer's day than lie on the grass listening to that iconic sound of leather on willow - or you can just nod off. All are welcome - young and old. In time perhaps we hope to have our own Barmy Army-type support crew - The Maddogs Pack?
Kudos and thanks to the founder and fearless leader of the Maddogs - Giles Bourne - for pulling together such an awesome season, and to our Treasurer Ed Subtle for making sure we can pay for it all. Without the tireless endeavours of these two gentlemen, there would be no Maddogs!