Melbourne Country Week: Six debutants in MPCA side

Past and present MPCA champions presented caps to Mornington Peninsula Country Week side’s six debutants on Monday.

John Harrison with Rhys Elmi. Pic: Jason Nagel

There was a special moment before Mornington Peninsula began its Melbourne Country Week campaign on Monday morning.

In fact, there were six of them.

Half a dozen Country Week debutants were presented with their purple caps by MPCA figures ahead of the opening match against Latrobe Valley at AH Butler Oval.

Dual Country Week title winner Paul Hartle presented Long Island batsman-keeper Aiden McKenna with his cap.

Paul Hartle with Daniel Kelly. Pic: Jason Nagel

Steve Morone with Sam Holland-Burch. Pic: Jason Nagel

MPCA president Stephen Morone handed a cap to Tyabb’s 21st Country Week player, Sam Holland-Burch.

The great John Harrison gave a cap to Baden Powell star Rhys Elmi, who was finally a Country Week player after churning out over 7000 runs for his club in 15 seasons.

Sam Gove, the 16-year-old batting prodigy who has only been playing senior cricket for two years, was presented his cap by Flinders stalwart and his former junior coach Clint Munday.

Baxter and Dromana champion Dale Irving presented a cap to Baxter leg-spinner Yohan Maddege, while Long Island’s great bowler Andrew Tweddle gave Dan Kelly his purple cap.

Sam Gove.

Clint Munday and Sam Gove. Pic: Jason Nagel

When play began, Holland-Burch grabbed the opening wicket of the carnival, having Latrobe skipper Aydan Connolly caught by Kierran Voelkl as the visitors slumped to 4-41.

Bobby Wilson is skippering Mornington Peninsula for a fifth campaign.

Mornington paceman Cameron Moon missed out on making his debut on Monday after testing positive for Covid but hopes to join the squad on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Dale Irving with Yohan Maddege. Pic: Jason Nagel

Andrew Tweddle and Aiden McKenna. Pic: Jason Nagel

Pines bowler Patrick Jackson will replace him in the squad on Tuesday.

Mornington Peninsula faces Geelong, at Schramms Reserve, on Tuesday, Sale-Maffra, at Warrawee Park Reserve, on Wednesday, and Bendigo, at Walter Galt Reserve on Thursday.

The Country Week Provincial final is at the Albert Ground on Friday.

The Mornington Peninsula Country Week final 13:

Bobby Wilson (C) - Sorrento

Justin Grant (VC) - Old Peninsula

Rhys Elmi - Baden Powell

Yohan Maddege - Baxter

Kierran Voelkl - Dromana

Sam Gove - Flinders

Matt Prosser - Langwarrin

Aiden McKenna - Long Island

Daniel Kelly - Long Island

Cameron Moon - Mornington

Harley Peace-Stirling - Pines

Patrick Nagel - Rosebud

Sam Holland-Burch - Tyabb