Grafton’s Best XI: Clarence River Cricket Association 2020/21 Team of the Season
Cricket tragic Bill North analyses the standout performers from Clarence River Cricket Association’s 2020/21 GDSC Premier League season.
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CLARENCE CRICKET: As the sun sets on the summer of 2020/21, it’s time to reveal Clarence River Cricket Association’s Premier League Team of the Season.
This season finally saw Ulmarra Hotel Tucabia-Copmanhurst break through to win the GDSC Premier League title after finishing runners up in six of the past seven seasons.
In the end they did it in style, dominating the grand final against Brothers Clocktower Hotel at Ellem Oval throughout the contest. Captain Brad Chard (5/38 off 16.1) led from the front to dismiss Brothers for 102, before Bob McKenzie (53) turned back the clock to pass the target four wickets down, and then Chard (47*) was again involved to bat Brothers into submission with a 65-run 10th wicket stand with Taine Riley (20) to finally be all out for 210 when Brothers conceded defeat.
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In the seventh edition of the CRCA Team of the Season compiled by The Daily Examiner’s self-confessed cricket tragic Bill North, major premiers Tucabia-Copmanhurst have three players selected, while runners up and minor premiers Brothers have the most with four, while Easts-Westlawn have three and South Services two.
Opposing grand final captains Brad Chard (Tucabia) and Jake Kroehnert (Brothers), who were the only two players to appear in all five previous editions of the CRCA Team of the Season until both were omitted last year, each slot back into this year’s team in dominant fashion.
Meanwhile five players from last year’s team - Dylan Cleaver (Souths), Eli Fahey (Brothers), Jamie Firth (Brothers), Matt Pigg (Tucabia) and Rohan Hackett (Tucabia), made the cut.
** Scroll further down to view the Twenty20 Night Cricket Team of the Season, CRCA 2nd Grade Team of the Season and CRCA 3rd Grade Team of the Season.
2020/21 CRCA PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE SEASON
(See in depth analysis below)
1. Shannon Connor (Easts-Westlawn)
2. Dylan Cleaver (South Services)
3. Jake Kroehnert (wk) (Brothers)
4. Eli Fahey (Brothers) (Brothers)
5. Jamie Firth (Brothers)
6. Matt Pigg (Tucabia)
7. Rohan Hackett (Tucabia)
8. Matt Dalton (Souths)
9. Brad Chard (c) (Tucabia)
10. Nathan Blanch (Easts-Westlawn)
11. Andrew Kinnane (Brothers)
12. Ethan Munro (Easts-Westlawn)
PREVIOUS EDITIONS:
1. SHANNON CONNOR (Easts-Westlawn)
Opening batsman generally struggled this rain-affected season as new ball bowlers enjoyed some spice in the wickets.
Connor was once again one of GDSC Easts-Westlawn Crown Hotel’s best with bat and ball. He scored 206 runs at 14.71 with a highest score of 39 with his hit out or get out approach at the top of the order, while taking 22 wickets at 16.73, economy rate of 2.45 and best figures of 4 for 28.
Honourable mention: Matt Dougherty (Tucabia) 178 runs at 13.69.
Last season: Kallen Lawrence (Brothers)
2. DYLAN CLEAVER (South Services)
Finds himself back in the Team of the Season despite a lean season by his standards, scoring less than half his tally of 386 runs in 2019/20.
Cleaver scored 187 still at an average of 17.00 and highest score of 45, while taking 9 wickets at 21.22.
Honourable mention: Kallen Lawrence (Brothers) 168 runs at 15.27, 13 catches.
Last season: Dylan Cleaver (Souths)
3. JAKE KROEHNERT (wk) (Brothers)
The Brothers Clocktower Hotel captain led from the front with a bat from the outset, scoring 105 in round one against South Services. While two players reached triple figures early in the Night Cricket season, Kroehnert’s knock would prove to be the only ton in Premier League for 2020/21.
He came close to scoring another when he was stranded on 90 not out before the umpires stopped play due to bad light against Tucabia-Copmanhurst at Ulmarra Showground.
