POONCARIE retained the Greg Jolley Memorial Trophy with an eight-run victory over Anabranch on Saturday night in their annual match at George Gordon Oval.
The Pooncarie side has dominated the popular far west New South Wales fixture over the years but with Anabranch needing eight runs off the last three balls things were tight and the crowd of up to 300 people was on the edge of their seats.
“They got within three but we were playing indoor cricket rules – there was a run out and it was minus five,” organiser Sholto Douglas said.
“It was a much, much closer game than in the past.”
The yearly event shines the spotlight on, and raises funds for, men’s mental health initiatives and is held in partnership with the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program and the NSW Baggy Blues.
“It was fantastic, an absolutely great night,” Douglas said. “There was a real family atmosphere, it was awesome, it really was.”
Part of the weekend was a one-hour workshop at the Coomealla Club on Friday night which was focussed on taking care of yourself and others, particularly in relation to mental health.
“It’s up to the individual to work out what they take away from it,” Douglas said.
“It was an informative night – just about how to look for signs things may be changing in someone you love, telling us what to look for, how to approach it and even down to the point of how to approach somebody if they’ve suggested they may commit suicide.”
