2007-08 A NEW ERA BEGINS
Club Officials:
President John Ipsen 1st year
Senior Vice
President
Ron McDonald 1st year
Junior Vice President Sean Wright 4th year
Secretary Shannon Davies 1st year
Treasurer Craig Pereira 2nd year
After a mammoth three terms as President over 26 seasons Brian Waterer handed over the reins to incoming President John Ipsen. During his stewardship of the Club Brian saw the teams numbers go from one to six and our Premiership count rise dramatically, especially over the past fifteen years. Off the field the Club enjoyed a bumper season, with increased sponsorship , the addition of a new team, bringing to seven our on field strength and upgrading of the popular “players tea” function. On field success was mixed and although we didn’t win a premiership considerable development of young players and good recruiting will stand us in good stead for the future. Three sides finished in the finals. Life Memberships were awarded to Mick Bennett and Jim Leinsasars for outstanding long term service to the club.
1st Grade Wayne Fontana started as defending Premiership captain, however due to increased family and business commitments relinquisted the job mid season and Mark Atkinson took over. Although our bowling was consistent throughout our batting let us down and even though we made the finals lost to East Fremantle in Semi Final. Mark Atikinson continued to lead from the front with 423 runs (including 11no) and 27 wickets, supported in the batting by newcomer Dale Meyer 344, Craig Pereira 330 (despite missing games with a broken hand) and Jason Cunningham 325. Bowling wise Wayne Fontana has an outstanding season, taking 47 wickets @ 10.1. Recruit Will Badger chipped in with 23 wickets.
2nd Grade Graeme Bond [Captain] Finished the season as Minor Premiers and defeated Hilton/Palmyra in the semi final, with Chris Wright taking 6/18 to rout the opposition for a low score. Lost the Grand Final to Phoenix. An up and down season with some very good cricket mixed with indifferent results. Once again Andrew Walker (no Walks, no 2nd grade !) led the batting with 369 runs, assisted by Braeme Bond, Andrew Gibbs and Brad Mant who were all in excess of 200. Chris Wright took the bowling honours with 31 wickets @ 11.3, ably assisted by Andrew Gibbs who finished with 30.
3rd Grade Shannon Davies [Captain] After a slow start stormed home to just miss the finals. The mid season recruitment of experienced player John McGuire lifted their stocks considerably. John finished the season with 315 runs (including 145). Glen Hack put in a good all round performance scoring 190 runs and taking 19 wickets. Captain Shannon Davies led the bowling with 27 wickets, assisted by Ryan McKinlay.
4th Grade [SMCA 5th Grade] Bill Greenshields [Captain] Unfortunately became the “chopping block” with an ever changing side, churning through thiry four players in the season. We never able to get a consistent team and struggled a bit. Good personal performances from Jay O’Neill – 280 runs and 17 wickets, Steve Hinchcliffe and Mark Scarterfield made over 200 runs. Recovering from injury didn’t prevent Ian Murfitt from leading the bowling with 27 wickets, assisted by Captain Bill Greenshields on 16.
5th Grade [SMCA 6th Grade] Gary Boyes [Captain] After many years playing together as a one day side Gary’s troups ventured back into the world of two day cricket with mixed results. They scored plenty of runs but struggled to contain opposition sides and had a rare finish outside the “four”. Dave Hodgettes led the way with the bat, scoring 372 runs, well assisted by perennial performers Craig Moncrieff (324), Jim Leinasars 249 and 20 wickets) and Phil Flavell (240). Dave Abercrombie took 17 wickets, despite missing the last part of the season through injury.
6th Grade [SMCA OD’A’ Grade] Last year’s Premiership one day side started the season in this grade, with Paul Petkovich as Captain, however part way through the season they sustained a metamorphosis when most of the team stopped playing and others moved to the OD ‘C’ team. Blake Carter took up the challenge of Captaining the new look side and they performed very well in the latter part of the season. Recruit Ray Thompson 362 runs and Beau Carter 324 runs (including 123no) were the stars with the bat. Paul Petkovich scoring 224 (with 107) before moving to the OD ‘C’ team. Keith Davis took 20 wickets in half a season, assisted by Ray Thompson with 11. Another recruit from Bunbury Graeme Tysoe did a great job as the new wicket keeper, taking six catches and making five excellent stumpings. In all fourty three players make their way through this grade during the season.
7th Grade {SMCA OD ‘C’ Grade] Todd Lavender [Captain] – Our newest team – predominantly a side of mates from Success who just wanted to have a game of cricket together. Gelled very well and took all before them – until the Grand Final !! Five players scored in excess of 300 runs and they finished the season Minor Premiers. Easilty defeated Southern Districts in the Semi Final, with Paul Petkovich scoring 99 and Paul Phillips taking 5/27. Unfortunately the wheels fell off the all conquering batting in the Grand Final and they were well beaten by Southern River. Despite this stumble at the final hurdle a most successful season, set to be repeated in the coming year. Captain Todd Lavender led the batting onslaught with 538 runs (including 172 and 123), with great efforts from Dale Putland (384), Paul Phillips (333), Damian Halden (327) and Glen Parise (308 – including 148). A good all round performance from Robert Blazevich with 287 runs and 23 wickets. Others amongst the wickets were Paul Phillips 27 and Todd Lavender 19.
Centuries/5 for's: details here
Trophy winners for the season:
details here