Priest reaches 300 games for Jan Juc

A JAN Juc Cricket Club legend marked an astonishing 300-game milestone last weekend when the club’s B Grade team took on Barwon Heads in a one-day Round 10 fixture at Bob Pettitt Reserve.

Despite growing up just 200 metres from the Torquay football and cricket clubs, Iva Priest joined the club in Year 7 along with some of his best mates, progressing to the club’s senior team a few years later.

He is just the fifth player in the club’s history to achieve the 300-game feat, notching up 206 A Grade games, 77 B Grade games, 16 C Grade games and one D Grade game, including four A Grade grand finals.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s match, the ever-humble Priest downplayed the milestone as a testament to the length of time he has spent at the one club.

“I just see it as someone that has stayed at the club for so long,” he said.

“I just love the people, love the club, feel of family, feel of the club and that’s why I keep going back every year.

“I’m not much for personal highlights or accolades. It’s all about the team and just getting together with the other 10 people each Saturday and trying to win a game, but most importantly, having fun.”

Priest, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday, said that as he has gotten older and become a father to three youngsters under the age of 10, he has slowed down and enjoyed the transition back to B Grade cricket.

 

“Cricket’s probably not for everyone, but there’s no other way I want to spend the Saturday afternoons than with a bunch of good friends and good people,” he said.

“We’ve got a good group of younger players coming through the under 15s and under 17s, and even our team at the moment…and [it’s] really enjoyable to see them coming along and play a bit of cricket with them and help out in any way you can.”

A Grade player and teammate of 15 years Jordan Graham said Priest had been a long-term outstanding player for the club.

“You probably don’t see 300 games of cricket at one club too often,” Graham said.

“Iva’s been there since he was a 12-year-old kid…so it’s 28 years of service where he’s a life member, he’s coached the kids, he’s played 200 games of A Grade cricket.

“He sums up the Jan Juc Cricket Club, really – opposition players love him, we love him, he’s just a good bloke to be around.”

Graham pointed to a standout match against Queenscliff where Priest scored an impressive 210 not out a few years back, contributing the vast majority of the team’s 267 runs for the game.

“He’s one of those guys that gets along with everyone, from the youngest bloke to the oldest bloke; he’s helping out wherever he can,” he said.

“There’s many bad days on the cricket pitch, but he seems to make them always enjoyable.”

Jan Juc defeated Barwon Heads last Saturday 174 runs to 156, and will now face Anglesea tomorrow (Saturday, January 25) at Ellimatta Reserve from 1pm.