Club cricket’s Team of the Year; grand final’s 3-2-1 best performers across all six deciders
Who has made club cricket’s Team of the Season? Revealed here, along with the best 3-2-1 performers across all six grade grand finals.
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Redlands were celebrating a magnificent KFC Sci Fleet Motors Premier grade premiership after beating University.
But there were five other premierships decided at the weekend as well.
Here we present our 3-2-1 best players from each of the finals, while also naming our club Premier Team of the Season.
CELEBRATING THE TWO WOMEN’S SENIOR GRAND FINAL PREMIERS
KFC Premier - SCI-FLEET MOTORS FIRST GRADE
UNIVERSITY DEF REDLANDS
3. JACK SINFIELD (REDLANDS)
On the same weekend his old school, The Southport School, were claiming yet another GPS First XI premiership, off spinner Sinfield was unravelling the high class University batting line-up - and then scoring runs. He dismissed battleships Bryce Street, Jack Clayton and Max Clayton on his way to taking a remarkable 7-83. Uni were dismissed for 228, with Sinfield changing the game after his opponents were 2-56. Sinfield then scored 48 not out.
He turned up again the next weekend, grabbing three wickets to accompany a fifer from Simon Milenko. His batting ability was not called upon in Redlands’ second innings, with opener Stephan Muller (50) and Sam Heazlett (52) finishing the job with nine wickets to spare.
2. JAMES BAZLEY (REDLANDS)
Bazley combined with hero Jack Sinfield (7-83 and 43 not out) to bat Redlands into the lead in a gripping final which they eventually took out. Bazley scored 91 from 100 balls to send his side to 325, a 107 run first innings lead. He was also a support bowler for Sinfield (13 overs, 0-30) in the field, and was his batting partner again during a crucial partnership.
Redlands’ batting was a team effort, with Jimmy Peirson and Liam Smith also snaring half centuries in an innings that placed University on the back foot.
Bazley kept it tight going at under three an over in University’s second innings, before his team passed the winners’ posts after the loss of just one wicket.
1.Bryce Street (University)
Street was a hero all season, especially late in the piece for his St Lucia side.
The trusty opener tallied 117 in his final two innings, with a second best 44 in the first (Harry Walker was No.1 with 58) and a team best 73 in the second where his buddy Jack Clayton chipped in a quick 35 (39 balls).
With his efforts in the final, Street took his average up to just shy of 70 (69.37), a country mile ahead of the competition’s next best in Angus Lovell (49.29).
ALLAN PETTIGREW SHIELD - SECOND GRADE
SOUTH BRISBANE DEF GOLD COAST
3. CLAYE BEAMS (SOUTH BRISBANE)
Beams’ season high century put South Brisbane in the driver’s seat to win the premiership. And that’s what they did with 149 runs in hand, the T20 First grade player’s blistering 104 (107 balls) elevating Souths to 294 in the second innings. He hit 13 fours and four sixes to change the game with Emmanuel Petersen, who scored 91 after Souths were 2-0 in its second innings. Beams, the ex Brisbane Lions and Collingwood AFL player, was a 2022 Qld Country representative. He also scored 29 in the first innings, giving the Gold Coast an impossible task in their second innings after being bowled out for 85 in their first.
2. Ashton Gumm (Gold Coast)
No they didn’t get the result but yes Ashton Gumm lost in style.
The opener, who tried his best with 24 off 84 in the first innings, hit a different gear at the weekend with a whopping 125 off 149.
Wickets fell like flies around him, but he stayed the course, hitting 18 boundaries in a special way to close out the Dolphins’ season.
1. TOBY SAWYER-BROWN (SOUTHS)
Brown (3-38) saddled up to bowl a marathon 26 overs in defence of his team’s first innings of 234, where he contributed 18 at No.10. After adding extra runs to Souths’ total, he bowled 11 maidens, and together with Matthew Casey (3-18) was responsible for building pressure and inflicting mortal blows which the Dolphins could not come back from. And if that wasn’t enough, five wickets in his final stint at the bowlers crease surely had to be.
He did not leak one extra, bowling four maidens in his 14 over bowling masterclass.
NORM MCMAHON KFC’S THIRD GRADE
NORTHS DEF UNIVERSITY
3. Adriane Morrison (Norths)
After University racked up a 249 first innings total, and Norths 229, Uni were back to the batters crease with Morrison their main man.
