By Callum Ludwig
Three generations of keen cricketers took the field all together for the first time on the weekend.
The Yarra Junction Cricket Club (YJCC) gave the Thornton family, including patriarch Peter, the chance to all head out for a bat and bowl on Saturday 26 October.
Peter said it was a very special day on many levels for the Thornton family.
“It started with my grandsons, Jordan and Taj, opening the bowling for the Under 14s against Kilsyth with Jordy taking 1 wicket and Taj bowling a tidy spell. With YJCC’s turn to bat Taj made a welcome pile of 21 and Jordy retired on 20 not out in a closely fought game won by Yarra Junction,” he said.
“That same afternoon, myself, my three adult sons (Daniel, Steve and Callum) along with my two grandsons all stepped onto the Wesburn oval to compete in the Yarra Junction 4ths team against Yarra Glen,”
“To say it was a thrill and proud moment for myself and family would be an understatement.”
The Thornton boys weren’t content with just making up the numbers, with notable performances coming from Callum (53 not out), Steve (26 not out) and young Taj who put on six nnot out in a finishing partnership with Steve. Jordy, Daniel and Peter were not required to bat as Yarra Junction piled on 176 runs. Cousins of the Thorntons, David and Andrew Cunningham also put on 22 runs and 50 not out respectively.
Peter said he first started playing cricket when he was 23 years old at Hoddles Creek Cricket Club where he and his wife lived at the time.
“I played there for some 10 years of enjoyable cricket, we moved to Don Valley and due to family and work commitments I stopped playing for a short period of time,” he said.
“When my eldest son Daniel started playing for Yarra Junction Cricket Club’s Under 14s, I followed him to the club and there I enjoyed some 10 years of cricket, training sessions and family-focused functions,”
“During this time Steve and Callum followed Daniel to play junior cricket and during this era I had the very special experience of playing with all three of my sons in senior cricket teams.”
Peter and the Thornton family thanked Team Captain Toby Pilton and Club Coach Mike Ainsle for their efforts to make the day happen and Greg Mitchell for his efforts over 50 years at the club.
Peter said every team member contributed to a good team win over Yarra Glen which made the game even more special.
“With YJs turn to bowl Jordy opened the bowling with a tight 0/7 off 3 overs. Daniel, Steve, Callum and Taj all bowled tidy spells as every other member of the team did,” he said.
“At the end of our bowling, I managed one very unmemorable over, but the outstanding bowling performance was Glen Peake (long-time teammate) with 2/35 off 6 overs in an outstanding effort for a man in his 50s,”
“Our family will be forever grateful to YJCC for facilitating this opportunity and for all the well wishes expressed by many members of the club, it is a testament to the very family-orientated nature of the whole club.”
