|
AIRPORT WEST ST.CHRISTOPHERS CRICKET CLUB INC.
REUNION 2003
INTRODUCTION
The Airport West St.Christophers Cricket Club Inc. (APWSTCCC) celebrated 10 years of existence since Airport West Cricket Club (APWCC) and St.Christophers Cricket Club (StCCC) amalgamated to form APWSTCCC. A memorable night attended by close to 200 people at the clubrooms was held in February 2003.
What a 10 years it has been; plenty of action both on and off the field, with APWSTCCC proud to continue the great traditions & successes of both APWCC & StCCC.
THE AMALGAMATION
The amalgamation occurred in time for the start of the 1992/93 cricket season. At the end of the 91/92 season, representatives of both APWCC & StCCC got together and restarted amalgamation discussions that had previously been held, on & off, for many years proceeding the early nineties. There had been lengthy debate as to why such a close knit community would play football together in the winter, and be best of mates, yet when October came around, those same ‘mates’ would become bitter enemies whilst representing their respective cricket clubs. Surely it was now time to 'bite the bullet' and gain the benefits and synergies from merging two clubs into one? Discussions continued to the point were recommendations were made back to the members of each club as to how the amalgamated body could work to the benefit of both clubs. After further meetings, respective club members voted in favour of the amalgamation. Airport West St.Christophers Cricket Club was formed. Key points agreed to as part of the amalgamation included :-
· Use of the Hansen Reserve clubrooms as the club’s main base.
· Turf cricket being the preferred playing surface.
· All history and honours bestowed by both clubs to be continued by the amalgamated club.
· Club colours to be green & white.
TWO GREAT CLUBS
Of course the success of APWSTCCC was built on the strong traditions and on-field successes of its predecessor clubs. Both APWCC & StCCC shared great on-field success and strong leadership off the field. The clubs were great clubs in their own right and had earnt the respect of opposition clubs throughout the EBKCA community. Equally, there was a healthy, if begrudging, respect for each other. This was borne partly from the 'next door neighbour' mentality, as well as the fact that most players knew each other, and were mates. Every match between APWCC & StCCC was billed as the 'grudge match' of the season - the one match that each club wanted to win badly. Many epic battles took place, whether it was in the 1sts, 2nds, lower divisions or juniors. If you were playing in an APWCC versus StCCC match, you knew you were in for a real battle.
It is worth mentioning and remembering some of the great players and personalities of each club. First of all, refer to the 'club history' page which details the 'BEST XI' from each club as voted at the 1997 reunion. Great names for APWCC such as Laurie Jarman, John Swale, Ron Euesden, Gary Thomas, Mark Schuhkraft, Kevin Hogan and Craig Mitchell (to name a few) just roll off the tongue. Similarly StCCC playing 'legends' included Anthony Brown, Jack Hogan, Alan Trainor, Neville Thorne, Ron Makin and of course, Steve Thompson.
But it wasn't just great 1st XI players that formed the fabric and backbone of the clubs. There were many great personalities who enjoyed their cricket and contributed to the success of the clubs, whether in the 1sts or whether playing in the lower grades. There are literally hundreds of such players, as well as supporters and volunteers (too many to mention but you know who you are – most are here tonight!).
Off the field, the reputations of both clubs were enhanced by the loyalty, hard-working attitude and administrative skills of many. Such an important part of any club is to ensure that the club remains successful on the field, as well as off it. This takes hard work over many hours - all voluntary of course! Well done and congratulations to all who were part of the Committee, or just volunteered their services throughout the APWCC and StCCC eras. Airport West St.Christophers C.C. would not exist today if not for you.
1992/93 - THE FIRST YEAR
With such a great base to build from, the amalgamated club in 1992 commenced writing its own successful chapter in the history of the club/s. Straight after the amalgamation there were 2 pressing issues to deal with - (a) what competition to play in next season and (b) the search for a new Captain/Coach. Firstly, the club had confirmed that turf cricket was the pathway forward for the new club. APWCC had played in the EBKCA Giddings turf competition for the previous 3 seasons, whilst StCCC had played on the mats in the EBKCA Luscombe Shield comp. The immediate problem was that EBKCA had decided to disband its turf competition, which left our club, as well many others, without a competition. Accordingly approaches were made to the Victorian Junior Cricket Association, which was a solely turf competition, and although their name was a bit misleading, a very well respected competition with its own long history of quality 'senior' cricket. Our new club, as well as the other ex-EBKCA turf clubs, was duly accepted into this comp. The other burning question was who was going to be the inaugural on-field leader of the club? Would it be an ex-APWCC, or ex-StCCC or someone new to the club? The Committee debated this question for some time, with no obvious candidates from APWCC or StCCC standing out. Captain/Coach adverts were sent out and one reply was received - Joe Resegati. "Resa" as he was quickly to be known by, fitted the bill of what the club seeked - a player with the credentials to be a top player and Captain/Coach, and just as importantly, an 'outsider' who brought with him no baggage or bias in relation to either APWCC or StCCC. As the season unfolded. 'Resa' proved to be a great asset to the club, both on and off the field, and equally important was the recruit he brought with him, opening bowler Michael Blake.
Competition for places in the 1st XI was fierce - both ex-APWCC & ex-StCCC players competed based on ability alone for regular births in the 1st XI. Training numbers were excellent and the club fielded 5 senior teams : 1st XI (VJCA Nth Central 1 - turf), 2nd XI (VJCA Nth Central 2), 3rd XI (EBKCA 'D' Grade), 4th XI (EBKCA 'E' Grade) and 5th XI (EBKCA One-Day comp.). Similarly junior numbers were good and a team was fielded at U/16, U/14 & U/12 levels.