Kroehnert was the competition’s runaway leading run scorer with 376 at 47.00
With an absence of top shelf wicket keepers in the competition, Kroehnert takes the gloves in this side having often taken on the role for Brothers and taking 10 catches, while relinquishing duties with the ball in a side teeming with bowling talent.
Honourable mention: Tim Bultitude (Tucabia) 192 runs at 16.00; 9 wkts at 13.89; 7 catches.
Last season: Tim Bultitude (Tucabia)
4. ELI FAHEY (Brothers)
Fahey switched to Brothers Clocktower Hotel after Coutts Crossing failed to field a Premier League side. The move paid off, with his 271 runs at 31.00 second only to his skipper. His highest score was 73 not out.
Honourable mention: Bob McKenzie (Tucabia) 196 runs at 19.60 (including back-to-back 50s in the finals); 8 catches.
Last season: Eli Fahey (Coutts Crossing)
5. JAMIE FIRTH (Brothers)
The third Brothers Clocktower Hotel batsman to feature in the top order, Firth scored 211 runs at 26.38, including a highest score of 83.
Honourable mention: Ben Shipman (Easts-Westlawn) 141 runs at 14.10; 12 wkts at 16.42.
Last season: Jamie Firth (Brothers)
6. MATT PIGG (Tucabia-Copmanhurst)
The ageless warrior continued to pile on the runs with the bat and baffle opposition with his slow bowling.
Piggy scored 249 runs at 20.75 with a highest score of 55, while taking 18 wickets at 10.00, and a miserly economy rate of 2.02.
Honourable mention: Chris Brophy (Easts-Westlawn) 153 runs at 19.13; 11 wkts at 20.18.
Last season: Matt Pigg (Tucabia)
7. ROHAN HACKETT (Tucabia-Copmanhurst)
Batting in the middle order and bowling behind the openers, when Hackett was called upon he delivered.
He was Tucabia’s second leading run scorer with 225 at 18.75 and highest score of 52, while his 15 wickets came at 11.60, with an economy of 2.19 and best figures of 4 for 6.
Honourable mention: Adrian Boyd (Souths) 127 runs at 21.17; 6 wkts at 34.33; 8 catches.
Last season: Rohan Hackett (Tucabia)
8. MATT DALTON (South Services)
A breakout season for the 19-year-old, who was not only one of the competition’s leading wicket takers, but was also called up to take the new ball in Clarence River’s victorious North Coast Premier League One-Day campaign.
Dalton finished with 28 wickets at 11.07 and economy of 3.03, while his career best spell of 7 for 18 off 15.4 overs to bowl Easts-Westlawn out for 63 runs in round 15 was Souths’ final glimmer of hope before the side was later beaten outright in the same match.
Dalton also proved capable with the bat, putting a high value on his wicket and often involved in important late order partnerships, scoring 103 runs at 13.00 with a highest score of 29.
Honourable mention: Matt Lobsey (Easts-Westlawn) 95 runs at 15.83; 13 wkts at 9.23.
Last season: Derek Woods (wk) (Tucabia)
9. BRAD CHARD (c) (Tucabia-Copmanhurst)
Chard’s bowling figures for 2020/21 make for incredible reading, taking 30 wickets at 7.53 and an economy rate of just 1.96 runs per over. His best figures were 5 for 18, while he took 5 for 38 in the grand final.
The only factor holding Chard back from taking a dozen more wickets was having several teammates regularly chiming in with their own success.
Honourable mention: Ethan Lucas (Brothers) 18 wkts at 16.89.
Last season: Adrian Boyd (Souths)
10. NATHAN BLANCH (Easts-Westlawn)
Nathan Blanch was back to his workhorse best with the ball, toiling away for 36 wickets at 8.33, and economy rate of 1.98, and best figures of 6 for 53.
It must also be considered a successful season for ‘Pidge’ as captain of GDSC Easts/Westlawn Crown Hotel. After losing their opening four matches, the side won its next five and was in the running for the minor premiership during the final round
Honourable mention: Taine Riley (Tucabia) 18 wkts at 15.50.
