Rob Quiney goes back to where it all started

A return to the field for former Test player Rob Quiney and a 500-match milestone are among the weekend’s cricket highlights.

Rob Quiney and his nephew Lachie Smith at Washington Park.

It’s not every day a Test player turns out in local cricket. But, with two players out with serious injury, Victorian great Rob Quiney returned to the field for his junior club, Washington Park, in the South East Cricket Association last Saturday. Playing in the Woolnough Shield, the competition’s second-highest grade, the affable Quiney lined up alongside his nephew, Lachie Smith. The left-hander went out at No 3 – and was out for four, caught off the bowling of Omega’s Patrick Burnell. The Sharks were rolled for 79. Quiney had a couple of hits ahead of the match, but hasn’t picked up a bat since retiring from first-class cricket. Club president Chris Gorrie said it was Quiney’s first home-and-away game for Washington Park since 1999. The Quineys are royalty at WP. The third division of SECA is named the Quiney Shield, in recognition of John Quiney, Rob’s dad and a stalwart of the Washington Park and indeed the competition. John’s daughter, Nicole, is now on the SECA board. “It was exciting to have him back, amazing. He’s a favourite son,’’ Gorrie said. “He’s definitely playing again this week and hopefully it ignites something and after Christmas he wants to play a few games. I think it’s always been a goal of his to play a little bit of cricket for the ones and see if he can get himself a flag at the Sharks, to I guess put the full-stop on his career.’’ The Sharks had lost Tom Bishop with a broken thumb and Gary Slaughter to a shoulder injury, sustained when he collided Steve Waugh-Jason Gillespie-style with a teammate as they went for a catch. Told of the unavailabilities, Quiney offered his services. “That’s the sort of blokes he is,’’ Gorrie said. “He heard the club was in a bit of duress up top. Couple that with the chance to play a game or two with his nephew, and he was in.’’

Omega’s Patrick Burnell.

BUZZ FOR BURNELL

And what a buzz for young fast bowler Patrick Burnell to claim the wicket of Quiney. He was stoked, as was the fieldsman who caught the Test man at square leg, Lochlann O’Grady. As Omega player and president “Moose’’ Delac said, “you wouldn’t want to be the one dropping Bobbie Quiney’’. “I think he (O’Grady) was more excited than the bowler,’’ he said. Delac said his team enjoyed playing against an “obviously underdone’’ Quiney, who after the match had a few beers and gave a few pointers to the Omega players. He’d also stood at square leg as umpire for 20 overs after he was dismissed. “He’s a class act of a human being, just a beautiful guy,’’ Delac said.

DIGGLE DIG WIGGLES WIN

Still on the South East Cricket Association, and Chris Diggle is getting a reputation as one of the best players in the competition. He was in the runs again for East Sandringham on Saturday as the Zebras remained undefeated in Longmuir Shield with a hard-fought win over Kingston Heath. The Heath put up 9-206 and claimed two early wickets. Rain came and a couple of wickets fell. But Diggle, who had Premier Cricket stints at Prahran and Kingston Hawthorn, finished unbeaten on 106 off 100 deliveries to continue his stellar season, East Sandy reaching 6-207. He’s up to 266 runs from four hands, and has been dismissed twice.

BANNON THE DESTROYER

Ashburton Willows youngster William Bannon had never taken a wicket before Sunday’s Under 10s match against Richmond Union Murray in the Eastern Cricket Association. Not only did William collect his first wicket, he completed a hat-trick. He returned extraordinary figures of 3-2 from two overs as his team won by 24 runs. Not a day the young gun will forget in a hurry.

Thomastown Cricket Club president Steve Rattray-Wood before his 500th game in the DVCA. Picture: Supplied

RATTRAY-WOOD REACHES 500

Thomastown president Steve Rattray-Wood notched a major milestone on Saturday as he made his 500th appearance. Rattray-Wood joined Thomastown in 1972 and spent about 15 years in the First XI before becoming a dominant performer in the Second XI. The club failed to mark the 64-year-old’s achievement with victory, with Bundoora Park prevailing in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association D Grade fixture.

UNITED’S MILESTONE MAN

Thomastown United had its own milestone man at the weekend, with Glenn ‘Fuzz’ Kernaghan also reaching the 500-game mark. Kernaghan joined United in 1976-77 and has served as a captain and committeeman for the seniors and juniors off the ground while racking up 4500 runs, more than 500 catches and 61 stumpings. United celebrated the occasion with a five-wicket win over South Morang in Saturday’s DVCA F3 Grade match.

EMP’s Natalie Schilov.

SCHILOV SHARP

The season may not be going to plan so far for reigning Premier Women’s premier Essendon-Maribrynong Park but Natalie Schilov has been nothing but impressive. The Bombers stalwart has scored back-to-back 70s and is averaging 58 in the opening three rounds. The EMP life member is on track for a potential career season in her 16th year with the club.

DASHING DILAN

Sunbury United’s Dilan Chandima’s charmed start to the season continued on Saturday as he brought up his second century in the opening three matches. The Bees star now has scores of 143 not out, 47 and 152 not out to start the Gisborne District CA McIntyre Shield season. uch has been the glut of runs scored, United boast the top three players on the competition run charts.

BOUNCING BACK

Tough love at Plenty Valley. After bowling the First XI to victory last week, Julian Drohan found himself in the Second XI of Subbies on the weekend. However, the 17-year-old took it in his stride and put on a fine display with bat and ball against Preston. He hit 27 not out with the bat before claiming 2-9 from his six overs with the ball.

CLASSY KUMARA

It didn’t take Lahiru Kumara long to make an impact at Melton Centals. In just his third game for the VTCA Division 4 club, Kumara smashed an unbeaten century and took a wicket in the weekend’s win over Footscray United. Opening the batting, Kumara scored 102 not out with 7 fours and 1 six before picking up a key scalp for figures of 1-12 off five overs.

FIRST TON

A maiden VSDCA century for Preston’s Anton Basanisi in the Third XI on Saturday. Returning to the Bullants for the first time since 2014-15, Basanisi smashed the Plenty Valley attack to all parts, making 111 from just 82 balls with eight boundaries and half a dozen sixes.

There was a duel at 22 yards on Saturday at Holbrook Reserve in Brunswick. Wicks’ Fourth XI opener Lewis Bouckley started with a slashing 115 from just 102 balls that included 10 fours and three sixes. However, St Bernard’s counterpart Sean Hefter won the battle and the war with a dominant 135 not out as the Snowdogs claimed victory on the second last ball.

PHILLIPS HAT-TRICK

With rain arriving in midafternoon there was only one completed match in the Dandenong District Cricket Association’s Turf 1 section on Saturday, with Narre South defeating HSD. That was due in part to a hat-trick from Tim Phillips, who captured 3-6 off seven overs as HSD fell for 92. It was an unassisted hat-trick too: there were two LBWs and a bowled. Narre South got the runs one wickets down in 10.1 overs.