Emotion-charged applause as 'Cobra' leaves the field at Korumburra
The turf wicket at Korumburra was prepared for play, the stumps set and Cobra's hat placed on top of the bails. THERE wasn’t a dry eye in the place when the hearse carrying Korumburra Cricket Club legend Allen ‘Cobra’ Summerfield made a slow...
THERE wasn’t a dry eye in the place when the hearse carrying Korumburra Cricket Club legend Allen ‘Cobra’ Summerfield made a slow, ceremonial lap of the hallowed turf at the Korumburra Recreation Reserve on Tuesday this week.
And, as Cobra came off the ground, through a guard of honour of his cricket clubmates, there was warm applause for a truly great innings.
The stumps were in the ground, Cobra’s cap was sitting on the bails, and a superb-looking turf wicket was all rolled out and ready for play.
The Korumburra cricketers now, and through the years, had done him proud, and as they have for the past 36 years, since he had his life-changing accident, the townsfolk of Korumburra were right behind them and him in big numbers.
It has been a demonstration of community spirit, according to one of Cobra’s mates, Joff Holland, the like of which you rarely see, no matter how often people claim that this or that town is close-knit.
There was also a liberal sprinkling of players and administrators from other clubs, some of whom notably played with Allen in representative teams or served with him during his long career in administration.
But the service, at the home of the Korumburra Cobras Cricket Club, which started at 11am on Tuesday, December 12, just a short week after 60-year-old Cobra had passed away, was all about accentuating the positives of Cobra’s life.
That was especially so in the comprehensive, insightful and often funny account from Cobra’s inner circle provided by fellow-club legend, friend and teammate Darren Scott.
After the service, the cortège left the reserve for an interment at the Korumburra Cemetery, followed by refreshments back at the clubrooms.
