There were early signs that this season was going to be better than the 2018/19 season for the Cobras 4th XI Player of the Week for round 2. After a fitness camp in Japan during pre-season with the family, Ian “Grum” Grummitt hit the nets hard, working the ball and striking blows in preparation for the new season – even netting sans shirt and helmet, with rig and technique on display. But could the Club’s second highest run scorer for 2018/19 (517 runs ave. 47) eclipse the great form of last season which culminated in his great 53 ret no in the Cobras 5th XI 2018/19 Premiership over Ashburton Willows? A 2019/20 first round mid 20s score was a disappointment and probably due to being more one-eyed than usual as a result of the forgotten prescription contact lense in the hotel in Japan that needed replacement at great cost. The round 2 game against Mazenod OC would witness our hero’s hard preseason coming to fruition as he launched his attack on the Club aggregate for 2019/20. Striding to the crease to open the innings with an air of confidence – dare I say arrogance – Grum had a Cobra like charm about him as he commenced his assault early on the opposition to all corners of Macleay 3 and continued to flay the demoralised attack for the next 2.5 hours. The star opener amassed 134 runs with an array of drives, infamous cuts and pulls through mid wicket to get the team to a total of 0/205 off 35 overs. With his more junior partner, X Dukes (16As), scoring a creditable 56 no, the pair posted a winning total with the opposition no match for them finishing on 4/122 off 35 overs. Grum wandered off the pitch at the close of his innings with a look of satisfaction and was heard to remark quietly to himself “I’m away now”. With young Charlie Grummitt’s recent selection in the u14 Emus and Grum’s 134 no, the Grummitt family partyed hard on Saturday night with the thoughts of the recent CSI plumbing clean up at Victoria Grove and the insurance claim distant memories – for now. Well done Grum – great effort. Already the ECA is considering having behind-closed- door meetings to discuss the merits of another Grummitt rule change for D section next season.