Morrison was a masterful challenger. The swing bowler snared four wickets after being the leading wicket taker in the first innings with three. Norths can thank his bowling prowess for the win.
2. MICHAEL LLOYD (NORTHS)
Norths opener Lloyd kept his team in the fight when chasing University (249). He scored 77 from 99 balls, stroking six fours and lofting four sixes. This was despite tight bowling from Norths’ pair Elliott Beath (2-15) and James Guy (1-18).
RELATED LINKS
AIC FIRST XI TEAM OF THE SEASON
GPS FIRST XI CRICKET TEAM OF THE SEASON
GPS FIRST XI UNSUNG HEROES OF THE SEASON
1. HEALY WILLIAMS AND BANJO WARING (UNIVERSITY)
Williams (57) and Waring (62) hold the top spot in this final, with the pair combining for 119 at opposite ends of the batting order.
They both dug in, scoring one run every two balls, setting up a brilliant clash at Ian Healy Oval.
FOURTH GRADE
Northern Suburbs defeated Valley
3. Mitchell Witt (Norths)
With both bat and ball, Witt influenced the decider, giving Valley a down payment on victory. When Valley batted first he claimed 3-10, and then in the Norths innings he batted 110 minutes for 49 not out to give Norths a lead. Without that innings, Valley would have been almost level pegging.
Saxon Jeh (Valley)
The teenage quick garnished a 66 wicket season (average 16.67) with 4-58 in the North’s first innings. He had his marathon shoes on, working his way through 37 overs to bowling Valley into premiership contention. The performance capped a season to remember for a youngster who is from a very, very well known cricketing family.
1. Tyran Eggmolesse (Valley)
Tyran dug in four three hours, slogging it out with the best Valley could offer with a defiant 47. With Valley an uncertain 6-68, he held his nerve, scoring runs here and there and holding up Valley’s march.
Footnote: Chris Raisebeck held up his end of the bargain for Valley with a three wicket first innings effort.
FIFTH GRADE
3. Coby Cole Stegman (Souths)
First innings runs in a grand final are gold and without Coby Cole Stegman’s 123, would South Brisbane have won. His marathon 383 minute knock came after he was a batting hero in the semi final as well.
2. Zach De Bruin (Souths)
Facing Norths’ highly competitive 273, Souths lost two early wickets before De Bruin knuckled down. He batted for more than two hours, laying a foundation for his team’s premiership win. He also claimed two wickets with the ball.
1. Myles Dennis (Souths)
Dennis toiled through 46 overs (4-53) during an epic effort when Norths were trying to set up a winning total. Along with Liam Brady (2) and batting opener Zach De Bruin, Dennis pushed on and on and ensured the loss of two early wickets did not harm Souths premiership celebrations.
Footnote: Norths opener Chris Maher was brave to the core with a gutsy half century while bowlers Holmes and Price Moor never gave in.
SIXTH GRADE
Valley defeated Redlands
3.Fergus Rees (Valley)
First innings runs are gold in a grand final and Fergus Rees rose to the occasion with a match high 73. He batted from first drop, right through the innings, holding up the Redlands’ attack for a marathon 303 minutes. You could have driven from Brisbane to the turn off to Gladstone in the time it took Rees to compile his innings. He was the cornerstone of his team’s 182 which gave his bowlers enough runs to defend.
2. Elliott Shepherd and Connor Rees (Valley)
Jointly shared between them Shepherd (3-36) and Rees (3-27) who claimed six of the 10 wickets to fall in the decider. If they had let Redlands get away with taking a decent first innings lead, it could have changed the momentum of the game. But their steadfast defence of their team’s first innings 182 ensured Redlands remained pinned to the ground.
1.Jude Sexton and Thomas Wex (Valley)
Gloveman Sexton scored 22 and 49 not out (186 minutes) while Wex managed 22 in an hour and a half during the first innings, and 39 in the second innings. Both first innings knocks supported Fergus Rees and both second innings knocks ensured Valley did not collapse. The premiership capped a big fortnight for Wex - he was also a member of the Marist College Ashgrove First XI joint premiership side.
Footnote: Well done to Redland bowlers Ky Ahpene (five wickets in the match) and Harry Legg (4-46 and 2-39) who didn’t go down without a fight.
