TWO FAMILIES PLAY CRICKET AT HOMEBUSH

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27861, 9 January 1956, Page 8

TWO FAMILIES PLAY CRICKET AT HOMEBUSH

Only initials or Christian names were used in the score book when a cricket match was played at Homebush during the week-end—all the members of the home side had the surname Deans, and all the visiting side Gardner.

Both elevens comprised members of two generations. It is not unlikely that the Deans team will soon run to three as some of the younger generation will soon be able to take the field. The two teams have played as family sides for some years, but this is the first time they have met. The Deanses have their own little club, and their caps bear the family crest.

The Gardners won the match. The Deanses in their first innings made 147 (A. A. Deans 24, H. H. Deans 24) and in the second innings 118 for nine wickets declared (S. M. Deans 31 retired). The Gardners made 166 in their first innings (B. J. Gardner 40, E. R. Gardner 24 retired) and 142 for eight wickets (R. R. Gardner 31, G. Gardner 27 retired).

The oldest of the players was Mr

W. Deans, of Sandown, and the youngest Edward Gardner, of Scargill, a pupil of St. Andrew's College.

A similar but short-lived series of matches was held in the Amuri district before the First World War. Two well-known Amuri families, the Rutherfords and the Macfarlanes, met in 1913 and 1914. It is understood, however, that one of those teams included cousins of another name. The war cut short these matches, and they have not been revived.