‘Roast’ for club veteran

By Justin Robertson
BEACONSFIELD cricketer Alan Sauvarin shares an uncanny resemblance to National Lampoon’s Clark Griswold.
His mates have dubbed him “Clark Griswold” for years. They say the two look identical and they both have the knack of firing off witty barbs at will.
Sauvarin put his sharp wit to the test on Saturday night during a roast in front of more than 100 guests at the Beaconsfield Cricket Club.
The club paid homage to his achievement, as he approaches a 300-game milestone this week – the first player at his club to achieve such a feat.
The 52-year-old will actually play his 300th game next week.
Beaconsfield Cricket Club committee member and close mate, Russell Vincent, said the night was filled with classic anecdotes of Sauvarin, but also tributes poured on his hard work towards the club.
“We did get stuck into him a bit, he said.
“But to be honest, the night will be remembered for the tributes paid to him by the majority of the club.”
Sauvarin has coached more than 200 games of junior cricket, won a flag in 1990/91, was club secretary for 14 years and because of his dedication to the junior level, had the perpetual junior club champion trophy named after him – the Alan Sauvarin Shield – to recognise his contribution.
Vincent, who’s been at the club just as long as Sauvarin, said he deserved all the accolades that came his way.
“He puts the club first and foremost,” he said.
“He’s had a lot to do with the juniors and got everyone’s respect that way.”
Vincent said he was also a larrikin on the field and some of his stories were made public last Saturday.
“When you think of Alan, you normally think about the fun you have on the field with him,” he said.
“He’s a very funny man and does it in such a good way that everybody laughs.” One year, as Vincent recalls, Sauvarin got carted for 34 off one over that included five sixes and one four.
To deal with the belting, Sauvarin told the batsmen at the end of the over, “You must be weak if you can’t put them all over the fence.”
Sauvarin once took a stunning 7/16 against Nyora, but said his highlight over the last 27 years had been watching the junior kids that he coached go on to make hundreds and taking slips catches off their bowling.
“I want them to know that I can still contribute too and I’m not just the old fella standing in slips – I can catch too,” he said. “But I enjoy now taking a back seat.” About his “roasting”, Sauvarin quite modestly said: “It’s nothing you really set out to do, but it’s a huge honour for me.”