NSDCC Annual Report 2005/2006 - Queensland Cricket

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NSDCC – 79 th Annual Report 2005-2006 Finally, I would like to thank the Crowthers, Lorix Bertling, the Keenes, my Father and the ground staff for all their help and support during the season. It ended on a sour note yet I am proud of the steps that were taken to continue Norths as a great club by these fine, giving individuals. It is a thankless task and one that should garner more respect from many players who seem to develop the “we pay, you provide attitude”. My regards to Norths on a fine season - Second in Club Championship, Four- Semi Finals, Four Grand Finals and one Premiership (Second Grade Women). Well done and see you all in August. BOB SPENCE SHIELD (FOURTH GRADE) The 2005/2006 season began with a different frame of mind to which it had ended the ‘04/05 season. Whilst many of the faces remained, the determination and mindset had changed significantly due to disappointment of the season prior and the hurt of narrowly missing a finals birth for three consecutive seasons. This spurred the boys on to perform to a standard of which the club and I as captain yearned and expected from an exceptional group of young men. 4 th grade in past seasons has been a team filled with enthusiasm, youth and talent, and ‘05/06 was no different. With only 4 players over the age of twenty (Padge, Smithy, Donny and I) playing 4 ’s consistently, we once again lacked the experience which is often required to win games of grade cricket, especially when experienced teams such as Valley (1) and (2) and Souths (1) have featured in the finals for the past 2 seasons. However this did not deter the boys’ desire to win and there is an exception to every rule. The season started well with a thorough victory over Sandgate, and a number of young bats amongst the runs, James Sully (81) went on to have a successful season whilst he was with us and in 3 rd grade before he departed our shores. From here we had a bye, went down narrowly to Souths (1) (Crowther 5/25) who were runners up last year and grand finalists again this season, followed by a wash-out which was likely to result in a probable victory over cellar-dwellers Toombul (due in most part to Steven Fryer 91 and 2/9). This was not an ideal start to the season however after a characterbuilding victory against University in which we managed to complete a full day’s batting for the second time in the season the confidence began to grow. Another young talent who will make inroads into senior teams next season was also discovered in the form of Fraser Smith (4/23). Rounds 6 and 7 saw narrow losses to Valley (1) (1 st ) and Wests (5 th ) but after Christmas the team finally started to prove the potential the club knows it possesses. An outright victory over Wynnum (Don 72), a thrashing of Redlands (Padge 4/11), a convincing and inspiring victory over Valley (2) (Padge 5/37 & 3/28) and an extremely well deserved victory over Souths (2) (Holmes 5/65, Donnelly 82*) to clinch our long yearned for finals position. Unfortunately the season was brought to an abrupt halt, not unlike past seasons for 4 th grade, by torrential rain which denied the majority of us the opportunity to play our first finals cricket. Both days versus Valley (1) were washed out. As for the formalities: Thank you to Stephen Don whose effort as captain in my absence was greatly appreciated by the team, he also managed to get himself among the runs and performed consistently with the ball. Secondly to Shane Padgett whose on and off-field wisdom and antics provided me and the boys with the confidence and determination to win and to enjoy it at the same time. We can only hope he returns next season as he taught us much about all facets of the game and is a true club man. Finally with the addition of other youngsters including Andrew Brooks and Chris Boyce (who together with myself formed the most formidable and errorless 4 th grade slip cordon since the inception of the Brisbane Grade competition), Fraser Smith and Michael Wright the future looks bright for not only 4 th grade, where they will develop as cricketers, but for the club as a whole. Also, our young opening pair, Crowther and Machin, whilst having a disappointing season by their own stringent standards still showed glimpses of brilliance and determination, which if they can couple consistently will see them playing higher grades in years to come. Alex Clifton Jones also overcame injury (amazingly) to claim 16 wickets for the season and began to find rhythm and an eagerness for pallet which Norths will only benefit from if it continues into 06/07. If I can offer one piece of advice to the team, it is that we must learn from this season and develop our games to learn that a lot can happen inside 2 days of cricket. Being such a young team, and Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club - 12
NSDCC – 79 th Annual Report 2005-2006 eager to prove ourselves, the boys must realize that if they bat a day, bowl in partnerships and remain patient and to resist temptation to ‘tap the pallet’ they will be recognized as the results will follow… ROY TANNER SHIELD (FIFTH GRADE) The 2005/2006 season would see the 5 th Grade Team finishing 8 th on the ladder, with an overall record of 5 wins and 5 losses (with 1 bye). We came tantalisingly close to making the top 4 with a last game outright win, but after a 1 st innings loss in the game; we missed out on the top 4 by 12 points. Had we won the last game outright, after a first innings win, we would have snuck into the finals. That said, as the semi-final round was unfortunately washed out the season would have been over without another game played. With the obvious disappointment that we did not make the finals, even more disappointing was the fact that the Grand Final game was played between two sides that we defeated during the season. Put simply, we lacked consistency throughout the season. The record shows that we were very competitive with Ball in hand and dominated opposition batting line-ups. The highest score against us all year was only 173 and shows that we had the opportunity to win most games and finish higher on the ladder. Our bowling was led by the ever-consistent Jason Keene, who had a stellar year with 29 wickets (including two 6 wicket plus hauls). He was ably supported by new ball partner Stephen Dionysius with 14 wickets, part-time medium pacer / part-time spinner Andrew “Roy” McIntosh (11 wickets) and emerging talents Chris McEvoy (12 wickets), Sam Harris (15 wickets) and Tom Whittle (9 wickets). Our ability to dominate opposition batting line-ups was supported by our fielding efforts, with Wicket Keeper Ben Jane completing a club high 24 dismissals (21 catches and 3 stumpings). Ben is very instinctual behind the stumps and created several wickets by keeping up to the stumps to our medium pacers and also completed some great catches. Other notable performers in the field included Jason Keene with 8 catches, Aaron Chapman (7 catches) and yours truly (9 catches and 1 stumping). We also witnessed some brilliant run-outs this year, with Stephen Dionysius’ effort for a direct hit at the non-strikers end from backward square leg, surpassed only by Jason Keene’s direct hit with only one stump to aim at from point. (Andrew Symonds would have been proud). Unfortunately Batting was our Achilles heel this year and as it was politely put to me on a few occasions during the year, “we were able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory”. Too often our batting let us down when we had very reasonable totals to chase. If only one or two of our run chases came off we would have been “morals” to reach the top 4. That said it was not all gloom and doom with the Bat, as we were led by Andrew “Roy” McIntosh with 300 runs [including his Maiden Norths Century and also a very unlucky 98 (when he was caught on the boundary trying to reach triple figures off the last ball of the day)]. Chris McEvoy also chipped in with 164 runs at an average of 54.66 (before promotion up the grades) and yours truly with 295 runs. Fifth Grade has always been a successful stepping stone in the progression of many players and overall I believe that we have built a solid nucleus to provide success for the future years and a trip back into the finals should not be far away. On field performance can only be achieved by the support provided off the field and in this regard my thanks go to Jim Whittle, who always offered his scoring services. It provided great relief to know that Jim was keeping everything correct and in such a professional manner. Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club - 13
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NSDCC Annual Report 2005/2006 - Queensland Cricket

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