So said Graeme Shultz, the participation service manager at Valley Industries, referring to the players in Valley Industries twilight cricket side.

Valley Industries entered a team in the popular competition for the first time this year, the opportunity coming through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

“We have Geoff Pensini working with us here now since he retired from school teaching and we’ve been looking at getting our guys involved in sport – things that other people take for granted,’’ Graeme explained.

“It was from here it was suggested we get together a twilight cricket team.’’

Twilight matches are played Tuesday afternoons. Teams are eight-a-side and all players get the opportunity to bat, bowl and keep wicket.

“A few couple of the guys – Paul Arnold and Brady Carney, had played a bit of cricket before,’’ Graeme, himself a former A-grade all-rounder said.

“Paul played with Mt George and I think Brady had a run with Taree West or Lansdowne.

“A few of the others may have played a game here and there, but because they have a disability they probably batted at 10 and didn’t get a bowl.’’

No such worries at twilight, Graeme, explained. And he has nothing but praise for the opposition teams.

“They’ve all been fantastic and really got into the spirit of it,’’ he said.

“In one game one of our batsmen got out five times before they decided he’d had enough. That’s the way all our games have been played.’’

Valley Industries have won one match.

“It was unbelievable, Nathan Ritter hit a six off the last ball to win it,’’ Graeme said.

Of the eight players each week, six are Valley Industry employees with two carers.

“About 90 per cent don’t have a driver’s licence, so we pick them up and get them home,’’ Graeme said.

The last competition game was this week but all teams get a chance to feature in finals, so the team still has a bit of cricket to play.

Graeme admits he’s a bit concerned about how he’ll explain it to the players when their season does come to an end.

“I think they’ll lynch me,’’ he laughed.

Valley Industries will be back to twilight for sure next summer. Now Graeme’s looking at further sporting challenges.

“Touch football,’’ he said.

“Geoff (Pensini) said he’ll be able to get us a start in the over 40s comp on Wednesday nights next summer.’’

(Geoff is a life member of Taree Touch).

“So that’s going to be our next one. It should be a bit of fun.’’