2002/2003 Report - B8 Grade
A season where we struggled for consistency, largely due to the difficulty with putting the same bodies on the field regularly. We only ever had 10 full-time players, but had a large list of reserves. Unfortunately most of these were very rarely available. It was only due to an allegiance with the Under 14/1 team mid-season, that we did not play short most matches. Adam Williams helped as often as he was available with the 14/I training and almost half their team played at least one game with us. There was another area where these enthusiastic youngsters aided the B8's - they brought our average age down towards 30!
Despite the setbacks, we were still in the semi-final hunt up to the last couple of rounds. Maybe next season some of the young "gun" teams below us can play this sort of level and the "fossils" from B8 can have a run in a double-digit grade.
THE TEAM
Tim Chesher: "Puss" was our token teenager. Player with talent to burn. When he learns to relax more, things will start to click and he'll wonder why it all seemed so hard at times. Destined for bigger things than playing with the geriatrics.
Mark Elliot: "Biff" is the sort of player every team needs. There is no situation that cannot be handled with a severe case of levity. Had some interesting run-ins during the season, notably with one Greystanes player and also an eccentric umpire.
Neil Jackson: Back after a couple of seasons off. Probably disappointed at his stats by his own standards, but was arguably the most consistent with both bat and ball through the entire season. Also the only player to reach double figures in catches ... despite fielding at mid off. Winner of the Fielding Award.
Craig Moreman: The skipper led by example, having one of his better seasons for a while with the bat. Repeatedly left high and dry as the tail folded around him.
Tim Pittman: Enthusiastic fielder that never minds putting his life on the line at "stupid" mid off. Always willing to put the bad ball away ... the only problem being that Timbo thinks they are all bad balls
David Pring: "Beard" would be one of the best eye batsmen around, taking the Batting Award easily. Would often look likely to give a chance, but just keep hitting them in the middle. Bowling not as penetrating as in recent seasons, although still good enough to take the Bowling Award again also.
Ian Scollay: Another returning from a break, who will do better next season. Baseball skills often demonstrated admirably while batting. Discovered old spin bowling skills in the second half of the season, to give us some useful variation.
Peter Touzel: Saved some of his better efforts for when filling in for higher grades. A couple of good innings, but lacked the consistency needed to give the team solid starts required as an opener.
Darren Vawser: "Dot" really took on the strike bowler role this season, unfortunately without a lot of luck. Lack of games cost him the one wicket needed to qualify for the Bowling Award. Has the same attitude to "bad balls" as Timbo.
Adam Williams: Took on the full-time keeper role this season and it seemed to put extra pressure on batting near the top of the order. Kept asking to be allowed to "keep" at cover/mid off because "That's where all the catches are going!" Great team man, who took on some of the administrative duties this season.
Andrew Harrington: "Unit" was one of our reserves who only was able to play a couple of games. Showed glimpses of what he could have done with the ball if he had played regularly.
Gerard Kenny: Played the most matches of our reserves, although still had limited opportunities to shine. Did better than almost all the regular players ... by being able to attend the Presentation Night.
Corey Matthews: Another reserve who, in his rare cameo appearances, showed enough for us to want to see him playing full-time next season. Frustrated Ads by taking half as many catches keeping in one game, as Ads managed in the rest of the season!
Chris Medd: Meddy had one game with us this season and was barely able to crack the rust. Hopefully we will see him on a regular basis again soon.
Greg McLoughlin: Under 16 player who made one guest appearance, before deciding we weren't good enough and becoming a regular in B6.
Des Pillay: Another Under 16 who was due to play in the same game ... eventually made an appearance halfway through the first Saturday ... didn't even bother the second week ... although living walking distance from the groundl
Brodie Field, Troy Higginbotham, John Jerome, William Jewitt and Robert Scott: The Under 14/1 connection. All played at least one game, some two or three. An extremely talented group of young men, who can already handle senior cricket quite comfortably. They will go on to much bigger and better things when they finish their junior careers.
Again a big thank you to the reserves and juniors who helped us to get a full team on the park most games. Hopefully all the "Old Farts Eleven" from B8 will be back next season and, if any of those "kiddies' that played with us this season want to backup in the afternoon regularly next season, I will gladly change the team nickname to accommodate them!
Peter Touzel
Team Scribe
B8 GRADE - STATISTICS 2002/2003 BATTING Player Innings N.O. H.S. Runs Average Catches David Pring 10 1 81 397 44.11 1 William Jewitt 1 0 29 29 29.00 0 Craig Moreman 9 6 39 83 27.67 1 Neil Jackson 11 1 54 256 25.60 10 Robert Scott 2 0 29 33 16.50 2 Peter Touzel 12 0 73 172 14.33 5 Ian Scollay 10 0 33 135 13.50 3 Mark Elliot 11 0 48 125 11.36 2 Tim Chesher 11 0 28 97 8.82 1 Adam Williams 12 0 24 105 8.75 6 John Jerome 3 1 11 14 7.00 4 Tim Pittman 10 0 18 68 6.80 6 Greg McLoughlin 1 0 6 6 6.00 0 Corey Matthews 3 1 8 9 4.50 5 Darren Vawser 8 0 19 32 4.00 3 Gerard Kenny 4 1 5 12 4.00 1 Andrew Harrington 2 1 2 3 3.00 1 Brodie Field 2 0 4 4 2.00 0 Chris Medd 1 0 1 1 1.00 0 Troy Higginbotham 2 0 2 2 1.00 2
BOWLING Player Overs Maidens Wickets Runs Average Peter Touzel 1.1 0 2 9 4.50 William Jewitt 2 0 2 13 6.50 Robert Scott 6 3 1 12 12.00 Neil Jackson 67.3 7 16 236 14.75 Darren Vawser 85.2 15 21 326 15.52 Adam Williams 5.1 0 1 17 17.00 David Pring 150 24 27 506 18.74 Ian Scollay 70 7 13 263 20.23 Andrew Harrington 7 2 2 42 21.00 Troy Higginbotham 16 2 3 78 26.00 Mark Elliot 55 5 8 225 28.13 Craig Moreman 54.3 2 9 286 31.78 Tim Chesher 13 0 2 133 66.50 Brodie Field 2 0 0 6 - Chris Medd 3 0 0 8 - Gerard Kenny 2 0 0 26 - John Jerome 4.4 0 0 37 -