WHEN Erin, Billy and Fraser Stewart, James Toomey and Xander Hill first took to the field together for Marong Cricket Club on a chilly Friday night on October, 14, 2011, milestones would have been the furthest thing from their minds.
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Lately the Panthers quintet has been racking up quite a few – both individually and collectively.
Last Saturday’s under-16 clash against Maiden Gully at Malone Park was the 100th game for both Toomey and Billy Stewart.
But more remarkably it took the total number of games played by all five players for the Panthers over the 500 mark.
Their tally combines games played for Marong in the junior ranks and with the club’s Emu Valley Cricket Association division three team.
Hill leads the pack with 118 games, followed by Fraser Stewart (114), Billy Stewart (100), Toomey (100) and Erin Stewart (75).
All except Erin Stewart have played their entire eight seasons of cricket at Malone Park.
She spent one season playing with friends at Kangaroo Flat, but rejoined her brothers at Marong the next year.
Her all-time games tally of 102 includes 27 games played with Kangaroo Flat and in Northern Rivers representative teams.
The five players have spent the bulk of their career playing in the same side and have amassed plenty of runs and wickets.
Their contributions read: Fraser Stewart (1473 runs, 49 wickets); Xander Hill (711 runs, 45 wickets); James Toomey (592 runs, 45 wickets); Billy Stewart (588 runs, 27 wickets); Erin Stewart (248 runs, 13 wickets).
A massive source of pride for the cricket club and especially the families has been the youngsters joining their fathers to play senior cricket on Saturday afternoons in the EVCA.
For Tim Hill – father of Xander – that has meant coming out of retirement after a 20-year hiatus from cricket.
Brad Stewart – father of Billy, Fraser and Erin – has also come out of retirement after a long career with Woodstock, while Greg Toomey – father of James – has made the switch from Strathfieldsaye after 15 seasons with the Jets.
Toomey said playing with their sons had been a great thrill for all three dads despite tossing up the occasional forgettable moment.
“My son James first ever senior wicket was in EVCA B-grade, caught by me … caught Toomey, bowled Toomey,” he said.
“His third ball, after I had dropped a very difficult I say, but what James calls a ‘soda’ catch off his first ball.
“It’s been great fun, and also a great social activity for the kids and the parents.”
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