Argentina Ace

I am six-one down on the euchre score board and its not looking good five days into a 50-day world tour.

Cessnock John Bull Shield skipper and Kurri Kurri Station Hotel player Rob “Flash” Flanagan has me playing and missing like Mike Atherton against Glenn McGrath on the opening session of a 1990’s Ashes contest.

I’ve had more bad hands than a country full of Edward Scissorhands and in the process churned through partners like Lindsay Lohan on a big night out.

From a bar in Santiago airport to an Argentinean hotel room at six in the morning – I’ve barely had a look in.

But the one match I did win was as sweet as the 2007/08 grand final win against minor premiers City United at Robins Oval.

What made it even better - it went down to the final card.

It was down to the final hand, both teams all but, and the winner would take home the last of the unopened beers.

I was teamed with Victorian tourist Darren Fletcher while Flash was partnered by Tamworth’s Steve Newman.

Hearts were trumps and lead on the final play where Flash, in third position around the table, put the queen of hearts down with a rather confident flick of the wrist.

For at least two and half seconds he thought he had won, so he slowly started to rise from his seat to victoriously punch the air.

Both bowers were gone, as was the ace, but Flash slowly slumped back onto the bed when I produced the king of hearts and needless to say I could not help but smile as the beers made there way back to room 704 with me.

This tight finish was similar to our first match at the 120-year-old Hurlingham Sports Club, which besides cricket, hosts the Argentinean Golf Open, has the only lawn tennis courts in Latin America and is home to an exclusive polo club.

We, the Australian Old Collegians (AOC), were up against the Argentina Cricket Association (ACA) President’s XI, featuring six national players, and the Aussies claimed victory on the last ball of the day.

The ACA needed two runs off the final delivery to pass the AOC’s score of 200, and one run to tie.

It felt like I was back at Lorn Park for the third time in two years playing in another down-to-the-wire-contest against Tenambit Morpeth.

But unlike tied matches between Norths and the Bulls, this time there was a result, and I was able to grab a run out from my bowling to secure the victory for the tourists.

The AOC also won game two the next day against the Buenos Aires XI, featuring eight national players.

An unbeaten start to the 50^th anniversary AOC World tour against a nation who has a 200-year-old cricket tradition (started in 1806).

Combine this with a cocktail party at the Australian embassy, sit down lunches at Hurlingham and a visit to La Boca (the area where Maradonna’s Boca Juniors play) – Argentina has been a wonderfully hospitable experience.

Now, when we get to Canada, all I have to do is win a euchre hand.

Josh Callinan

Pic: My euchre enemy from Heddon Greta Rob "Flash" Flannagan and I ready to check out the sights of Buenos Aires. My smile was even bigger after I beat him with the final card.