Crusaders Cricket Australia

SCHOOLS PROGRAMS - 2009/10

Scotch College won the Crusaders/Colin French Memorial Trophy for the third time in
their history and joined Assumption College and Brighton Grammar as the most
successful schools in the twenty-eight years of this program.

Like last year's trophy winner (Carey Grammar) Scotch fin ished modestly midtable in the APS competition, but their allrounder, Nick Jamieson, earned selection in the APS representative team.

Their last ball win against a truly multi-cultural Crusaders XI caused much excitement.

The coach John Murphy has been a model Crusaders member for decades and, as a consequence, the significance of the fixture was not lost on the boys.

It should also be stressed that AI McMahon (capt), Conor O'Beirne and Sam Shearer were admirable representatives of their school at the Premier's presentation ceremony.

MATCH DETAILS:

vs CAREY GRAMMAR SCHOOL- 21 October
Crusaders won by 51 runs
Umpires: P Jensen & J Mellett
Crusaders 5 for 200 (M Hunter 49ret, C Burkett 36, M Simpson 27ret, P Byrne 34, J Murphy 2 for 15, M Doherty 2 for 17)
Carey 159 (C Jackson 53, J Solomon 71, M Hughes 3 for 20, N Hrovatin 2 for 34, G Swift 2 for 11)

Teams: Crusaders - P Bedford (capt), M Hughes, C Rose, R Reber, M Hunter, C Burkett, M Simpson, F Stewart, P Byrne, J Davies, P Conlan, N Hrovatin, G Swift
Carey - L Mahon (capt), J Murphy, N Andrews, B Consalvo, S Crocker, M Doherty, C Jackson, L Macleod, J Solomon, W Walker, A Yeo, D Roberts

Carey had much to play for, being the Schools Trophy winner from the previous year and whose captain, Lachie Mahon, was a Crusaders scholar.

In the event, only a late innings stand of 130 by Corey Jackson and Joe Solomon saved
the School from humiliation; their innings having disintegrated to 7 for 28 in reply to the
Crusaders' effortless 5 for 200.

Mahon's injury prevented him from bowling; he also failed to score when Merv Hughes
and cohorts were destroying the Carey batting.

To add to their woes, both Jackson and Solomon were run out, leaving the School plenty to think about for the season ahead.

vs CAULFIELD GRAMMAR SCHOOL- 28 October (by David Strudwick)
Crusaders won by 8 runs
Umpires: T Finlayson & E Ruchtie
Crusaders 9 for 191 (G Freear 81, N Gardiner 25, M Simpson 20, J Paynter 2 for 36)
Caulfield 6 for 183 (W Gilmour 46, A Woff 38, S Gotch 72, D O'Shea 4 for 40, C Read 2 for 46)

Teams: Crusaders - P Bedford (capt), M Hughes, T Pashen. P Quinn, G Freear, J Dalwood, M Simpson, D O'Shea, N Gardiner, N Brandon-Jones, A Watson, C Read
Caulfield - J Spain (capt), W Gilmour, A Woff, S Gotch, J Wyatt, S Vivian, J Paynter, M Lanigan. L Edwards, C Jackson, T Allanson, W Kingwill

This was a great example of how a match between a School and the Crusaders should be played; the result wide open until the last over.

Steady Caulfield bowling supported by excellent fielding put the Crusaders' batsmen under pressure. The innings was dominated, however, by the hard hitting opener Gary Freear who looked likely to make a century until he missed an attempted sweep shot.

The School's fielding continued to be a feature with many likely fours being saved inches from the line. There were also four run-outs, the first of which was Jack Paynter's direct hit from the boundary.

Caulfield's openers Will Gilmour and Alex Woff coped admirably with the strong pace attack of Merv Hughes, left-arm speedster Aaron Watson and Paul Quinn, but despite both batsmen playing some lovely drives and square cuts, the scoring rate was only three runs per over.

The introduction of the slow left-arm duo, Danny O'Shea and Chris Read, at last produced some wickets as the batsmen tried to lift the tempo.

