FEARNLEY takes a bag of wickets to help St Pat's Old Boys to victory - it is a story which has been told plenty of times over the years but the latest chapter is something a bit different.
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This time it was 12-year-old Harry Fearnley instead of his father Matt Fearnley who did the damage with the ball.
Harry is currently in his first season of senior cricket, playing presidents cup with St Pat's Old Boys White, and in Saturday's match against Rugby Union he snared 4-16 off four overs.
His spell at Learmonth Park, which included one maiden, helped the Saints to a 152-run win.
"I'm definitely proud, it's unreal," Matt said.
"My Mum was at the game and she kept texting me that Harry got another wicket, another wicket. I was thinking it was probably a team wicket and Mum was saying Harry was getting it, but it actually was Harry getting them himself, so I was over the moon."
Two of Harry's wickets came as he sent the ball crashing into the stumps, Saturday's effort replacing his previous best presidents cup figures of 2-43 off eight overs.
Matt said the success will help lift and further aid the development of the youngster who turns 13 next month.
"It's his first year playing for Pat's seniors in presidents cup, it is only by chance he's playing," Matt said.
"He's a typical young fella, he wants to do anything and everything. He just loves cricket, loves to bowl and bat and be involved in any way, but he's tall and lanky like me so he's been told he's going to be a bowler.
"He just tries to swing the ball, he bowls a bit of medium swing.
"There are a lot of young kids in the club and we're lucky we've got Scott Traves, Shane Broes, Brett Slattery and Brett Roach playing and Kim Taylor in the other team. To have that quality of senior guys and the amount of young kids we have in the club as well, it's unreal.
"One of his good mates Cooper Stephen is playing with him as well.
"For him to get four wickets in presidents cup, it just lifts him. He's a really quite young fella, so it was really good for him, it will lift his spirits."
The same afternoon as Harry took his 4-16, Matt was in action for the Saints in their Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket clash against Cavaliers.
While the Saints posted a bonus-point victory, Matt was unable to take a victim in his four-over spell. It meant Harry had bragging rights and players at the club were quick to point that out.
"Pretty much the whole club was into me - time for me to retire and it won't be long before he's running the whole show," Matt laughed.
While Matt, who has taken 11 wickets in BOIDC this season at an average of 12.4, still has plenty of cricket left in him, two of the three Fearnley kids will no doubt carry on after he retires.
"Layla has no interest, but young Hamish he plays under 7s," Matt said.
"Hamish is cricket mad, it's Harry and Hamish playing cricket in the backyard non-stop during the school holidays. I don't have a back fence left anymore."
