South East Veterans take guard in Over 50s cricket

The new South East Veterans Cricket Club is out to tap into talent in the inner south and south eastern suburbs.

Rohan Pike was a late starter at cricket but has become a leading Over 50s cricketer.

A new affiliate will be taking guard in Over 50s cricket next season.

The South East Veterans Cricket Club, nicknamed the Kangaroos, has emerged from the Endeavour Hills team that was based out of Pargeter Reserve.

Secretary Rohan Pike said the move had been made to better reflect the region the club represented.

“We’ve decided to break away from the Endeavour Hills name, in order to become a representative side of all Over 50s in the south-eastern suburbs,’’ he said.

“Obviously we’ve got a strong base with DDCA-linked players and some of those on board next season are legends such as Andrew Sharp, Rory Ingram, John Hammond and ‘Funky’ Miller.

Legendary all-rounder Richie Saniga.

“But we’re also hoping to expand towards the inner south-eastern suburbs and to that end we’ve now affiliated with Malvern Cricket Club.’’

The Kangaroos will play most of their home games at TH King Reserve in Glen Iris.

They’ll also retain Pargeter Reserve as a home ground.

With the Malvern link, Pike said the club was keen to develop connections with the South East Cricket Association and Cricket Southern Bayside.

“We’re trying to create a rep side where we can draw on a large section of talent, like Geelong and Gippsland and the Mornington Peninsula do,’’ he said.

“We’re trying to keep up with the Joneses.’’

Matches are played every two weeks and while Pike said players took it seriously, there was also a focus on fun and friendship.

“We see it as a bit of a men’s shed on the cricket field, supporting guys physically and mentally,’’ he said.

“We’re keen to be competitive but also enjoy the game and each other’s company.’’

Last season the Endeavour Hills team lost to Geelong in the Over 50s grand final, with a team that included Pike, Endeavour Hills senior coach Nick Bole-Brown, club legend Richie Saniga and another prominent former DDCA player, Danny Ferguson, as well as Peter Cutting.

While the Over 50s allows many players to extend their long careers, Pike is the opposite. He started playing cricket seriously at the age of 50.

“I didn’t play cricket. I played footy,’’ he said.

“I played cricket at school and then until I was about 21. Then I gave it away until I was about 45. I played the odd game for the Surrey Hills veterans, the Over 40 side, for a few years and when I got to 50 I decided to take it more seriously and I played in the Surrey Hills firsts side in Dunstan Shield. ’’

He’s since played in two Over 50s Victorian championship teams. And last season, at the age of 53, he even turned out for the Endeavour Hills First XI Sub-District team, possibly the oldest debutant in the history of the competition.

“I’m enjoying myself and I’m going to play for as long as I can,’’ Pike said.

The Kangaroos are aiming to field three teams and will be part of Veterans Cricket Victoria, which runs Over 50s, 60s and 70s competitions.

Stick Buhar is president of the club, a committee of 10 is locked in and a club pub – The Rogue Squire at Wheelers Hill – has even been teed up.

“We’ll head there after games to hopefully celebrate a few wins,’’ Pike said.