Outback cricket club hosts first home grand final in more than 30 years

The game should have started by now, and the home team casually jokes that if their opposition doesn't show, it still counts as a win.

But there's some leeway in the outback, where your opponents are travelling hundreds of kilometres for a match in the local league.

The undefeated Tambo Eagles are preparing to host the reigning champions of the Charleville and Districts Cricket Association, the Charleville Railways.

The last time the outback township of about 400 people had hosted a cricket grand final was in 1990, a day that 61-year-old wicket keeper Andrew Turnbull remembered all too well. 

«It was the year of the 1990 floods, and they gave us a fair touch up,» Andrew said.

His older brother Hume Turnbull will also be joining him on the field once again, and knows how important days like today are to a small town.

«This is the lifeblood of the country, if we don't keep working on these things, we'll have nothing in the country,» Hume said.

«If we don't support the young blokes, there'll be nothing.»

In the stands, 80-year-old life member Neil «Buddy» Donaldson is not taking this moment for granted.

«It means a lot to me,» Buddy said.

«And it means a lot as far as getting players next year, and getting support.»

The last time Tambo hosted a grand final in 1990, the Eagles were defeated by Blackall, and 32 years later the result is much the same for the home team.

Charleville bowler Brad Steer claimed five wickets and best on ground honours, while batsman Damian Watts was almost unstoppable, scoring 75 runs.

But even the victors feel that there was more to the day than catches and wickets.

«We've had a few more rock up this year, and lost a few,» said Railways captain Charlie Aitken.

«It's more than a club this, it's a family.» 

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