Captain of the Boat People (comprising the club’s cruising and sailing fraternity) Andrew Cruckshank won the toss and asked the Anglers (fishing club) to bat.

Anglers’ captain Steve Keddie said his team was determined to prevent the Boat People from scoring their third consecutive win in the annual challenge match.

It’s played on a pontoon moored on Lake Macquarie in the bay behind the RMYC.

Men, women and children were enjoying the calm, still and overcast conditions this morning. 

The match is played with a tennis ball, and a number of house rules. Batsmen score runs by hitting into the outfield and running to the halfway point of the pitch and back.

They score boundaries by hitting the ball into floating targets on the water.

Fielders patrol the outfield on an array of craft including small row boats, kayaks, and children’s inflatable pool toys.

Batsmen scored six-and-out if they hit the ball onto any of the moored boats around the perimeter of the playing area, many of which were occupied by their owners who sat and watched the action while enjoying a cool beverage.