South Camberwell Cricket Newsletter
: HOWZAT – bumper pointy end of the season edition
HOWZAT is brought to you by J A Cain First National Real Estate
Dear Member/Supporter,
After many months of hard work, we have reached the pointy end of the season. The time when we put all our hard work into play as we chase glory ? down the home straight of our cricket season.
The positive from the weekend?s results is that three of our six senior teams will play in the finals. The First XI, Fifth XI and Club XI will all participate in semi finals over next the coming long weekend. The Second, Third and Fourth XIs will all have a longer than expected break, but through their conduct have made all of STC proud.
LAST WEEKEND
In a preview of next week?s Macgibbon Shield semi final, the ones took on the reigning premier, Hartwell Uniting. In the first week our boys did well to keep our opponent to 225, thanks in part to some great bowling by Danny Sotiriadis. This week it was our turn with the bat, and the boys didn?t let us down. Glenn Elliott and Luke D?Astoli showed some great form as we approach finals, but it was Aaron Johnson, coming in at number 11, that put the game beyond doubt. With the team needing six runs, our number 11 wasted no time hitting two fours from the second and fourth ball he faced. His quick thinking delivering a win, and healthy boost in confidence a week before finals.
The seconds entered this week needing an outright win to assure a finals berth. On day one, we secured the first innings victory thanks to a magnificent performance by Cam Fraser. But day two didn?t go to plan. Declaring at 5/208 our boys went about the task of bowling out St Barnabas again. This got off to a positive start, at one point we had them 3/40, before a stonewalling effort thwarted Molly?s charge at the finals. Our twos have finished fifth in Burt Shield behind four First XI teams ? an effort that cements their place as the best second XI in the comp. Well done boys, and better luck next year!
The thirds needed a win to get them over the line into the finals. They set BNB a competitive 196, and were confident of victory over the course of the week. Unfortunately, Class and the boys couldn?t get over the line, despite some magnificent fight backs during the day. Once again Beau Coyle was great and showed the promise that has many at STC looking forward to the next couple of seasons. Class did a fine job all season, and while we are all disappointed finishing fifth there no doubt Chris and his team did us proud. In particular the nucleus of young punks Loz Coleman, Ben Borg, Beau Coyle and David Kerr. See you all next year boys!
Meanwhile in deliverance country (Heathmont), the fours needed an outright to claim a finals berth. Like the twos, the fours claimed first innings points in a canter, thanks to the fine bowling of Dan Smith and the batting efforts of Stirling Lester Howson Rowe. In the second innings wickets were a little harder to claim. In the end the fours needed one more wicket and thirty odd runs to make the finals. This was a disappointing, but in the words of skipper Dicky Corbett ? hold on let?s use Peter Morrison?s words as they are easier to understand. ?The boys fought hard, now spare them Dicky, they all want a beer.? Fair play, but well done to Dicky and his team on a great season!
The fives enjoyed a week of beer and skittles as they had a bye, but the sixes needed to win to ensure a spot in the finals action. The opponent was South Camberwell, and the venue was Nettleton West. Enter Tom Bach and Rick Zambelli ? GAME OVER! Tom, en route to Queensland for sheep dog trials, made a magnificent 190 showing those in attendance what a bright future he has at our club. Rick Zambelli, the fourth STC player with a surname beginning with the letter z, made 104. Despite the fight back of our opponents, our total of 382 was far too many, and Chardy?s boys march (or limp with pride in Chardy?s case) onto the finals! Let?s go boys!
First XI ? Deepdene Uniting 225 v STC 9/228
Second XI ? STC 5/208 v St Barnabas 117 & 3/193
Third XI ? STC 196 v Blackburn North Baptist 7/200
Fourth XI ? Heathmont 135 & 9/78 v STC 183
Fifth XI ? bye
Club XI ? STC 7/382 v South Camberwell 333
JUNIOR FINALS
On the weekend, we won our first two premierships for the season! The Under 12 Reds won the E R Frampton Shield, in a team comprising many of the first Under 10s ever to play to for STC. The Under 12 Blues claimed back the R K Wilkins Shield, finishing off the season undefeated with a team competing with only 8-9 players each week. Congratulations!
This Sunday, our Under 14 Reds and Under 16 teams will compete in semi-finals of their own. The Under 14s are expected to be playing against Heatherdale at Heatherdale, and the U16s are expected to play against Camberwell at home (Nettleton). Both games commence at 11.00 am on Sunday.
We need to name one umpire for each game by this Friday, with the volunteer not to have been associated with either of the competing teams throughout the season (ruling out many junior parents unfortunately). If you are able to throw your hand up to help the kids out, please contact Stuart Hamilton directly on 0413 312 521.
If you are at a loss for something to do on Sunday, make sure you either venture down to Heatherdale, or stroll down to Nettleton to watch our future senior cricketers in action.
HODGY TAKES HOME BASIL
On Saturday night the twenty-second annual Basil Finnigan Medal count took place at Nettleton Park.
The night was filled with all the usual suspense, excitement and emotion as Basil Finnigan himself shook hands with the twenty-eighth winner of the award ? Neil Hodgson. The win capped off an excellent season for Neil, who has made more than 900 runs at the helm of the Fifth XI.