For the record, the inaugural 1st XI team to represent APWSTCCC was : Joe Resegati (c), Anthony Brown (vc), Martin Iles (vc), Craig Mackley, Alan Torrance, Nathan Wilson, Michael Benham, Alex Spyrou, Glenn Spicer, Stephen Thompson and Michael Blake. A good mix of both APWCC & StCCC players.
The 1st XI proved to be a very good side. The bowling attack of Blake, Spyrou, Thompson, Allen, with support from Brown, Benham & Iles, was an excellent combination and as the season unfolded, was clearly our strength. Blakey and Thommo regularly proving too good for the opposition. The batting held its own, and whilst brilliant one week, was occasionally inconsistent. However the team did bat well down the order, and regularly post defendable scores. Mick Benham was undoubtedly the standout batsmen. Also behind the stumps, Joe Resegati proved to be an excellent wicket-keeper (36 dismissals). By the end of the home & away matches, we were undefeated and on top of the ladder. Of course come finals time, being undefeated all season can prove as much a hindrance as an asset. All the pressure was on us against Doutta Stars down at Cooper Street. We bowled first and yet again, the bowlers did not let the team down. Doutta's all out for 134 with Blake (3 wkts), Spyrou (2), Thommo (2) & Mushy (2) all taking wickets. Cometh the hour, cometh the man and Anthony Brown, one of the best bats ever produced by StCCC, made an outstanding century. We passed the score with only 3 wickets down and APWSTCCC 1st XI was into the Grand Final. The GF was played against North Old Boys and we controlled the match. Bowling first on a wicket doing a bit, Michael Blake was outstanding - figures of 6/20 speak for themselves. 'NOBS' all out for 96. The run chase was tough; we slumped to 6/82 and Martin Iles had a broken arm. It was the 'Golden Greek' Alex Spyrou who stood tall and ensured we passed the total and then some. Alex making 42n.o. and the team score finished 148. NOBS batted again & it was a similar story - Blake (2), Thommo (3), Mushy (2) & Spyrou (3) doing the damage - NOBS all out for 85. We only required 34 runs to win. We did so with no dramas and premiership glory was ours. A fantastic achievement to all involved with the team and club. The 1st XI premiership team being :- Joe Resegati (c), Anthony Brown (vc), Martin Iles (vc), Craig Mackley, Alan Torrance, Michael Benham, Dean Corboy, Alan Torrance, Alex Spyrou, Stephen Thompson and Michael Blake.
The 2nd XI also shared in premiership glory, although this would of appeared impossible to some at Christmas time considering their poor form and lowly position on the ladder. The team was being ridiculed and friendly jibes and match challenges from the 5th XI were commonplace. The team turned it around, and then some! All players found form when it counted most. The premiership was as sweet as any could get - TD (Tim Doyle), Wags (Steve Allen), Stix (Adam Needham), Daisy (Steve Dolan), Chippa (Paul Spicer - Capt..), Scrubber (Damien Iles), Legend (Glenn Spicer), Patto (Gary Paterson), Spurry (Scott Spurr), Willo (Nathan Wilson) and Eats (Cameron Eaton) enjoyed every moment. Great individual highlights during the season included Tim Doyle's magnificent 181 (all after tea) versus Melbourne Central and Adam Needham scoring 6 sixes in 1 over versus Latrobe Uni.
The 'triple crown' was achieved when the 3rds also capped off a top year with a 'flag'. Ably lead by President Rod Kent, the 3rds were a strong unit throughout the season and dominated the Grand Final vs East Keilor. Outstanding finals performances from the 2 "Robbie's" - Summerhill & Evans were highlights, along with excellent contributions from Dave Preston, Rod & Mick Kent.
The 4th XI was thereabouts but never really challenged for a finals birth. Gary Starzer, Neil Hammond & Eddie Michael all having good seasons. The same could not be said for the 'Social XI' - the 5ths. This team oozed natural ability and won many games throughout the season with consummate ease. However, application was not their strong point. The boys were extremely confident & cocky going into the finals. Unfortunately they fell at the final hurdle, losing a close match in the GF. The 'choker' tag was quickly applied and one these boys would never lose.
Wow - what a first year. Three premierships, another team in a GF, and a great positive vibe around the club.
1993/94
The second season proved to a memorable one for a myriad of reasons. Most importantly, the amalgamated club was able to install a turf wicket on the Etzel Street oval. This was a huge step forward so as to guarantee the continued success of the club. We did not wish to continue to play home matches down at our 'temporary home' of the Northern Metropolitan College of TAFE in Parkville. Thus, the 1st & 2nd XIs now had a new home back at Airport West.
On-field success continued with the 1st XI again proving to be a top team. We made the finals after finishing the year with 7 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses. However, our performance in the semi-final was ultimately embarrassing. Our bowlers certainly did the job as we dismissed Newport East for 157, although we did have them 5/17 at one point. Unfortunately our batting was abysmal - all out for 58. A disappointing end to what was a promising season. From an individual perspective, season 93/94 did herald the arrival of Alan Torrance as a genuine top batsman. Alan made 435 runs for the season. Other bats to perform well included Nathan Wilson, Joe Resegati, Geoff Larkin and Craig Mackley. With the ball, for the second season running, it was the Blakey & Thommo show. Both bowlers taking 40 wickets each - an outstanding effort. Steve Thompson's 8 for 50 versus Strathmore a real highlight.
