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Interesting Fact: For all you fellow trainspotters out there, The Nullarbor Plain section of the Indian Pacific Railway between Sydney and Perth, has the world's longest completely straight length of railway track, covering approximately 297 miles without the slightest hint of a curve. 

It was another inauspicious day for the Oz and Kiwi Poms at the weekend. We left Pakenham and Churchill in the middle of two-day games last week, with Pakenham posting 129 and Devon Meadows on 24-1 and Churchill chasing Moe CC's 234-6. Pakenham made a fight of their poor total but finally succumbed with the visitors bowled out for 136 with Zach picking up 2 catches behind the stumps and no time left in the game for a second innings. Churchill recovered from 53-5 to overcome their opponents final total of 247 in a thrilling one wicket victory, but Jordy managed just four with the bat and was wicketless. Ryan Ayers fared slightly better with six runs and two wickets contribution to an excellent win. Sam found himself promoted to Northern Suburbs 2nd grade XI and had to be satisfied with a red ink 1no off his one ball faced, batting at 9 in an imposing 'Burbs total of 264-7 that was 84 too many for their opponents.Sam got the chance to turn his arm over and took 1-23 as the second-string cemented 2nd spot in the table.

Down the road in New Zealand, things weren't any better for new recruit Caleb Donaldson who managed just three in Heathcote CC's 66-run defeat. Similarly, once again, Riccarton CC went down to a heavy defeat, cementing bottom spot in the table. Fin scored nine with the bat but didn't capture any wickets,  but all Clifton eyes will be focused on the match taking place on February 20th when Caleb and Finlay face off head-to-head in a two-day game. 

200 miles or so to the south of Riccarton, lies Carisbrook CC where Clifton's 1900 professional Harold Watson played, having emigrated to New Zealand in the days when such things were virtually unheard of. He made a life for himself out there and even has his own Wiki page - HaroldWatson (New Zealand Cricketer)

Meanwhile, Zach was selected to play in the Melbourne area's prestigious Country Week competition. First staged in 1922, Melbourne Country Week has long been considered the pinnacle for regionally based Victorian cricketers, with some of the game’s finest players participating over the years. His side went down to a 60 run defeat on Tuesday, with Zach grabbing a catch and six with the bat. 

Scorecards:

Zach – Here

Sam – Here

Jordy & Ryan – Here

Caleb - Here