Runaway Bay president Travis Harker winds back the clock in Seagulls’ finals push

HE has wound back the clock to become the accidental hero of Runaway Bay’s finals push, but Travis Harker is just happy to get out of bed each Saturday.

HE has wound back the clock to become the accidental hero of Runaway Bay’s finals push, but Travis Harker is just happy to get out of bed each Saturday.

Seagulls president for the past 20 years, Harker had no intention of featuring in the club’s Kookaburra Cup side this season.

However, a Round 7 call-up in November has sparked an unbroken run in the top grade that has delivered 19 wickets at 17.37 with his left-arm offspin.

SWING KING FOCUSED ON ADDING STRINGS TO BOW

He finished with 4-88 from 28 overs in Helensvale Pacific Pines’ mammoth 8-305 last weekend, a total Bay must chase down at Sam Loxton Oval today to keep their slim top-four hopes alive.

“Not bad for a short, fat, old bloke,” Harker, who opted to keep his age to himself, told the Bulletin.

Runaway Bay president Travis Harker has taken 19 wickets at 17.37 with his left-arm offpsin this season.

“I’m just happy to get out of bed on a Saturday to be honest, anything besides that is a bonus. When you get to my age you’re just happy to play cricket, I don’t care what grade I play at the end of the day.

“This year has been really strange. Either the competition’s really even or all the teams are playing inconsistent cricket.

‘IT’S A BREATH OF FRESH AIR RIGHT NOW’ - PODCAST

“If you turn up and you’re 20 per cent down on what your best is, you’re getting pipped. It doesn’t take much.

“We’ve beaten some good sides this year and we’ve been beaten by some average sides. It’s just really hard to put a finger on it.”

Eleven points adrift of fourth-placed Mudgeeraba Nerang, the Seagulls’ inconsistency has been underlined with impressive wins over Southport Labrador and Coomera Hope Island but totals of 60, 68 and 86 in losing efforts against Alberton Ormeau, Queens and Burleigh respectively.

Knowing victory over Helensvale and Palm Beach Currumbin in the final round is their only hope of finals action, Harker said they were eager to begin today’s run chase.

“Nothing beats a challenge and we’re a youngish side and we’re excited about chasing a big score because at the end of the day that’s your measuring stick. To Helensvale’s credit, they batted really well last week and if we want to win we’ve got to come out and bat better.

ON-FIELD DUTIES JUST THE START FOR LEADERSHIP DUO

“In my experience, you never say never (with finals). Funny things happen around this time of year and if it comes down to that last Saturday, and if you can snag a win and a couple of bonus points and someone gets knocked down or does something stupid, you’re still half a sniff.”