The 2nds at no stage showed the form that took them to a premiership in 92/93. The odd good performance was mixed in with many poor performances and this saw us finish 9th on the ladder. Andrew Goodman and Damien 'Red Ink' lles were easily the best bats, whilst Adam Needham was the pick of the bowlers, giving 100% as always when bowling.
After winning the flag in North E, the 3rds were inappropriately promoted 2 divisions to Stringer Shield (playing against 2nd XI teams). Initially they struggled but as the season progressed, they found their feet and became competitive, finishing 8th with 5 wins. Bruce Plant captained the team and he had good support from Mick & Rod Kent.
The 4ths were unlucky to miss the finals - 5 wins & 5 losses meant they finished in 5th. Steve Monks (Capt.), Neil Green, Peter Larkin, Grant Spurr and Bob Warchulski all having good seasons.
The Social 5ths were again a very good team. Unfortunately, again, they faltered when it mattered most. This time they were defeated in the semi-finals. Shane Kenny & Rob Zannelini were the best of the bats, whilst Matt Gatt, Ray Kenny & Wayne Kirk were best with the ball.
Special mention to U/16 players Luke Macumber and Lendi Pittard who recorded a 2nd wicket batting partnership of 198 against Batman-Faulkner; this is still currently a APWSTCCC club record.
It would be remiss not to mention that season 93/94 was also highlighted by off-field dramas. Resignation of the President, question marks as to the validity of the amalgamation, accusations and counter-accusations meant that APWSTCCC was into its first turbulent period. The end result of this uncertainty did mean that members were given the opportunity to confirm their support of the amalgamation - they did so by a large majority. The new incorporated (amalgamated) body was finalised and the matter put to rest. However, there were flow-on implications and there can be no doubt that this off-field uncertainty contributed to the playing performance of our 1st XI and other teams. Note that the purpose of documenting this is to simply record the fact that these events did indeed happen and whether we like it or not, they have their own place in the history of the club.
1994/95
Joe Resegati was reappointed for his 3rd year in charge. We lost a few players at the start of the year with the retirements of Larkin, Brown & Thompson. This was partly offset by the return of ex-St.Christophers all rounder Brendan Farrell. 'Faz' proved to be a very good player in this season and was the leading wicket taker (22) as well as making a few runs. A big blow to our finals aspirations occurred when Michael Blake moved interstate due to work commitments. Up until that point, Blakey was again bowling well and had 13 wickets to his name. It is hard to replace a player who had taken 99 wickets in two and a half seasons. Still, we were very competitive and ultimately finished one spot out of the finals - 4 wins, 4 losses and a draw. Craig Mackley had a top season and deservedly won the batting average (355 runs @ 44.38). Other good performers included Al Torrance, Resa and Nath Wilson. Also good to see Gary Paterson have a fine season with the ball.
The 2nd XI struggled again, finishing in 8th position. Three wins (1 outright) and 6 losses (1 outright) showed the inconsistency of the team. Again it was 'Scooby' Goodman who showed his teammates what a bit of 'G&D' can do - Andy winning the batting average with 258 runs @ 36.86. Steve Dolan and Mick Kent were other good bats. With the ball, Glenn Spicer took the bowling honours (26 wkts @ 13.04), whilst Rod Kent and Anthony Walsh bowled plenty of good overs as well.
The 3rds finished the season in 7th place - 3 wins & 6 losses (2 outright). Grant Spurr had a fine season when playing in the 3rds - 262 runs from 5 matches proof of that. Neil Green also did well. Best of the bowlers was Andrew Borysiak (20 wkts @ 13.75) whilst Mario Como and Bob Warchulski toiled hard.
Unfortunately, the 4ths were not competitive. We were clearly struggling to fill regulars in this team with a high turnover of players resulting. 7 matches for 7 losses (4 outright) tells the story. Joe Holland and Andrew Murray were the only shining lights.
The Social 5ths again had a strong team but were defeated in the quarterfinals. Clearly the highlight of the season was a magnificent batting effort from John Psaltis who bludgeoned his way to 203 not out versus Aberfeldie. This is still an APWSTCCC club record to this day. John & Paul Lambert both had top seasons with the bat, as did Angelo Gentile and Ricky Krantz with the ball.
1995/96
After three years at the helm, Joe Resegati did not reapply for the Captain/Coach position due to work commitments. The top job was given to one of the club’s favourite sons in Alan Torrance. The club recruited well in picking up two ex-juniors and quality cricketers in Glen Jones and Mark Tapungao. However results on the field were not as successful as we were hoping. Our batting was held together by 4 mainstays – Torrance, Jones, Mackley & Wilson; after that it fell away dramatically and no team can afford to only bat down to #4. Bowling was fair and most times competitive, but it lacked penetration. Gary Paterson and Tappy were the most successful bowlers. We finished the year in 7th position with 4 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses.
Unfortunately drama was to unfold well after season end when it was time for the VTCA to announce their promotion & relegations for the upcoming season. Unbelievably, the VTCA had elected to relegate us to the North B1 competition, despite the fact that we had finished 7th and 3 teams finished below us on the ladder. No official explanation was ever given to us by the VTCA although unofficially, they felt that we were on a downward spiral (1st in 92/93, 4th in 93/94, 5th in 94/95 & 7th in 95/96). This fact still did not sit comfortably with us and one we feel was not a justification to relegate us. Regardless, we had no choice but to wear this disgraceful & unjustified decision and get on with cricket at Airport West St.Christophers C.C. It certainly gave us an insight into how the VTCA was run at this time, in the cruellest possible manner. Refer to season 96/97 and how we answered this in the best possible manner.