TEAM OF THE SEASON
Bryce Street (Uni)
With 1318 runs at 69.37, he formed the most lethal top of the order batting combination in the competition alongside Angus Lovell. Street also took 33 wickets at 22.21
Josh Brown (Norths)
Brown had a 1000 runs in a flash and is in our side for his amazing pre-season burst that took the competition by storm. He scored 1081 runs at 43.24.
Angus Lovell (Uni)
We broke the famed Bryce-Lovell combination to fit big basher Brown into the side. Lovell’s 1183 runs at 49.29 was compelling.
Sam Truloff (Western Suburbs)
Truloff just kept on keeping on, and only promotion into representative cricket prevented another 1000 run club season. He scored 974 runs at 54.11.
Harrison Wood (Ipswich)
What a player he was. He scored 1083 runs at 49.23, but if that was not enough, claimed 27 wickets at 25.
Steven McGiffin (Western Suburbs)
Another elite all-rounder who scored runs for fun (612 runs at 76.5) and also took 28 wickets at 18.68.
Jack Wildermuth (Valley)
His bowling was restricted but he still claimed 27 wickets at 28.37. But it was his batting (769 runs at 51.27) which tipped him into this all star side.
Jack Sinfield (Redlands Tigers)
TSS old boy Sinfield was a bowling hero with a seven wicket haul in the grand final - and a first innings 48 not out. That big match performance garnished a fabulous season for the youngster.
Harry Walker (UQ)
With more two day dismissals than any other gloveman, Walker pips Redland’s over Leigh Drennan into our side as keeper. But only just. Drennan was a wonder, steering the ship to the premiership - all the while contributing handy runs.
Harmon Sandhu (South Brisbane)
He went for a few runs, but boy didn’t he take some wickets. He claimed 52 at 24.6 - the most this season - and no top order was safe against him. All this after joining his brother for the T20 Max first grade competition and deciding to stay for the season.
Aubrey Stockdale (Toombul)
The Terrace old boy missed Australian under 19 selection by a whisker 15 months ago but this kid is starting to rock ‘n roll. He finished the season with 48 scalps at 22.35
Jon Stimpson (Redlands Tigers)
Stimpson was a wonderful team bowler who took wickets (35 at 19) but also kept things nice and tight for his bowler at the other end.
13th man. Jackson Smith (Gold Coast).
The right arm paceman was a man on a mission this season, regularly taking wickets and always challenging the batsmen and thoroughly deserved his place in the Team of the Season.
Footnote: This time next year don’t be surprised if Toombul’s Tom Balkin and Valleys’ Callum Vidler mirror rookies Stockdale (Toombul) and Sinfield (Redland) by making our team of the season. School cricket and under 19 Australian commitments prevented fast bowler Vidler impacting first grade but he will, don’t worry.
And more impressive is Balkin, the Nudgee College old boy fast bowling tearaway who skittled line-ups early before contracting an illness - and then making the Australian under 19s.
He averaged a wicket every three overs during the early stages of the club season.
Awesome foursome who missed out - only just.
We would love to have found room for these elite players.
Nicholas Selman (Sunshine Coast) was a batting marvel who at one stage eyed off a 1000 runs in a summer.
University pair Will Crook and Nic Sale were dreadfully unlucky. Both took 45 wickets, both conceded round three an over and both were key to Uni’s push for another premiership.
Uni is lucky to have them.
Hats off to:
Toombul’s Tom Balkin of course with 25 wickets at a strike rate of just 18.
Western suburbs Isaiah Snell averaged 40 and was unlucky to miss our Team of the Season.
Valley’s Marist College Ashgrove old boy Joshua Neill who scored 687 runs at 42.94
James Rosewarne (Souths) for his 42 at 25.29
Bryn Llewellyn (Ipswich) was outstanding with the bat (724 at 42.59)
Alecz Day (Sunshine Coast) with 769 at 40.47
Wests Paddy Dooley was having a big summer (33 wickets) until the BBL took over his life.
Across all forms of cricket Norths Kendel Fleming let fly with 1015 runs at 67.67
Sandgate Redcliffe’s Jack Cooper put his head down for 835 runs this summer, including a century.
James Bazley was fabulous with runs and wickets for Redlands.
Redland won the premiership for its team bowling but with the bat Liam Smith (750 runs) led the way.
Redland bowler Simon Milenko had a big season for the Tigers.
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