Diminutive year 10 Sebastian Gotch started shakily but soon looked impressive. Just when the run chase looked unattainable with 77 required off ten overs, he unleashed a brilliant array of strokes which tragically ended in the penultimate over when he holed out to gleeful captain Peter Bedford. Considering the quality of the bowling and the state of the game, this innings must rate as one of the best in schools/Crusaders matches.

O'Shea cleverly bowled out the last over during which he had Matthew Lanigan caught whilst conceding just four runs.

vs CAMBERWELL GRAMMAR SCHOOL -11 November
Crusaders won by 199 runs
Umpires: D Holt & J Mellett
Crusaders 3 for 273 (R Carters 54ret, I Cockbain 53ret, C Read 32ret, J Holden 23ret, B Howell 30, T God sell 26, N Howell 21 no, S Cunningham 2 for 22)
Camberwell 74 (J Haar 24, J Loughman 4 for 23, D O'Shea 4 for 16)

Teams: Crusaders - P Bedford (capt), R Carters, I Cockbain, C Read, J Holden, B Howell, T Godsell, A Watson, N Howell, C Harris, J Loughman, D O'Shea
Camberwell - B Chan, J Watson, M Powell, C Trafford, S Cunningham, S Cust, A Perrett, J Howells, J Haar, T Stayner, J Tregear, P Jenkins

Remembrance Day 2009 will not evoke too many happy memories for the School side, though at least the weather could not be faulted. The winning margin suggested a need for some hard work by the boys.

To a man, the Crusaders' batsmen made the most of both the favourable conditions and
the small ground on which sixes count as fours.

Camberwell's bowlers didn't help themselves by contributing 25 wides and no balls; Peter Bedford called his batsmen in after only 37 overs.

The Crusaders' opening attack had a strong English flavour with left-armer Aaron Watson and Hampshire's Benny Howell wheeling down ten overs for ten runs and two wickets.

Camberwell ultimately lifted their run rate to two an over but, in so doing, lost their remaining wickets all too frequently.

Match manager Mick Boyes's summation of it being "a good day's cricket" may not have been endorsed by all on the Camberwell side.

vs ASSUMPTION COLLEGE -15 November
Crusaders won by 16 runs
Umpires: J Joss & J MacKinnon
Crusaders 9 for 203 (G Freear 29, C Read 35, J Fletcher 64, T Wright 3 for 40, M Berry 2 for 35)
Assumption 9 for 187 (T Wright 80, B Barrow 40, B Grenfell 21, C Read 4 for 56, J Fletcher 2 for 24)

Teams: Crusaders - K Malligan (capt), G Freear, S Dukes, C Read, J Hancock, J Fletcher, M Sheahan, G Shipp, A Watson, J Downes, W Malligan
Assumption - T Wright (capt), M Berry, R Frost, A Ward, B Barrow, D Evans, T Hennessy, B Grenfell, F Buchanan, M Hogan, J Cunningham

The game took place in perfect spring weather. The ground looked a picture but the slow pitch offered few favours to bowlers and batsmen alike.

The Crusaders' openers, Gary Freear and Sam Dukes, scrambled 44 off the first 12 overs before both were caught, inevitably on the drive.

Chris Read and Jarod Fletcher adapted well to the conditions, putting on 61 and providing the innings with much needed momentum.

Tallan Wright achieved some good swing late in the innings and was easily the best bowler.

Assumption began their innings as if on a suicide mission and in no time had lost three for 12.

Wright viewed the carnage with dispassionate concern but found a willing partner in Ben Barrow as they restored the School's fortunes, though Barrow was dropped at the wicket and enjoyed some close LBW calls off Aaron Watson.

Jake Hancock's leg breaks were carted to all parts of the ground but with victory in sight
both batsmen fell to Read's left-arm slows.

Tom Hennessy and Brandon Grenfell hit out bravely but their relative success only served to highlight some shortcomings in the upper order.

