It was Valentines Day 2009; the Butcher 3rd Grade side were chasing an unlikely victory and further unlikely mathematical chance of making the finals, despite just two wins all season. The weather was far from perfect as constant drizzle hung around all
day, but with both teams desperate for points and keen to play the match started as scheduled.
Bowling first the week prior, the Butchers toiled as Corrimal scored at more than four an over to post an impressive 252. A formidable amount given that the Butchers had passed that mark only once all season, that against the lowly Wollongong side.
Luke Coleman was one of the overnight not-out batsmen, desperate to find form and justify all the hard work and toil on his technique. The previous season had not been a good one, merely 38 runs at 5.42 but he was on the improve; double digit averages for the calendar year 2008 and nearly twenty for season 2008/09 leading up to the Christmas break.
But things were heading murky again, back-to-back ducks greeted him in 2009 as his average for the calendar year 2009 dropped to 7.6 leading into this all important match...
The early wicket of Butchers run machine Aaron McCrae for a duck made
for the perfect start for the Cougars as the Butchers quickly found
themselves in early trouble at 2/27. Opening batsmen Luke Coleman and Jackson Stewart
defended extremely well to steady the ship as the ball continued to
deteriorate in the wet outfield. Despite a couple of slips from the
Corrimal quicks, the Cougars were happy to continue as they felt their
total of 252 would be enough.
However, with every ball bowled the match slowly swung the Butchers way.
Incredible patience and classy stroke play saw the Butchers wrestle the advantage from Corrimal. Cougar players became increasingly
frustrated at the faultless batsmanship,
claiming a lack of action, but the Butchers on the sideline were happy
to allow Coleman and Stewart to chip away at the
total. By the time tea came around the Butchers were approaching 150
with both Coleman and Stewart each surpassing 50.
A few 1st Graders wandered over and joined the supporting crowd as Coleman and
Stewart started to lift the run rate despite exhaustion setting
in. Luke Coleman remained patient, only securing his first boundary well into the 70's. As light deteriorated, and mother nature doing it's best to fight him off, Luke Coleman pushed a single through mid-wicket to secure his maiden Grade ton much his personal sense of joy and relief and to the delight of the now strong crowd.
In complete control at 2/226 and needing only 27 runs, the Corrimal captain decided conditions had deteriorated and therefore no longer safe to play. To the frustration of the Butchers, who felt the conditions had been this way all day, the game never resumed. Jackson Stewart (86*) would not get his chance to record his debut Grade ton nor would the Butchers record that much deserved and much needed victory with finals just around the corner.
But Valentines Day belonged to the bloke who seems to be amongst everything. Valentines Day belonged to the man who would become Clubman of the Year for 2009, an example of how a young player can improve both on and off the field. The transformation into capable opening batsman was stunning and complete as he backed up his hundred with 80 against Balgownie the following week.
Luke Coleman's Valentines Day Special - another Butcher Top 50 moment.
The # in the title of this article in no way represents the ranking of the 50 Greatest Moments - it merely represents the order in which the article was submitted.
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