At lunch the Australian Sports TV channel came to film the OCs in blazers and interviewed Rick Johnson. Eds Copleston, Steve Bailey and Johnson were then interviewed by the local journalists who produced an amusing article which made us sound like real cricketers.

Our batting started nervously, not due to the fact the TV cameras were still filming but that one of the opening bowlers was a first-grade quickie who had been speed-gunned at 85mph. Hufton was hit on the wrist early on and the umpire had to stop the game while he picked up the various parts of his watch before being bowled the next ball. Freddie Hood soon followed, and we looked in real trouble at 20 for 2 when Chase and Copleston came together. Consolidating early on and then opening up the two batted the OCs out of trouble and into a good position at 100 for 2 when a flurry of wickets, only interrupted by a clean-striking innings from Johnson which ended when he holed out to a long hop. Bailey and Read then set about Mackay's second-string line attack and put us in a strong position, requiring just 10 off the last over with 2 wickets in hand. In was close but not close enough, and we lost when Trevett was run out off the penultimate ball with five still needed.

Copleston was sad not to make the target, but pleased with our performance against a side which included some grade cricketers in. The hosts were extremely friendly and put on a barbecue and a local pub sponsored a keg of beer for the players which was drunk before we left Mackay, one cricket match down and one boat race up. Eds Copleston