Quilpie Killer Whales v Wanderers
20 August 2024 at John Waugh Park
Wanderers was formed in Queensland during 1933 by the then Governor of Queensland, Sir Leslie Wilson, with the aim to encourage young people to play and enjoy the game of cricket. Today the Club plays mid-week matches each Summer, mostly against schools in the State's south-east, and undertakes an annual 10-12 day playing and coaching tour of country centres. Tours in recent years have taken Wanderers west to Eromanga, South to Yetman and North to Charters Towers. The Club relies upon its own fund-raising resources and sponsors to finance its activities including supporting youngsters in coaching clinics and on tours.In August 2023, the Wanderers Annual Tour took in Goondiwindi, St George, Roma, Tambo, Barcaldine, Emerald and Springsure. The 2024 tour will head west to Quilpie, via Mitchell and Charleville, then loop back via Cunnamulla, St George and Warwick.
Apart from the cricket, the tourists will be edified by stops at various country pubs and tourist attractions. If you are a cricketer, golfer, lawn bowler or just an avid observer/supporter, please visit the Wanderers Club QLD Inc. Facebook page and register your interest.Wanderers departed Charleville and headed to Quilpie with a brief stop at Cooladdi (population 7). The Fox Trap Hotel the remaining remnant of a town once flooded. “The Lake” - just outside of Quilpie was the destination. A beautiful rustic setting with a restored shearer’s barracks for accommodation. Owners Dan and Louise and Managers Terry and Debra treated the tourists to a sumptuous “camp oven” sampling delicious goat curry and lamb dishes. A walk around the lake in the morning, a round of golf in Quilpie or just chillin’ around the campsite occupied the visitors until it was game time in the late afternoon at John Waugh Park.
John Waugh Park is a Rugby League venue with a superb surface. A coaching session for some 19 youngsters took place before the big boys took the field at about 4:45 for a 30 over encounter under lights. It was James Kleinschmidt and Jared Spies that stole the show with a blistering 154 run partnership from just 102 balls for the 2nd wicket. The partnership ended with the retirement of Kleinschmidt on 101 from 60 balls (eleven 4s , six 6s); his second 50 taking just 19 balls. Spies then took over piling on 61 from 37 balls with Tom Doherty and bringing up his 100 from 79 balls (eleven 4s, two 6s). Brothers Tom and Hayden Doherty smashed 36 from the last 21 balls to take Wanderers to a cracking 269.
With 9 and over needed, The Whales had a crack, keeping pace with the run rate early. However, wickets tumbled at regular intervals making the chase difficult. Joost terBals snapped up two wickets in his second over to reduce Quilpie to 2/17, then Shane Wyatt bowled a devastating six over spell of 4/20 including two wickets in his second over and a wicket maiden in his last. Darren Waldron and Ed Truss added 56 from 50 balls for the 8th wicket, before Waldron retired for a well made 65 from 60 balls. Callum Atchison took his wicket tally for the tour to seven and Gecko Leonard picked up his first Wanderers wicket bowling at the death. Tom Doherty featured in the field with a couple of catches and a run out, while Leonard and Hayden Doherty also held took catches.
Wanderers up by 100 runs in a very entertaining evening. Om Bhikadiya picked up a fan club on the hill.
Brad Murphy expressed Wanderers gratitude to new Grandfather Bruce Paulsen who was instrumental in bringing the two teams together.