Back to 95/96 and the 2nd XI enjoyed minimal success throughout the season. Two wins (1 outright) were dispersed between many losses. The batting was poor in most matches and the bowling not a great deal better although a young David Knight showed some excellent signs with the ball.
The 3rds had a fairly good season and just missed out on a finals spot. Captained by Joe Holland, a combination of experience and youth saw this team get better as the season progressed. The star performer was Peter Ewels; a name to make many more runs in seasons to come. Ewelsy batted superbly, making 267 runs @ 53.40. Best of the bowling was again Andrew Borysiak who just keeps putting the ball on the stumps and batsmen keep missing it! Good also to see youngsters in David Kosnar & Brett Jackisch take some wickets.
A new look 4th XI was formed in 95/96 with the team being entered in the NWCA Veterans competition – a one-day format with a minimum qualification age of 35. Conrad White was given the tough task of leading this ‘mob’ of old fellas, some who had played cricket in a past life, and others who had bowled to the kids in the backyard. Names such as Mick O’Dwyer, Eddie Michael, John Flannery, Martin Ashworth, Graham Dolby and Jim Farrell formed the nucleus of the team. The old guys initially struggled and recorded only 2 wins from 16 starts in their inaugural season. However, there was a pioneering spirit amongst the team and the majority of them would come back and play for many seasons to come. A new team and camaraderie had been formed. For the record, Odie Snr won the batting average with Eddie Michael taking out the bowling honours.
The Social 5th XI continued on with Victor Psaltis now in charge. The talent was still there but a more subdued attitude was prevalent in the team. Perhaps wary of past campaigns that had not grasped the Holy Grail! Plenty of runs as always in this format with Angelo Gentile, John Psaltis and Paul Lambert the big run-makers. Wayne Kirk had a great year with the ball taking 29 wickets. Victor Psaltis and Shane Kenny also claiming quite a few opposition scalps. The team made it to the grand final but unfortunately were not good enough on the day.
Let the club history also record that a 6th XI team was formed, playing in a one-day grade of the NWCA (not the Vets). This team played approximately 10 matches, but only recorded 2 wins. Numbers and interest dwindled around Christmas to the point where the team was withdrawn before season end. Dave Preston, Kevin Wylie and Glen Sparks played most of these matches and made some runs, whilst Alex Starzer, Anthony Walsh and Presto got some wickets.
1996/97
Relegation to North B1 was a real kick in the teeth. However, the club accepted the VTCA’s decision and got on with cricket. Importantly, key players remained at the club and their was an "us versus them' steeled mentality about the 1st XI. Alan Torrance was reappointed Capt/Coach with Glen Jones VC. It would be fair to say that the standard of competition in the North B1 competition falls away quickly with the exception of say 4 or 5 teams. Still, you can only defeat who you play and this is exactly what we did. Tozza (550 runs @ 42.31) and Jonesy (548 runs @ 68.50) were superb throughout the season, regularly making big scores and leading us to victory. Other goods batsmen included 'Knackers' Mackley and Nath Wilson. With the ball, Jonesy was again magnificent, taking 31 wickets. Great support from Mushy Allen, Tappy, Adam Needham and young spin bowler Glenn Krepp. We went through the season undefeated. Come finals time, we were under pressure in the Semi against Aberfeldie. We were defending a modest total and in reply, Abers were well placed at tea. However, Mark Tapungao stepped up and bowled a memorable spell to skittle the Abers middle order. We were into the GF and our opponents were neighbors' Keilor Park. The GF was rain affected and we batted first. Alan Torrance got us off to a flyer and he finished with 41 runs. Good innings from Glen Jones (32) and Glen Krepp (24) helped us consolidate and we finished all out for 173. In reply, KP was cruising at one point and we were in real trouble. However, in a carbon copy of the semi final, Mark Tapungao produced a match-winning spell and KP was dismissed for 139. Tappy finishing with the great figures of 6/46. We batted again and at 4/86, KP called it quits, the premiership was ours. Phil Holland making an excellent 37n.o. in the 2nd dig. This was a truly team effort - this team stuck together and did the club proud. It is also worth mentioning that this team was a magnificent fielding team who prided themselves on excellence in the field. A total of 16 run outs during the season were testament to that.
The 2nd XI was also a strong team, especially in light of the fact we had dropped a grade. Ray Kenny was in charge, and with Peter Ewels, these two had excellent seasons with the bat. A young Luke Macumber played the full season in the 2nds and showed plenty of talent. Paul Lambert and Steve Dolan were also consistent run-makers, with Dooby Trainor producing some cameos. Scrubber Iles and Ricky Krantz duelled it out all season for top bowling honours, both having excellent seasons. Brett Jackisch was another to bowl well. The boys made the finals fairly easily and had no problems winning their semi final. However, the GF against a committed Aberfeldie ultimately ended in disappointment with the pennant going to Abers.
The 3rds had an up and down season. Winning one week, losing the next – 5 wins and 6 losses tells the story. The Kent boys were in charge (Mick – Capt., and Rod giving plenty of advice). Thankfully Rod’s advice did not extend to Mick’s batting because Mick had an outstanding season, making 507 runs @ 56.33. Well done Mick! With the ball, Rod still had a few tricks up his sleeve and was the pick of the bowlers. Special mention for his performance against Aberfeldie where he took 9 for 32; still a club record today. Steve Carroll was a youngster he showed plenty of promise, with both bat & ball, during this 3rd XI season.
