Stalwart comes out swinging for big 300

By Justin Robertson
NARRE WARREN’S 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.
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.
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.”