The Bay Hotel and Dora Creek will take the field this weekend as players across Newcastle City and Suburban Cricket Association (NCSCA) competitions pay tribute to the two men who died during separate matches on the same afternoon.
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Both teams have opted to play out of respect for Rod Tinworth, 47, and Simon Marks, 45, who both collapsed when batting on Saturday and were unable to be revived.
"It's out of respect for both men and both sides," The Bay Hotel captain Rob Coulthart said. "It's going to be hard, but I think it's something we've got to do."
Dora Creek expressed a similar sentiment.
"It has been decided out of respect to both players that passed away last Saturday that the games will proceed this week," the club posted online.
"It will not be an easy day for all involved, so just do it for the two great gentlemen of the game we have lost."
NCSCA officials have called on "players, umpires and spectators across all matches this weekend to observe a minutes silence prior to the commencement of play to honour our two members who tragically passed away last weekend playing the game we all love".
"We would also encourage the wearing of black armbands as a further sign of respect from our cricket community."
Bay Hotel's Tinworth had been playing a C4-grade fixture in Blackhalls Park. Dora Creek's Marks was at Adamstown Heights playing D2-grade.
As of Friday afternoon, a recently created GoFundMe page had raised $9750 for Tinworth's family.