The Vets saddled up for their second season and were clearly still learning the ropes. Unfortunately they did not win a match in the entire season, and whilst this was disappointing, it never stopped the guys from enjoying the game and each other’s company. Michael Leach (bat) and Eddie Michael (ball) were the best performed. Special mentions to Graham Dolby, Ken Molloy and Jim Farrell.
The Social 5ths, into their 5th consecutive year, were stating to wane. After so many near misses, alot of the players had either ‘retired’ or were now playing in the higher grades. Danny Erickson stuck up his hand and took on the Captaincy. He and Matty Gatt were the best of the bowlers although both did take a hammering at times. Stand out with the bat was Trevor Harbinson who had a top season. The boys finished 9th and missed the Qtr Finals format.
1997/98
After only one season in the North B1 competition, we were promoted back up to North A1. A young Glen Jones was given his debut opportunity to Captain/Coach with Alan Torrance in support (a reversal from last season). As so often happens, the jump in standard proves tough and we struggled. Three wins, one draw and eight losses meant we finished 8th on the ladder. This was enough to stay in North A1 but still a fairly disappointing and tough season. Glen Jones was the standout player winning the club championship as well as the competition’s ‘player of the year’ award. His batting was solid and his bowling proved to be his strong point. Good support came from John Psaltis and Alan Torrance with the bat whilst Mark Tapungao had a good season with the ball. However the team played inconsistent cricket – batting OK one week then it failed, and the reverse would apply to the bowling.
The 2nd XI were the form team of the club in 97/98 with them finishing semi finalists. Ray Kenny was in charge and he showed good leadership throughout the season. Young Nathan Taylor, in his first ‘Seniors’ season, proved to be a fine batsman, scoring 240 runs for the year. Other notable performers included Angelo Gentile & Steve Dolan with the bat, whilst Damien Iles and Ricky Krantz again formed the backbone of the bowling attack.
The 3rd XI struggled badly, recording only 3 wins for the year. Some of the younger guys in Matthew Hall, Nathan Daws, Phil Peel and David Kosnar showed some promise, and big Jack was again the pick of the bowlers.
The Vets were now proving to be a good team, this being their 3rd season together. However when it mattered most they were found wanting, losing in the Qtr finals. Still, you need to put things into perspective and the Vets had been having a great time, thoroughly enjoying their cricket and drinking a few light beers after the match. The club has enjoyed having these blokes around – a win/win situation. Ken Molloy, Jim Farrell and Martin Ashworth were the best batsmen whilst Alan Peters was easily the pick of the bowlers.
No Social 5th XI team could be filled this season.
1998/99
This proved to be a very disappointing season; one where we had a good team but the 1st XI got into the bad habit of not knowing how to win matches. Regularly we would get ourselves into either competitive or winning positions, and then falter. We had no one to blame but ourselves. At the start of the season we appointed Darren Duscher, from Port Melbourne Colts as Captain/Coach. This looked like being a strong appointment but to the disappointment of all, after only one match, he declared himself unavailable due to work commitments. This was a huge blow to team and club alike. Alan Torrance took over the Captain/Coach role. Glen Jones had decided to try his luck at Flem/Ken. On a more positive note, it was also the debut season for Ross Malcolm, a recruit who would prove himself to be of the highest calibre. By the end of season we had recorded only 2 wins, which placed us in the precarious position of finishing 2nd last. In the ensuing months, our fears of relegation were confirmed by the VTCA. From an individual perspective it was great to see Luke Macumber win the batting average virtue of the fact he scored his maiden 1st XI century in the 2nd innings of the last match. Paul Spicer and Ross Malcolm were also consistent performers with the bat. Mark Tapungao bowled his heart out and took 26 wickets for the season.
The 2nds finished fifth, just missing a birth in the finals. Always competitive, the team looked the goods but managed to lose a couple of close matches that ultimately cost them that last place in the finals. Whilst batting was never brilliant, consistent performances from Steve Dolan, Danny Larkin and Craig Mackley certainly lead the team to a number of victories. With the ball, Ricky Krantz did a sterling job, consistently taking 2 or 3 wickets per match. Mushy Allen also took his fair share of wickets.
The committee had decided to try and improve the overall standard of cricket being played at the club. To this point it was felt that the gap between 3rd XI cricket in the NWCA and 2nd XI cricket on turf in the VTCA, was too large and one that our young players were not coping with. Accordingly the decision was made to play our 3rd XI on turf in the VTCA. This meant the 3rds would play home matches on Sunday at Etzel Street, whilst still playing away matches on the Saturday. It was pleasing that the 3rds were competitive, finishing 5th in their first season of this competition. Peter Ewels scoring many runs. The success of this change would be proven in later years.
The Vets, led by the masterful tactician, Martin Ashworth, advanced to the semi-finals before being defeated. The Vets had developed into a lean mean fighting machine and were confident that this season might be ‘the season’. Unfortunately it was not to be and Marty’s premiership dream would have to wait. As usual Jim Farrell excelled with bat & ball, and he had good support from the likes of Ken Molloy, Eddie Michael, Glenn Wilson and ‘Marty’ with bat and keeping gloves.
The social 5th XI returned after a season off. The boys struggled but regardless, it was great to again be fielding 5 senior teams. Well done to Blair Henderson who captained the team throughout the season and junior player Aaron Gatt who won the batting average. Andrew Borysiak won the bowling average (again).
