Belmont District Cricket Club President's Report and 1st Grade Report 1990/91

Belmont District Cricket Club | February 07, 2025

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Well, after a few seasons of struggling to make an impact as a club across the competition board our last season certainly turned that around.

Once again the change was led by our juniors who fielded nine teams, seven of which made the semi finals, three of these making the finals & two going on to be premiers.

Congratulations to both the under U/12 No 2 & the U/16 sides

for their premiership winning efforts, of particular note was the win by the U/16'S in the inaugural season of two day cricket INVITATION CUP.

Not to be outdone the senior club fielded seven teams, three made the semi finals & two went on to win their finals. These wins were at either end of the spectrum being FIFTH GRADE No. 1 & of course the FIRST GRADE. Congratulations to DAVE MONICO & his team & what a great start to what is hoped will be a long association with our club for MARK CURRY, winning a premiership in his first season as a captain.

Throughout the year your committee has worked hard & I believe very diligently, there would be very few committees around that would boast the collective talents as that of the cricket club. Special mention should be made of the extra effort of BARRY WARK & his work as Junior Secretary. Particular thanks to IAN SULLIVAN for a very well structured year finanically, & to RUSSELL NEAL for jumping into the large gap left by the departure of GREG PATERSON as secretary.

Our club begins. each year with a financial advantage not enjoyed by other clubs, that being the backing of the BELMONT SPORTSMANS CLUB through our grant & for providing the venue for our raffles.

I only wish all our of players really appreciated the help the BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF & MEMBERS of the SPORTSMANS CLUB provide us with, & to all we give you our most greatful thanks.

Of course our season does not exist with out grounds, RUSSELL & his STAFF provided us with the facilities that culminated in the successes of the finals.

In closing may I thank again the committee for their participation in the committee process, & to all players for their efforts & may we all meet again next september to roll some down & deflect a few away.

ROBERT MAYO

FIRST GRADE

It is with much pleasure I write this report. The results of the first grade being, with the exception of the TOM LOCKER CUP, the best that could have been. Our achievements were a complete team effort with everyone contributing to the cause. The willingness & availability of players for all games throughout the season is a tribute to the keeness of this clubs players. It is with this in mind I note the reduction of the CUP competition for next season to accommodate some of our less industrious members of the N.D.C.A.

In my first season I was confronted with some difficult decisions. The decision to leave the club where I had played the majority of my cricket was a very difficult one, but this was made far easier by the support I recieved from the committee & the players. It is with this support I feel that I was able to operate freely, & of course winning the first few games was a decided bonus.

The starting point for us was a good win against the strong UNIVERSITY side, chasing a sizeable score STEVEN MORONEY provided the backbone of that innings & continued from strength to strength throughout the year & proved without a doubt the find of the season. STEVEN upstaged his more illustrious partner, Englishman JASON RATCLIFFE, with whom I was a little disappointed statistically. It was a major blow to the team when had to return home mid year. His batting spot was was filled more than adequately by GREG CHARLTON until NEIL HOOK made his way into the side & marked his arrival with 72 against WALLSEND.

His contribution in subsequant games including the finals

was significant, & the club is in a fortunate situation when it has players of this ability in the second grade side.

GREG CHARLTON & Vice Captain ALAN SHARP supplied a very solid middle order. ALAN having a major change in fortunes from the previous season providing cool head in tight situations, his innings against WARATAH & CHARLESTOWN in the finals were typical examples of this. GREG started the season well but by his own standards did not get the runs he was looking for, in any case he remained a vital cog in the side & can look forward with optimism to the coming year.

In the all-rounder category we have CRAIG HAMILTON, KEVIN BRAY, ERIC TYRELL, PETER SCHACHT & CHRIS WILLIAMS. As you can see I regard all of these players as all-rounders and they provided us with the depth necessary to win the competition. It was unfortunate for CRAIG to have missed his maiden century against STOCKTON, however, I am sure his day will come. KEVIN had few chances to show his batting talents but when required attacked the job in his usual envigorating & agressive manner. He provided the icing on the cake in the Final with a quick fire 37, that in my opinion put the game out of reach of our opposition.

ERIC TYRELL & CHRIS WILLIAMS played significant roles through out the summer. These players epitomise what playing cricket is all about. These players although not always appearing in the credits, are always waiting in the wings & it is very comforting to know that if & when their turn comes they are going to win you two or three games throughout the season & this is the depth that all teams require. As well as providing our depth they have contributed to team motivation & harmony through their enthusiastic efforts.

When coming to the bowling side of the season the standout performer was KEVIN BRAY. KEVIN has undergone a rapid improvement this season & his elevation to the representative scene was well earned. KEVIN has developed into the best fast bowler in NEWCASTLE, & must consider part of his future lies beyond the BELMONT DCC. Some of his performances were remarkable, to be able to keep bowling at pace for such extended spells provided the backbone for our attack.

His best performance for mine was against CHARLESTOWN at KAHIBAH where he took

4 WKTS for 65 from 35 hostile overs, & with a little more support from the field it could have been 8 wickets. I look forward to playing with KEVIN again next year & hopefully witness further development.

CRAIG HAMILTON & CHRIS WILLIAMS provided good support to KEVIN throughout the season taking over 30 Wickets between them & providing tight overs. This was a well balanced attack with three quicks & two spinners.

One of the spinners was of course RUSSELL NEAL. It is RUSSELL'S intention this season to step down to second grade. He will be greatly missed as this season his form was outstanding underlining the talent he possesses. RUSSELL has been a great asset for this club over some twenty odd years & the hole he leaves will probably have to be filled by two players. I wish him all the best for next season & have enjoyed playing with him.

The wicketkeeping job was well handled by PETER SCHACHT & his experience has been a valuable asset to the side. GREG HOOK when called upon was invaluable in the field & along with KEVIN we had two of the best fielders in the competition.

I would like to thank the senior members of the side & especially the V.C.

ALAN for their guidance during the year as it certainly made my job so much easier.

For the coming season I hope we can do the double. This year will be a little more difficult with loss of players, but then we look to the younger brigade of the club to take up the challenge & really compete for the vacant positions available in all the higher grades. This can only be achieved through practice & dedication at training as well as performance on the field.

Congratulations to the FIFTH GRADE side for their final victory, & again to my own side for a job well done & I hope we will be able to repeat the dose next.

MARK CURRY