PORTLAND’S senior cricketing cohort had a very successful 2023-24 season in the new-look Hamilton and District Cricket Association (HDCA), with both team and individual success celebrated at Wednesday evening’s league presentation evening at Hamilton Showgrounds.
Of particular note was that seven out of the 12 players named to the HDCA team of the year were from Portland, while South Portland young gun Tighe Warburton’s development into an excellent cricketer in all facets of the game was rewarded with the league’s under-21 player of the year award.
Tyrendarra’s dominance over the competition was displayed once and for all on the night as they were recognised as A grade premiers, minor premiers, and one-day final premiers whilst having three representatives (Jordi Withers, Hamish Withers and Ben Menzel) in the team of the year.
Menzel and Hamish Withers were both recognised for their excellent performances with the ball and gloves, with Menzel taking 29 wickets at an extraordinary average of just 8.76, while Withers recorded a total of 21 dismissals (18 catches and three stumpings) to lead the competition.
Geoff Blackmore’s dominance over the B grade competition with the bat was recognised as he took out the competition’s MVP award to go along with both the batting average and aggregate awards with an incredible 619 runs at an average of 88.19 for Portland Colts.
Tyrendarra skipper Shay Rhodes kept the trend of dangerous yet economical bowling at Tyrendarra, as he finished with 20 wickets with an average of just 8.75, while Drumborg-Heywood’s Toby Pumpa led all wicket-takers with 22 on the season.
The Darras were again on the awards list in the wicket-keeping department with Hamish Aitken taking out top honours as he finished with 14 dismissals (11 catches and three stumpings) in B grade.
HDCA Awards 2023-24
PF Christie Memorial Trophy Luke Evans (Portland Colts CC)
Robert Templeton Jnr. Under-21 Player of the Year Tighe Warburton (South Portland CC)
Col Russell Award – Melbourne Country Week Player’s Player Sam Wilson
Hamilton Spectator – Portland Observer Cricketer of the Year Luke Evans (Portland Colts CC)
Team of the Year: Brendan Huf, Michael Brilley, Luke Evans, Jordi Withers, Darryl Fry, Tighe Warburton, Hamish Withers, Carl Joyce, Ben Menzel, Stephen O’Brien, Thomas Roberts, Jacob Edwards.
A Grade Premiers - Dundas Cup Tyrendarra CC
A Grade Minor Premiers - William (Billie) Hewett Trophy Tyrendarra CC
A Grade One-Day Premiers - Ron Spark Memorial Shield Tyrendarra CC
A Grade MVP Luke Evans (Portland Colts CC)
A Grade Batting Average Darryl Fry (St Andrews CC) 476 @ 79.33
A Grade Batting Aggregate Luke Evans (Portland Colts) 601 runs
A Grade Bowling Average Ben Menzel (Tyrendarra CC) 29 wkts @ 8.76
A Grade Bowling Aggregate Carl Joyce (Grampians CC) 35 wickets
A Grade Wicket Keeping Award Hamish Withers (Tyrendarra CC) 18c and 3st.
A Grade Final MVP Ben Menzel (Tyrendarra CC) 57 and 5/68
A Grade One-Day Final MVP – Kevin Myers Medal Darren Kilmister (Tyrendarra CC)
B Grade Grand Final MVP – Bob Healey Medal Sam Brewer (Tahara CC) 75no
B Grade – Portland Batting Agg. And Av. Geoffrey Blackmore (Portland Colts CC) 619 runs @ 88.19
B Grade – Portland Bowling Aggregate Toby Pumpa (Drumborg-Heywood CC) 22 wickets
B Grade – Portland Bowling Average Shay Rhodes (Tyrendarra CC) 20 wkts @ 8.75
B Grade – Portland Wicketkeeping Award Hamish Aitken (Tyrendarra CC) 11c and 3st
B Grade – Portland MVP Geoffrey Blackmore (Portland Colts CC)
B Grade – Portland Grand Final MVP Will Kirk (Tyrendarra CC)