Season 98/99 was probably more memorable from a junior perspective with 3 teams winnings premierships. Congratulations to the U/16D, the U/14A and U/14D teams. A tremendous effort in one season.
1999/2000
A new Coach, new players and a fresh start in the North B1 competition meant there was a real positive vibe around the club. Mick Andreadis had been recruited from Keilor CC to Captain Coach us. We also recruited quality players such as Peter Lowe, Paul Miller and Steve Wright to the club. 1st XI spots were there for the taking and young players such as Brett Jackisch, Jason Flannery and Steve Carroll were given opportunities. Similarly Luke Macumber and David Knight, two excellent young cricketers with 1st XI experience, consolidated their positions in the team with strong performances. At season’s end we had made the finals but lost to the eventual premiers, Sunshine Druids, in the Semi Final. They were just too good on the day, despite the best efforts of Andreadis, Lowe & Miller. Mick Andreadis showed his class throughout the season with both bat & ball and proved to be a great recruit to the club, on & off the field. Also good to see Alan Torrance return to form after the previous season’s form slump. The seeds had been sown for success in the near future.
Special mention to the 1st XI’s performance in recording a team score of 7/421 versus Westmeadows – the current club record. Paul Miller (101) and Nathan Wilson (100) both scoring centuries.
The 2nd XI went all the way, winning a memorable premiership, especially for a large portion of the team that had served our club so well for so long. Players such as Craig ‘Knackers’ Mackley, Ray ‘Rollie’ Kenny, Damien ‘Scrubber’ Iles, Mark ‘Mushy’ Allen, Steve ‘Daisy’ Dolan, Ricky ‘German’ Krantz and Phil ‘Flipper’ Holland had done the hard yards, and deserved this success. With the bat, Knackers and young David Morris had dominated throughout the year and these 2 both made half centuries in the GF. With the ball, Mushy was the star; he enjoyed excellent support from Darren ‘D-Mac’ McCauley, Steve ‘Shags’ Carroll and of course Scrubber.
The 3rd XI finished 5th on the ladder. There was a smattering of top wins, close losses and large losses. No regular Captain was not helping this situation, then young David Kosnar filled the breach and did well. He finished the season with 18 wickets and in partnership with young Luke Thompson (20 wkts), in his first senior year, these 2 were the mainstays of the attack. Mark Smith, U/16 player Jason D’Abreo and U/40 player Mick Kent were the best of the batsmen.
The 4ths were an extremely young team and as the season progressed, they got better and better. Great to see another ‘Holland’ performing well and young Chris won the batting average. Chris electing to use his bat instead of his pads and body as taught to him by his ‘old man’ in the backyard at Bowes Avenue. Without a doubt the star of the team was Jack Borysiak he won both the club and competition bowling average (27 wkts @ 12.15).
The Veterans made the Quarter Finals. Again Peter Ewels got plenty of runs, as did Ken Molloy, Jim Farrell and Rob Warick. Mick ‘Pencil’ O’Dwyer was the best of the bowlers but in the wash-up, the Vets would have been disappointed they didn’t go further than the last 8.
Season 1999/2000 was also memorable due to the new cricket nets being installed backing onto the Etzel Street oval. For too many years to remember, APWCC & APWSTC toiled in the old and at times dangerous nets at the back of Hansen Reserve. For the club to attract quality cricketers to APWSTCCC, and improve the standards of our own players, this infrastructure investment was long overdue. The new nets have proven to be a great success.
2000/01
This season proved to be as good as 92/93, the first season after the amalgamation when we took home 3 flags. In fact the count this season was 4 flags (as president at the time Ray Kenny often reminds us). “Mighty" Mick Andreadis led the club superbly, with fantastic help from his ‘right hand men’ in Ross Malcolm and Mark Tapungao. During the season the 1st XI was always near the top of the ladder, but by no means were we invincible. In fact we had dropped 2 matches to other premiership contenders. There was a great spirit about this team and one sensed we were capable of going all the way. That’s just what Mick and the boys did! First they had to beat Parkville Districts (PD) on their home patch in the Semi-Final. They had beaten us the week before so we knew how hard this match was going to be. The Semi proved to be a thriller; we made 8/283 from our 80 overs (Rossco 55, Tozza 44, Tappy 39). PD chased well and a last wicket stand of 52 had the whole team worried as they edged closer to our total. Finally we picked up that last wicket with PD falling 35 runs short.
The Grand Final proved to be even more dramatic, with poor weather player a major part in the many twists and turns of this match. Day 1 was a washout. Day 2 was ‘cold as hell’ but we got a start – “MM" winning a crucial toss and we asked our hated opponents Albion to have a bat on a soft wicket. Great bowling from Mark Tapungao (4/18), Ross Malcolm (1/11), Mick Andreadis (4/8) and Peter Lowe (1/33) meant Albion were dismissed for 79. We had to bat for 27 overs and finished 2 for 54 (Tozza 23). However, the heaviest deluge of rain for the Western Suburbs in 25 years meant the likelihood of weekend play was remote. This was especially the case when we found that somebody had mysteriously removed the covers on Wednesday night. The pitch & outfield were underwater on Thursday night and no play would mean Albion would take home the flag due to them finishing higher than us at the end of the home & away season. To the curator’s credit, and surprise of all, a start was possible on Saturday – albeit for only 26 overs. This gave us enough time to pass their score, although there were a few heart flutters along the way. At stumps we finished 8/89. Day 4 saw us take our score to 114 all out with Steve Carroll contributing a valuable 16 in the lower order. Albion was immediately chasing quick runs so as to set us some type of target. There was action a plenty with cracking shots, skied balls, swings and misses and wickets being taken. Albion declared at 9/87 from 29 overs. Highlights included Alan Torrance memorable outfield ‘classic catch’ to dismiss danger-man Magafas. Tappy was again superb with the ball (4/37) and Ross Malcolm showed his class taking 5/33. Thus, we required 53 runs for victory. When we slumped to 4/32 the boys were extremely nervous. Yet again it was Rossco who stepped up and with a quick succession of fine strokes he got us over the line. The winning shot being a massive hook shot for 6 – it doesn’t get any better than that! A magnificent achievement by all the 1st XI players.