Last season: Billy Weatherstone (Brothers)
11. ANDY KINNANE (Brothers)
Kinnane had an incredible season for Brothers in 2020/21. The off spinner led the way in GDSC Premier League with 34 wickets at 10.12 and an economy of 2.82, while also finishing as the leading wicket taker in the Cleavers Twenty20 Night Cricket competition with 10 at 10.60 and a respectable economy rate of 5.68.
His season was highlighted by an unbelievable string of performances when he took 5 for 28 against Souths in round two of Premier League, followed by season best figures of 6 for 30 against Tucabia-Copmanhurst in round three, and 5 for 16 against Coutts Crossing in Night Cricket.
Honourable mention: Chris Cleaver (Souths) 18 wkts at 16.61.
Last season: Chris Cleaver (Souths)
12th Man: ETHAN MUNRO (Easts-Westlawn)
After starting out the season terrorising 2nd Grade, Munro stepped up for GDSC Easts-Westlawn Crown Hotel in GDSC Premier League and proved a handful, with his 8 wickets at 11.00 coming at just 2.18 runs per over.
The youngster is also handy with the bat.
Honourable mention: Jordan Gallagher (Souths) 9 wkts at 14.36.
Last season: Ben Shipman (Coutts Crossing)
TWENTY20 TEAM OF THE SEASON
PICKED on form throughout the 2020/21 Cleavers Mechanical Night Cricket season.
Brothers Elders Real Estate won the title by virtue of being minor premiers after both finals matches were washed out. Lawrence were runners up in their inaugural season in the competition while South Services finished third.
Brothers (4) have the most representation in the Team of the Season, followed by Easts (3), Lawrence (2), Tucabia (2) and Coutts (1).
Shannon Connor (Easts) and Andy Kinnane were the only two players from the GDSC Premier League season to also feature in the Twenty20 Team of the Season.
1. Beau Sevil (Brothers) 278 runs at 139.00, HS 105*.
2. Jack Weatherstone (Brothers)202 runs at 50.50, HS 66*; 6 wkts at 12.50, BB 2/4.
3. Andrew Ellis (Tucabia) 192 runs at 48.00, HS 120.
4. Mark Ensbey (Lawrence) 125 runs at 41.67, HS 61*.
5. Shannon Connor (Easts) 123 runs at 41.00, HS 51.
6. Ben Jurd (Brothers): 104 runs at 52.00, HS 62.
7. Aaron Macfadyen (Easts) 81 runs at 81.00, HS 45; 4 wkts at 6.75, ER 3.38, BB 3/10.
8. Doug Harris (c)(Lawrence) 99 runs at 49.50, HS 48; 3 wkts at 27.33, ER 5.86, BB 2/9.
9. Andrew McLachlan (Coutts) 56 runs at 28.00, HS 47; 6 wkts at 17.83, ER 5.35, BB 2/4.
10. Jeff Rainbow (Easts) 7 wkts at 11.29, ER 6.58, BB 3/29.
11. Taine Riley (Tucabia) 6 wkts at 10.83, ER 4.06, BB 3/17.
12. Andy Kinnane (Brothers) 10 wkts at 10.60, ER 5.68, BB 5/16.
CRCA 2ND GRADE TEAM OF THE SEASON
Grafton Hotel Coutts Crossing emerged victorious in GDSC 2nd Grade defeating Tucabia Copmanhurst Sunline Fencing by five wickets in the grand final at Lower Fisher Turf.
It was intriguing season with six evenly matched sides contesting the CRCA’s first 2nd Grade competition in three years, played purely in the one-day format for the first time.
It was equally intriguing end to the season with the grand final rounding out a tri-series between Coutts and Tucabia, which saw Tucabia defeat Coutts for the minor premiership, Coutts return serve in the major semi, and then win the ‘decider’ in the grand final.
