Behind the Stumps with Julie Theobald - BOP Senior Men’s Scorer

Posted: Friday, 21 November 2014

In the latest edition of Behind the Stumps we chat to Julie Theobald who has picked up the Bay scoring sheets, pens, pencils and erasers to take on the role of the Bay of Plenty Cricket senior representative team scorer.

Tell us a little of the your background
I was born in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, in Te Puke, and grew up in Tauranga, which continues to hold a special place in my heart. I attended Tauranga Girls’ College until 6th form, before moving to Rerewhakaiitu, just south of Rotorua. I finished my college years at Reporoa College, and then moved to Auckland to study nursing. Whilst there, I got married. The move to Taupo was mostly due to my husband’s job prospects and that his family lived near Taupo.

How did you become involved in cricket?
I have a son who plays cricket, follows cricket, stores up miscellaneous cricket facts, and has an infectious love for cricket. How could I not?

What has been your involvement with cricket in Taupo?
My son was playing at junior level, and I could see that the committee needed help. I put my hand up, and found myself with the titles of Secretary and College Cricket Co-ordinator. That was in 2010, and I’ve stayed involved ever since.

How and when did you get involved in scoring?
Well… you know how mums will often say that they find cricket boring? I wanted to support my two boys who were both playing, and I wanted a way to enjoy it. I offered to learn scoring, standing at the side of a junior game, and then progressed to scoring college games. Around that time I became more aware of what I didn’t know about scoring. I love to learn and improve, so I did some online research on scorer training and eventually made contact with Bill Anderson. By then, I think you could describe me as a cricket tragic.

Tell us about the mentoring role of Bill Anderson in your burgeoning scoring career?
When I made contact and then met with Bill, he opened up a whole new world for me. He talked of needing a scorer to work with the ND women’s side, and that it would take only 2yrs to get me to that level.To begin with, I followed Selwyn Wakefield around in his role as BOP men’s scorer. He was an incredibly patient teacher who managed to let me think I was working at my own pace but also challenged and extended my skills. Bill was overseeing this process and my progress, and ensured that as I developed in the role, the appropriate opportunities were offered to me.

I have always felt that I can contact Bill for support with anything. He is very loyal to the game of cricket and to the scorers he works with and very much values commitment and effort. I feel privileged to be part of his team, including having the opportunity to score the occasional game with Bill.

What appeals to you about cricket scoring?
You may be surprised to hear that there are many facets that appeal:
• Watching and recording every ball brings the game closer, and I feel the highs and lows myself
• The challenge of intense focus for a long period of time and the satisfaction of a job well done at the end
• The appreciation from the players and the team, that their efforts are recorded and remembered.
• Then there is the meticulous part of me that strives for perfection in accurately recording every detail. I’m certainly nowhere near perfection, but it is incredibly satisfying to see a completed score sheet at the end of an innings or a game

What have been the scoring highlights for you to date?
The biggest highlight so far has been attending the Women’s U21 tournament in Lincoln, in December of last year. That tournament was where all my learning and practice came together. I started the week a nervous newbie and came out feeling like a “real scorer” – due in no small part to the support of the other scorers, and Malcolm “Jonesy” Jones from Otago Cricket.

One of my very early games will always stand out for me. It was in January of 2013; I was still learning, and Selwyn was official scorer for the game. BOP played Hamilton at Galloway Park – a Hawke Cup Challenge. The Bay put on 701, with Brett Hampton making 194 and Joe Carter 187; BOP took first innings points and the Cup, and I was hooked.

Where to from here for you in your cricket scoring future?
Well, I’d love to keep working with the Bay team for as long as they’ll have me. We’re actually moving to Tauranga in Jan of 2015, in time for my youngest boy to start college there. I have a busy season with Northern Spirit games and also, I’m very excited to say that I’m scoring the White Ferns v England Games at the beautiful Bay Oval in Feb.

Tell us a little more about Julie Theobald –
What music do you listen to –I mostly go for any ballad that tells a story, which means my collection includesa real mixture of old and new. Lifetime favourites are Meatloaf, Dr Hook and Eagles.

What was the last book that you read–It’s called Behind the Silence, by Heather Gudenkauf. I love exploring the iTunes bookstore, and this was one of my finds.

Favourite movie –I have no long-term favourite; I guess I just go with the moment. I did enjoy Avatar, and when I need a chick flick Mama Mia is my go-to.

Favourite TV program – Right now I’m watching Person of Interest, and Love Child.

Favourite meal - cheesecake

Favourite drink -Mojito

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