PORT News sports reporter and Richie Benaud impersonator Matt McLennan followed the 2013-14 Hastings River District Cricket Association closer than most. Here, he runs his eye over the events and gives this theories on the best and worst the season had to offer.
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ANOTHER cricket season has bitten the dust in the Hastings and the grand final winners are still coming down off a high which could last for most off the off-season.
The Port City Leagues Magpies was the club to beat this season. The Pies took out the Club Championship for 2014 after featuring in three of the four grand finals.
The Pies were guaranteed to win third grade. The club had both teams in the final.
The Magpies also won the May Kelly Cup Twenty20 and Beechwood Sevens competitions.
Wauchope RSL also had a great season 2013-14, taking out first and second-grade titles.
It was the club’s eighth straight second-grade success. I reckon RSL should change the name of the team to Queensland.
The perennially successful second-grade captain Brad Baxter was promoted to first grade to bring back the winning culture at RSL, and it certainly worked.
Something clicked in the weeks after Christmas and the team thrived from then on, but saved their best for last in the decider at Oxley Oval.
So strong was the bowling that RSL had to bat just once against Macquarie Hotel.
As far as individual performances go, Macquarie captain Michael Pelley led the way in first grade. His 92 was the closest anyone got to a century.
Magpies BJ Schneider’s 165 not out was the best innings in second grade for the season, while Camden Haven’s Peter Morris scored two centuries in that grade. Grahame Clark was the standout in thirds. He scored 169 not out for Bonny Hills. In fourths, Dominic Novella’s 136 led the way.
The bowlers had a better year than the batsmen in 2013-14. Jason Blythe’s combined effort of nine-for in the first-grade grand final was a standout.
Thirteen bowlers took a five-for or better in the top grade this year.
Seconds was a similar story. David Stark took 7-14 for Macquarie Hotel, and yours truly featured on the best performances list – fluked it.
Morris showed his all-round ability to get his name on the bowling list twice, with two six-fors.
All in all, it was a pretty good season. I’m already looking forward to covering the next one.
