WHILE COVID may be wreaking havoc on sporting competitions right across our region, it’s also providing great opportunities for individuals – and families – to live out their sporting dreams.
That proved to be precisely the case last Saturday afternoon at the Swan Hill Showgrounds, when brothers Lyndon and Rohan Shadbolt played their first game of A Grade cricket with sons Ben and Harry.
Lyndon, the father of Nyah District captain Ben, answered the call to dust off the willow and come out of retirement to help the Demons field a team, which had been devastated by COVID isolations and unavailable players.
Rohan and his son Harry on the other hand had been playing together throughout the season, but only in Nyah District’s B Grade side – and were both duly called up to play at the higher level as well.
For Harry, Saturday was his debut A Grade game – a special moment not only for the 15-year-old, but for his dad as well.
“I presented Harry with his cap, so he’s A Grade player number 246 for Nyah District, which was really special,” Rohan said.
“It was just fantastic to get to play with my brother and one of my two sons, as well as Ben – I know Liam (Rohan’s other son) missed out, but for the four of us, it was just a great day.”
“I’ve played a little bit of B and C Grade cricket with both of my boys, but to actually play a game of A Grade cricket with your kids is something really special and a memory I’ll look back on fondly forever.”
For Nyah District captain Ben Shadbolt, the day was equally memorable, as not only did his team secure the six points, but he too got to live out a childhood dream.
“That’s the first A Grade game I’ve played with dad – I played a B Grade game with him years ago and I remember we batted together for just one ball that day before he got bowled, but Saturday was our first A Grade game together,” Ben said.
“To be honest, it was a bit surreal at times – it’s something you always want to do when you’re a young bloke, you always want to play sport with your old man, so it was just good to tick that one off the bucket list because I didn’t think it would ever happen.”
“Not only that, to have a win as well, especially considering the circumstances, it was probably one of the better wins I’ve been involved in with the club, that’s for sure.”
