An unlikely sporting romance has begun.
John “Johnno” Bennington, a third grade wicketkeeper-batter at the Belconnen Bulls, has started a romance with Australian Rugby Sevens player Zoe Craft (a two-time Olympics and Commonwealth Game representative).
The two met at Johnno’s work Christmas party last year and officially became a couple in February.
“I was a few beers deep and saw this absolute stunner across the room. Christ, it already sounds like a sappy Bon Jovi song!” said Johnno. “She was tall, had dark hair, and looked bloody fit. I had enough courage to talk to her and we got along well.”
“He was really sweet,” said Zoe. “I knew he was hammered that night, so I thought I’d wait a bit and give him a few more dates – and he was still nice sober. I was busy playing the Sevens circuit after Christmas, so we did the long-distance thing for a bit. But the patience paid off.”
After a pressured past relationship with an ACT Brumbies player, Zoe was grateful for the lack of attention.
“I watch Johnno play cricket and nobody knows who I am. It’s so much better than my old relationship, when all the private school Rugby tosspots hated me because they didn’t think I played ‘real’ Rugby. The same old tosspots have tried to make a big deal about me and Johnno, but nobody knows who he is, so at least we get some privacy.”
Johnno’s fitness has increased since dating Zoe.
“When we started going on training runs, she’d leave me for dead. But I’m gradually keeping up with her. And I don’t get run out as much now.”
While Johnno’s teammates enjoyed taking the piss out of him at first, they’ve grown to love Zoe.
“We’re used to Johnno talking shit, so nobody believed him at first,” said Johnno’s captain Terry. “We’ve started calling him ‘Swifty’, which we use whenever he plays the ‘I have a famous girlfriend’ card. Zoe’s way too good for him and gives us free tickets to the Sevens tournaments, so hopefully he doesn’t screw this up. She’s got some cracking yarns about her times at the Olympics.”
The Gurgler presents stories of the Park Cricketer, where we explore the lower reaches of the great game of cricket from the suburban ovals and rural grounds across Australia.
