Western Suburbs First Grade in Sydney and we’re playing Manly at Manly Oval in the mid-90s, Wests captain Mike Swan was batting with Geoff Spotswood and we’re doing quite well but if you know Spotty, he’s a fierce competitor but struggles with running due to a long and glorious rugby league career.
Manly were down a player through injury and we offered a fielder to step in. I was sent on and positioned a fine leg. Swanny was on strike, he clips a ball to backward square. As they’ve set off for two runs, I’ve swept around to pick up and through not realising that Swanny was coming back for a third. Spotty was even more surprised and had already made camp at the non-striker’s end. I send the ball into the keeper with the usual enthusiasm, not checking to see if the guys were safely home.
As a result, the ball sailed nicely over the top of the bails for the Manly keeper to make an easy run out, with Mike halfway down the wicket…. I nearly ate his bat as he made his way past me to the pavilion. Still hasn’t forgiven me.