Umpire, old Assumption pupil and famed double century scorer John Joss, received the warmest of welcomes from living legend Ray Carroll and all the boys.

vs IVANHOE GRAMMAR SCHOOL -18 November {by David Strudwick)
Crusaders won by 28 runs
Umpires: J Mellett & T Finlayson
Crusaders 6 for 250 (L Buchanan 50, I Cockbain 44, T Godsell 45ret, A Middlin 54ret, R Smith 3 for 35)
Ivanhoe 7 for 222 (J Powick 20, M Kamay 118no, T Bannam 24, C Read 3 for 38)

Teams: Crusaders - P Bedford (capt), C Read, L Buchanan, R Gooneratne, A Watson, J Downes, A Middlin, T Godsell, I Cockbain, C Fitchett, A Hashmi
Ivanhoe - M Baxter, D Cookson, J Stoganovski, J Ridewood, M Kamay, J Powick, R Skok, R Smith, C Gogerley, T Bannam, D Perrera, D Kelly

Master blaster Liam Buchanan raced to 50 before holing out in the eighth over. lan Cockbain also played attacking shots but when he was caught, and was soon followed by Chris Read and Abdul Hashmi, Crusaders were travelling at eight an over from fifteen but had lost four wickets in the process.

A hard hitting partnership between Ash Middlin and Tom Godsell steadied the innings, but after they had retired, several wickets fell and it was left to Peter Bedford and Cameron Fitchett to negotiate the last five overs.

The School contrived to drop no fewer than five catches.

There were fireworks in the first over of the Ivanhoe innings. Gun batsman Michael Baxter struck two fours off Aaron Watson but, when attempting to hook a third, feathered a leg-side catch to keeper Buchanan.

A quiet period followed with several wickets falling, including that of Justin Powick in a silly run-out.

Michael Kamay batted patiently until he reached 50, but then he became aggressive and fully capitalised on a very undermanned Crusaders attack which had to make do with just nine fielders.

vs TRINITY GRAMMAR SCHOOL- 25 November
Crusaders won by 52 runs
Umpires: D D'Aitera & N Hennessy
Crusaders 6 for 160 (I Cockbain 51 ret, L Mildenhall 31no, A Tomlinson 3 for 33)
Trinity 108 (C Keys 46, A Watson 2 for 6, M Simpson 4 for 32, C Read 2 for 15)

Teams: Crusaders - P Bedford (capt), G Freear, A Watson, T Godsell, I Cockbain, C Read, L Mildenhall, W Tyson, M Simpson, R Gooneratne, C D'Aitera, N Rainone, B Hutchinson
Trinity - A Nitsopoulos, N Meadows, C Keys, J Wong, C Braine, W Kiernan, F Heron-Peterson, D Tyson, M Tomkinson, A Tomlinson, S Nicolosi, H Tyson

Damp conditions meant that Trinity bowlers Adam Tomlinson and Will Kiernan posed plenty of problems for the Crusaders' batsmen.

The openers were gone inside six overs but lan Cockbain's English experience enabled him to see out ninety minutes for a workmanlike 50 before retiring.

160 was always going to take some getting, particularly with Aaron Watson and Tom Godsell bowling tightly, their fourteen overs reducing the School to four for 17.

Chris Keys held on for 95 minutes but Matt Simpson and Chris Read shared the last six wickets as Trinity fell well short of their target.

vs MELBOURNE GRAMMAR SCHOOL- 2 December
Crusaders won by 48 runs
Umpires: J Mellett & T Dey
Crusaders 6 for 236 (C Sheedy 47, D Satori 53, C Read 26, M Hunter 32ret, T Godsell43no, F Roberts 2 for 47, H Michelmore 2 for 19)
Melbourne 188 (J Skala 63, 0 Jenkins 53, B Clark 23, I Hewett 2 for 15, M McKenna 4 for 54, D Satori 2 for 5)

Teams: Crusaders - M Sheedy (capt), M Hughes, T Godsell, D Satori, A Watson, I Cockbain, M Hunter, C Sheedy, I Hewett, C Read, M McKenna
Melbourne - O Jenkins (capt), B Clark, J de Fegely, P Garschagen, D Harrod, L Laidlaw, H Michelmore, W Pike, F Roberts, J Skala, A Stogdale, J Stone

Lunch at Domain Road preceded cricket at the Edwin Flack ground in Port Melbourne and posed a logistical challenge which was mostly accommodated.