Meanwhile, GDSC Easts Poplar Sheds were arguably the form side heading into the finals, having won their past seven matches, but were denied the opportunity when the preliminary final against Tucabia was washed out.
Finally, early season strugglers GDSC Easts Valley Finance turned their season around to leapfrog MI Organics Westlawn and South Services to scrape into the top four in the very last round, only to also have their hopes dashed when their minor semi-final was washed out.
Coutts (5) have most players in the Team of the Season, followed by Tucabia (3), Easts Poplar Sheds (2), Westlawn (1) and Easts Valley Finance (1).
1. Jaye Yardy (Tucabia) 346 runs at 49.43, HS 62*.
2. Bill North (wk) (Coutts) 346 runs at 31.45, HS 64; 10 catches, 1 stumping.
3. Jimmy Watters (Easts VF) 431 runs at 33.15, HS 79; 26 wkts at 14.12, ER 4.02, BB 4/19; 9 catches, 1 stumping, 8 run outs.
4. Aaron MacFadyen (Easts PS) 340 runs at 68.00, HS 68*; 29 wkts at 6.86, ER 3.65, BB 6/27.
5. Matt McKee (Coutts) 499 runs at 62.38, HS 131*; 13 wkts at 14.38, ER 4.52, BB 4/14.
6. Billy Blanch (Tucabia) 360 runs at 32.73, HS 88*; 26 wkts at 7.65, ER 2.79; 9 catches.
7. Ryan Cotten (Westlawn) 308 runs at 28.00, HS 77; 19 wkts at 13.21, ER 3.59, BB 7/38.
8. Noel O’Connell (Coutts) 336 runs at 28.00, HS 104*; 20 wkts at 13.55, ER 3.99, BB 5/16.
9. Andrew McLachlan (Coutts) 179 runs at 16.27, HS 50*; 30 wkts at 12.50, ER 3.64, BB 6/22; 7 catches.
10. Angus MacFadyen (Easts PS) 30 wkts at 12.93, ER 4.00, BB 6/24.
11. Hayden Woods (Coutts) 27 wkts at 10.52, ER 3.16, BB 4/10.
12th Man: Keaton Stutt (Tucabia) 241 runs at 34.43, SR 75.5, HS 65.
CRCA 3RD GRADE TEAM OF THE SEASON
Coutts Crossing also won the GDSC 3rd Grade crown, defeating Brothers Jimmy Watters Painting/Hello Travelworld in the grand final.
With a retire 35 format with teams restricted to 30 overs, it proved to be a successful and enjoyable season for all five teams involved this season, with a pleasing emphasis on bringing junior players through the ranks, some as young as nine.
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Brothers (4) and Coutts (4) shared the most players in the Team of the Season, followed by Westlawn (3) and Tucabia (2).
1. Shaun Simpson (c)(Westlawn) 459 runs at 114.75, HS 78.
2. Jason O’Hara (Tucabia) 281 runs at 35.13.
3. Finn Lucas (Brothers) 223 runs at 31.86; 9 wkts at 24.33.
4. Daniel Moar (Brothers)332 runs at 66.40; 11 wkts at 16.18.
5. Scott Chard (Coutts) 321 runs at 53.50; 15 wkts at 11.07, ER 4.39.
6. Lance Chevalley (Coutts) 322 runs at 322; 13 wkts at 20.31, ER 4.21; 8 catches.
7. Alex Bertus (Tucabia) 126 runs at 42.00, 9 wickets at 9.33.
8. Ricky Johnson (Brothers) 206 runs at 22.89; 12 wkts at 15.42.
9. Eli Jones (Westlawn) 202 runs at 22.44, HS 38*; 12 wkts at 17.83, ER 5.35, BB 3/8.
10. Richie Williamson (wk)(Coutts) 164 runs at 27.33; 4 catches, 10 stumpings.
11. Brent Johnson (Brothers) 13 wkts at 9.85.
12th Man: Caitlin Chevalley (Coutts) 16 wkts at 19.56, ER 6.80/Caitlin Amos (Westlawn) 13 wkts at 19.23, ER 6.30.
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