The 2nds also had a strong year but were extremely unlucky to miss out on a finals birth by the slimmest of margins. Unbelievably, the 2nds only lost one match for the season, but failed to qualify for the finals due mainly to the quirks of the VTCA’s rules. Steve Wright and Darren McCauley had excellent seasons.
The 3rds were premiers! Led superbly by Glenn ‘Froggy’ Wilson, this unpredictable team had a great mixture of youth, experience and personalities to boot. Fine performances when it mattered most by the likes of David Crook, David Fox, Cameron Crooks and Phil Holland, meant a premiership pennant still hangs in the clubrooms.
The 4ths also won the flag. A new player to the club in Greg Barker did a great job with the young guys in this team. There were some fine individual performances throughout the season from Michael O’Dwyer Jnr, Greg himself, the Schembri brothers and club legend, Andrew ‘Jack’ Borysiak. Come finals time, Phil Peel ‘stepped up’ big time by scoring an unbeaten century in the Grand Final. A tremendous effort. Of course this was also a personal triumph for big Andrew ‘Jack’ Borysiak. All at the club, and opposing clubs, know about Andrew; a true clubman who has played year in year out for 17 seasons, firstly with APWCC, then APWSTCCC. He never misses training and always gives 100% when on the paddock. Whilst Andrew is proud of the bowling averages he has accumulated over the years, the one thing that he desired most was a premiership medallion. He finally got it! Well done big fella!
As to the Vets, a change in personnel from prior seasons meant a new look Vets took the field for APWSTCC in 00/01, some for the first time in a long time. The old guys did well, were competitive with the bat but bowling let them down. Importantly they enjoyed their cricket immensely and the majority promised to be back next season (which they did). Names to watch out for being Allan Semmens, Ian Townsend and John Penaluna.
And we can’t forget that we also won the VTCA’s Twilight competition. This comp is a 24-over per team match played on Tuesday nights, open for anyone willing to play. It gave us a great chance to pitch our abilities against teams in higher grades. We did so with great success and we went all the way. It was fantastic to beat the likes of Doutta, Keilor, Hoppers and ‘South of the Yarra’ Beaumaris in the GF. Well done to all 22 players who represented this team throughout the season.
The U/16s unfortunately lost the Grand Final, a very disappointing result considering the talent of this team. Players such as Alroy Augustus, Lister Cooray, Ryan Achilles, Grant Flannery, Scott Douglas, Jason D’Abreo and Nathan Briggs all had excellent seasons. It was the last hurdle that they fell. Still, this core of players had served our juniors superbly and had previously won flags at the U/12 & U/14 levels. Well done to Delmer Achilles and all other coaches & supporters for your fantastic contribution to these young men, and the club as a whole, over a number of years.
2001/02
After the premierships highs of season 2000/01, this season can best be summarised as experiencing the lows of cricket. As what seems to happen after a premiership, players depart, perhaps satisfied that the ‘holy grail’ had been achieved? In total, the club lost 17 players from season prior. In addition, quality U/16 players who the club had been grooming for years to play senior cricket, decided to try their luck at district level. Whilst the club encourages all such players to play cricket at the highest level, there is no doubt a tinge of disappointment that some of these excellent young cricketers aren’t representing us in the Seniors. North A1 is a tough competition and promotion into this grade meant players had to improve and stand tall. In the wash-up, we just managed to survive relegation, finishing second last. Early season form proved to be misleading, however those wins were well earned and deserved. At Christmas time we were in 4th place and optimistic. However, the continued absence of the Captain/Coach at training, due to work commitments, was far from an ideal scenario. It led to the required resolve and preparedness for hard work just not being an in-built quality of this team. Work rate and performances dropped off as the season progressed. In addition to this, you must have talent on the park and with the loss of many senior and experienced 1st XI players, we were always going to be up against it. Still when one door closes another opens and this presented debut 1st XI opportunities to young players of the future such as Jason D’Abreo, David Morris, Jon Clampett and Chris Liparota. Similarly, Robbie Senior and Steve Carroll grabbed their opportunity to become senior quality bowlers in the team. Sammy Kandage in his first season at the club bowled well throughout the year and his experience was invaluable. The biggest shortcoming was the batting as we continually failed to occupy the crease and build partnerships. Mick Andreadis and Nathan Wilson were the best performed.
Certainly an up and down season for the 2nds. Some excellent wins were mixed with some poor efforts and in the end, a finishing position of 7th was probably indicative of our performances and ability. Five wins, 1 draw and 5 losses (1 outright) tells the story. David Kosnar, in his first regular season in the 2nds, captained most matches and did a good job. Clearly the star of the 2nds was young Jason D’Abreo. Whilst “Clipper" only played 4 matches he absolutely starred. Scores of 70, 26, 86, 166 and 35 not out speak for themselves. Paul Spicer and Gary Rhind also were fine performers.