In his speech Basil pointed out that Neil was built close to the ground, and also that he was a three time second XI premiership player. In a gracious acceptance, Neil thanks Basil and commented on his enormous contribution. He also said that of all the clubs he had played cricket for, across two continents, STC was the most special in his heart.
First XI skipper Steve O?Connell topped off his excellent home and away season with a second placed finish. While old guns Julian Di Stefano and Rick Corbett were joined by future star Beau Coyle in equal third place. Well done to all players who polled votes!
19 Neil Hodgson
12 Steve O?Connell
10 Julian Di Stefano
10 Beau Coyle
10 Richard Corbett
9 Justin Murray
9 Luke D?Astoli
9 Mark Molloy
8 Glen Elliott
8 Danny Sotiriadis
8 Aaron Johnson
8 Cam Fraser
8 Rohan McDowell
8 Michael Mitchell
8 Rick Zambelli
WATCH THIS SPACE
Few annual occasions have excited people at STC as much as semi final weekend. While in recent years we have become accustomed to semi final action, for a period of the club?s history this was a treat rather that something to be expected.
In terms of finals 1998/99 was a watershed year for STC. With all four senior teams in the finals, the home and away finished as one of our best ever. Finishing fourth, Swooper Joyce?s firsts played top placed South Camberwell at Howard Dawson. We made 207, and won thanks to fine bowling performances by Mark Molloy and Bernard Docherty. It was an unexpected win, against a highly fancied opponent, and was witnessed by many STC players who finished their matches in time to get to Howard Dawson and watch the closing stages.
The twos, under the captaincy of Dicky Corbett, lost a close game at Nettleton against East Malvern RSL. While the threes were led by Paul Zennaro, and after finishing in top place beat West Hawthorn at Nettleton West. In famous circumstances Garry Chard and Aaron Tracey led a comeback. In reply to our 292, the West Hawthorn captain said at the end of the first day ?292 is like 100 on our ground?. After his team replied with 10/98 he refused to answer the question ?what is that worth on your ground??
Perhaps the most famous win came in the fours, led by captain Terry Spithill and senior campaigner Kevin Burt. En route to winning the club?s eighth flag, the fourth placed fours had to beat a Mulgrave XI that had not lost a single game all year. We batted first and a young Alex Nicholson was the hero, making a half-century. We made 235, and in turn bowled out Mulgrave for 226, after they were 5/170.
It was our happiest semi-final weekend to that stage in our history ? but better days were ahead.
CRICKET WIDOW?S CORNER
On Saturday night we crowned a new Basil winner in Hodgy and also crowned a new “singer” in Loz Colman who will take over leading the club in singing the world famous STC club song. After all the excitement from Basil night we now look to the finals campaigns of the 1’s, 5’s & 6’s. All cricket widows should be in attendance as now that the ‘pointy end’ of the season is approaching, we look forward to having a break over the winter season! So bring down your trash mags and have a gossip with the other widows!
Correction: At the recent 40th Anniversary Gala Ball, Chris “Bags” Hoare was in fact was inducted into the STC Hall of Fame, becoming one of our official club Legends.
SOCIAL SCENE
Tickets for Senior Presentation Night are on sale now. The flyer is on the website and also displayed in the clubrooms.
Venue: The Ashwood International
Date: Friday 27th April 2007
Time: 7.30 ? 12.30 pm
Cost: $55.00 Per Person
Includes: 3 course meal with beverages and entertainment
Please see Kylie Corbett (0427 377 262) or Kylie Zennaro (0417 053 613) for your tickets now. All tickets are presale only, with no tickets available at the door. If you have a preference for seating, please email kylie.zennaro@shell.com.
WEEKEND?S SEMI-FINAL GAMES
First XI ? STC v Deepdene Uniting (Swinburne Recreation Centre Oval, 45 G12)
Fifth XI ? STC v Abbotsford Anglers (Nettleton Park – East, 59 J7*)
Club XI ? Glen Iris v STC (Venue to be advised, TBA*)
No match of the round this week. Just get down to training during the week to support the boys, and make sure you are part of the STC story this weekend, as we write another chapter in our proud history during semi-final weekend 2007!
SPONSORS CORNER
Remember to support the company?s that support STC.
The Swan Hotel Richmond Ph: 9428 2112
Mortgage Choice Ph: 9824 5077
Purcell and Purcell Ph: 9741 3777
Glen Iris Milk Bar Ph: 9889 7092
And tell them you read about them in HowZat!!!
LOOKING BACK ? 40 YEARS OF STC?.
In 40 years of STC history we have had some great bowling figures, but few better than Nick Oddy?s 8/40. Nick?s best bowling performance came amidst a career of 58 games between 1994 and 2000. While Nick will always be remembered as one of STC?s true nice guys, he was also a handy all rounder at third and fourth eleven level. As we look back on our history, we salute a modern day ?Simon the likeable? ? Nick Oddy and remember the day he took 8/40!
See you at Nettleton?.
PAUL ZENNARO
Howzat Editor