It certainly was a cricket match with a difference in Jindabyne on Australia Day between the rival codes of Jindabyne Bush Pigs rugby union and the Snowy River Bears rugby league.
Apart from some ordinary batting by the Bears, some great catches and bowling by the Bush Pigs, the game was interrupted as the Toll emergency medical helicopter landed to pick up an injured man.
When a local Policeman arrived and wandered onto the field, you could have expected him to say drinks down boys, the game is over, but he was just advising that soon a helicopter would arrive to pick up the injured man.
While Police waited they were entertained by the 'quality' of the cricket, the drinks man on the motorised esky and chatted to players. When the helicopter arrived, local Jindabyne ambulance officers drove onto the field where they transferred the patient over to the Toll medical staff before the helicopter departure over Lake Jindabyne to Canberra hosiptal.
When the cricket resumed, the Snowy River Bears tallied up 104 runs which was easily chased by the Jindabyne Bush Pigs who passed the total with 2 wickets down and 9 overs to spare.
Both codes have resumed their respective training but will look forward to the now traditional Australia Day game of cricket. The Bears may need to recruit some middle order batsman for 2022 to boost their batting strength.
We look forward to the footy season starting soon.
All photos by Steve Cuff.