44 players represented the 3rds throughout the season. That simple fact speaks volumes. We were unable to get a core of players capable of performing well at this level. Accordingly, it quickly became an opportunity for young players to learn against more experienced opposition. ‘Scrubber’ Iles held his own and his ‘dibbly dobblies’ still took plenty of wickets. Lack of depth at any club is often highlighted at the lower end. This was clearly the case with our 4ths. The celebrations of last season’s premiership were a distant memory as our boys struggled throughout the season. 4 wins, 1 draw, 6 losses (2 outright) and most disappointingly of all, we had to concede 2 walkovers, the first time in the club’s history. As to the Vets, now into their 7th season, the old boys continue to play good and fun cricket. The current crop of Vets has only been playing together for 2 years and considering they made the quarterfinals this season, that’s a wonderful achievement. Des Reaby and Allen Semmens being the standouts.
JUNIORS
Airport West St.Christophers C.C has been very proud of its Juniors in the 10 years since the amalgamation. A lot of people have worked very hard to ensure that Juniors field teams in as many age groups as possible, that such teams are competitive and most importantly, that these kids are given the opportunity to enjoy the game of cricket and learn about it. This is never an easy task, especially with the suburb of Airport West being ‘land-locked’ and unable to grow in population as quickly as other ‘outer’ suburbs such as Greenvale, Taylors Lakes, and Sydenham etc. Keep in mind that at the time of the amalgamation, APWCC had not fielded an U/16 team for 2 seasons, and StCCC juniors had ceased. It was tough going in these early years to rebuild and make the juniors strong again. Our club has an excellent reputation in the NWCA for producing quality young cricketers and we can be proud of the many good cricketers we have produced. Often the ‘proof of the pudding’ of this quality junior program is when such players go on to play senior 1st XI cricket at our club, and we have had quite a few in the last 10 years. These players are Luke Macumber, Steve Carroll, Brett Jackisch, Nathan Taylor, David Morris, Jason D’Abreo, Jason Flannery, Chris Liparota, Jon Clampett and Matthew Hall. In addition to this, a number of juniors are currently at district clubs and we wish such players all the best at they pursue playing cricket at the highest standard they can achieve. Naturally our door is always open if they choose to return to APWSTCCC.
Some of the people who have worked tirelessly with our Juniors deserve specific mention – Chris Fraser, Sharon Ross, Delmer Achilles, Graham Dolby, Tony Liparota, Tony D’Abreo, Michael O’Dwyer, Joe Holland, Denise Kosnar and Peter Ewels have all made outstanding contributions at various points throughout the last 10 years. Thank you all for your efforts.
Throughout the 1992/93 to 2001/02 period, there were 5 junior premierships and 13 association winners. A highlight was the 1998/99 season when the U/16 team and both U/14 teams won premierships.
We should also mention some of the great junior players throughout this period. Clearly the standout was Alroy Augustus. An outstanding young bat and more than useful bowler, Alroy won 3 junior club champion awards, a total of 7 averages (batting & bowling), and 2 NWCA association averages. Nathan Taylor was also an outstanding junior, winning 4 batting averages. Jason Flannery bowled left arm quick and he won 2 junior club champion awards. Other players worthy of note include Sean Neeson, Andrew Murray, Luke Macumber, Ryan Achilles, Scott Douglas, Lister Cooray, Grant Flannery, Andrew Holland and the Liparota brothers.
COMMITTEE & VOLUNTEERS
Obviously you can’t have success on the field without success off it. Running the Airport West St.Christophers Cricket Club is not easy. It has a 6-monthly financial turnover that would rival many small businesses. Keeping everyone happy is difficult – players, members, supporters, junior parents and social drinkers all have their views on how they want each facit of the club to run. Many good people have contributed hundreds, in some cases thousands, of voluntary hours to ensure this club is successful. These people should be proud of their efforts as our club is a great club, it is successful on and off the field and it has earnt the respect of the VTCA and NWCA competitions, as well as opposition clubs.
Off-field achievements worthy of special mention include :-
· Turf pitch installation on Etzel Street
· New cricket nets backing onto Etzel Street
· Laying of the Hansen Reserve synthetic wicket
· New Air Conditioning system in clubrooms
· 3rd XI cricket now being played on turf
Special mention to the following people who have been part of the Committee over a number of seasons and have made telling contributions :- Craig Mackley, Damien Iles, Rod Kent, Michael Blake, Adam Needham, Mark Allen, Paul Spicer, Graham Dolby, Alan Torrance, Ray Kenny, Chris Fraser, Sharon Ross, Tony Liparota, Delmer Achilles, Tony D’Abreo, Nathan Wilson, David Kosnar, Michael O’Dwyer, John Carroll, Paul Ames and Steve Carroll (apologies to anyone left off list).
Of course, many others have contributed off the field in a variety of ways. Barry McEntee is one name that springs to mind. Recently inducted as a Life Member, “Bazza" has hardly missed a Saturday afternoon; helping out with drinks, subs collection, barracking and whatever else he can have a go at. Good on ya Baz! In recent years, “Morgs & Bev" have done an outstanding job behind the bar, in the kitchen and again, helping out in anyway possible – blood worth bottling!
It is also worth mentioning the fantastic support we have received over many seasons from our regular social supporters/drinkers. Without you guys, & gals, the club would not turnover enough revenue to support our operation as we desire. Keep on supporting us – we need you!
|
