DVCA: Gavin Patterson celebrates game 400 at Thomastown United

One of Thomastown United’s greatest ever players is continuing to put in impressive performances as he celebrates game 400.

If you’re ever down at Thomastown United, it’s likely you’ve probably run into Gavin Patterson.

From premiership coach to president of the last five years, there’s no role Patterson hasn’t filled at his beloved Kookaburras.

But now it’s time to celebrate him as he plays in his 400th game for the club — 35 seasons after he joined.

The Mash Shield game between the Kookaburras and Mill Park is currently at the halfway mark with Patterson and his teammates posting 247 on day one.

Patterson made 20 runs from 48 balls.

He’s playing alongside his son Riley while daughter Mackenzie was named as 12th player for the game.

Gavin Patterson is in the midst of his 400th game for Thomastown United.

“Dad’s done it all,” Riley said.

“He started all those years ago and here we are playing in the First XI together. I think we’ve played over 100 games together now.

“When I started in the senior grades, he came down to the lower team and was our captain, and we thought I would have slingshot past him but he we are 10 years later.

“Mack played a few years ago at Laurimar and we thought a good way to get her involved was by having her as the 12th player. Hopefully she can get out there for a few overs.

“He’s always been someone who has put the club first and tried to get the best out of himself.”

Patterson has made over 7000 runs in Thomastown United colours, the most of any player in the club’s history.

He’s also played in three premierships and coached another.

“I look up to him with what he’s done and would say he’s the heartbeat of the club,” Riley said.

“Even off the field, he’s not afraid to get in and get his hands dirty. He’ll clean the club toilets if he has to.”

Mill Park will resume at 2-13 when play gets underway on Saturday.

WEEKEND REVIEW

What a weekend it was in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association.

The performance of the weekend belonged to Panton Hill’s Lewis Taylor who plundered an unbeaten 203 runs from 225 balls in the Mash Shield as his side set up a monster chase for South Morang this coming weekend.

Taylor’s stay at the crease, which lasted four hours and 45 minutes, included a whopping 32 fours and surprisingly no shots were sent over the fence.

His innings, in particular the start, came at a crucial time as he came to the crease with Panton Hill in trouble at 2-6.

Rick Ford also put together an impressive innings of power innings including 8s sixes as he posted 96 from 63 balls to help his side to 6-407 at the end of their innings.

Meanwhile in the Barclay Shield, Riverside’s clash with Macleod had absolutely everything.

Nathan Bragg posted a brilliant 131 for Riverside after they won the toss and elected to bat before going onto make 8-286 from 80 overs.

Macleod’s Tim Wise continued his sensational season with 5-28 from 18 overs in a spell which included a hat-trick.

In other Barclay Shield matches, Heidelberg posted 8-250 against North Eltham Wanderers as Peter Cashen led the way with 65 runs.

Day one between Banyule and Rosanna was a low scoring affair with the latter bowled out for just 71 before turning the match on its head to have the hosts at 9-46 at stumps.

Rosebank’s clash against Epping is a low scoring contest of its own with the hosts bowled out for 91 before having the latter 2-30 at stumps.

Remarkably, Wise’s hat-trick was not the best of the weekend.

That honour belonged to Riverside’s Tony Lander who walked away with a double hat-trick in F3 Grade against Rosanna.

He became just the second player in club history to achieve the milestone, following on from Paul Money 50 years ago.

Diamond Creek’s Juan Schaerer had the best figures of any player across the DVCA after finishing with 7-67 against Bundoora United.

THE WEEKEND’S TOP PERFORMERS

CENTURIES

203* – Lewis J Taylor, Panton Hill, Mash Shield

153 – Jayden J Bradbury, North Eltham Wanderers, B Grade

151 – Matt Macaulay, Rosanna, B Grade

146 – Ben Luker, Eltham, F2 Grade

131 – Nathan Bragg, Riverside, Barclay Shield

102 – Prince T Singh, Bundoora, Money Shield

101* – Jarryd Culph, Bundoora Park, Money Shield

FIVE-FORS

7-67 – Juan Schaerer, Diamond Creek, B Grade

7-71 – Tony J Regan, Lower Eltham, C Grade

5-8 – Nicholas Ireland, Diamond Creek, D Grade

5/12 – James Hartigan, Riverside, F1 Grade

5-18 – Niroshan Sriskandharajah, South Morang, E Grade

5-19 – Tony Lander, Riverside, F3 Grade

5-20 – Liam B Waldron, Eltham, C Grade

5-23 – Vikas Sindhu, Bundoora, C Grade

5-28 – Tim Wise, Macleod, Barclay Shield

5-44 – Ethan Kunelius, Epping, B Grade

HAT-TRICKS

4 – Tony Lander, Riverside, F3 Grade

3 – Tim Wise, Macleod, Barclay Shield