There was a lovely article in a recent issue of The Bugle about the 170th anniversary of the Kiama Cricket Club.

All congratulations to them.

Now it makes logical sense that other cricket clubs would be celebrating something similar such as Gerringong and Jamberoo as of course Kiama needed somebody to play against.

But having a dig through the pile of junk in my home I came across an old scorebook from the Gerringong CC from 1895, more than 130 years ago.

On the first page was the first match of the season at what is now Michael Cronin Oval. Gerringong were playing Kiama CC.

In Kiama’s first innings, they scored 67 with Richardson the top scorer with 30 runs.

Gerringong had some luck in getting the opening bat McCaffrey out cheaply for two. More on him later.

Gerringong responded with 66 with King and Woods getting four wickets each.

In Kiama’s second innings, Gerringong were not as lucky with McCaffrey blasting 53 not out in an innings of 4/121.

Gerringong were not able to match it in their second innings, only scoring 91. Sefton was chief destroyer with seven wickets.

It is wonderful to sit under the trees at Gerringong and imagine the battle happening in the middle 13 decades ago, with a cool breeze on your face.

I wonder how many of these names remain in the Kiama district 130 years later.

Not many remain from the Gerringong team although I can swear blind there is a Miller or two around somewhere.