In fact, Chris Sheedy and Old Melburnian Dan Satori took to the School bowling with relish, their partnership of 86 set things up for a decent total, Essendon player Tom Godsell applying the coup de grace with some strong hitting.

MGS then had to contend with a well credentialed Crusaders attack comprising Merv Hughes and lan Hewett. The big left-armer had two wickets in two overs, but Merv toiled away for eleven overs without so much as a single scalp.

His particular bates noires were openers Josh Scala and acting captain Oscar Jenkins. They shared a sensible partnership of 103 before Mick McKenna dismissed both and then went on to tie up the match.

Satori's four balls netted him two wickets as the School's batting quietly subsided.

v. BRIGHTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL- 20 January
Crusaders won by 32 runs
Umpires: J Mellett & J MacKinnon
Crusaders 139 (D Tomkins 34, T Hardman 33, C Read 37, C Campbell 3 for 13, M Singh 2 for 4, N Plum ridge 3 for 22, S Zaia 2 for 16)
Brighton 107 (M Tregear 57, T Hardman 2 for 7, S Navaratnam 5 for 19, C Read 2 for 41)

Teams: Crusaders - P Evans (capt), D Tomkins, C Read, C Janik, S Alagaratnam, S Navaratnam, S Stanwell, I Cockbain, T Hardman, C Sheedy, N Linton, T Batters
Brighton - N Plumridge (capt), M Tregear, M Singh, J Pascoe, C Campbell, T Hamilton, J Steele, N Travers, J Moffitt, S Zaia, G Bauer, D Struck

Heavy rain early in the week made for a damp wicket, especially at one end.

The Crusaders' batsmen were powerless in the conditions and the Brighton bowlers Cailain Campbell and Michael Singh didn't waste their opportunity.

However any pleasure from taking five Crusaders' wickets for just 12 would have been tempered by the School's embarrassment at having produced a totally inadequate playing surface.

Respite arrived with a bowling change.

David Tomkins and Tom Hardman fashioned a recovery which was sustained by Chris Read who cleverly manipulated the strike to give the Crusaders' innings some substance. His efforts were undone by his partner's inane call for a non-existent run; the same Scott Stanwell then compounded this error with a wild slog which terminated an already fragile looking innings.

139 looked to be well short of the mark with the wicket having dried out and behaving impeccably.

The Crusaders' bowlers rose to the challenge. Even at 2 for 71 , with Michael Tregear and Singh going well, runs never came easily.

Read's slow left-arm accounted for Singh but the Lancastrian was thrice dispatched into
the road at square leg.

Suresh Navaratnam had bowled with rare pace, but with little luck in his first spell, now returned to overwhelm the Brighton tail; Hardman also enjoyed some belated success as the Crusaders achieved an unlikely win.

vs YARRA VALLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL- 27 January
Crusaders won by 141 runs
Umpires: D Holt & J Mellett
Crusaders 7 for 227 (T Buszard 41 , L Castellas 52, C Janik 31 , D Tomkins 38no, S Navaratnam 25no, C Anderson 2 for 57, M Michalos 2 for 23)
Yarra Valley 86 (M Wierzbicki 28, S Navaratnam 2 for 9, T Buszard 2 for 37, O Gualano 4 for 16)

Teams: Crusaders - P Bedford (capt), T Buszard, L Castellas, O Gualano, C Janik, S Alagaratnam, N Linton, D Tomkins, S Navaratnam
Yarra Valley - L Anderson (capt), M Bednarz, C Anderson, B Kerr, J Yarde, J Harper, S Harper, M Wierzbicki, T Szabo, M Michalos, S Kudage-Don, B Leis

The nine man Crusader squad made short work of the School. Tim Buszard and Liam Castell as took just 60 minutes over their 86 run opening partnership.

A mid-innings stutter was put right in a twenty minute burst of hitting by Dave Tomkins and the Malaysian quick, Suresh Navaratnam. In this time they put on 44 and, even with their slender resources, the Crusaders looked well in control. And so it proved as the School's batting crumbled before an attack that was well deployed by captain Peter Bedford.

For Yarra Valley, Matthew Wierzbicki held out for ninety minutes but the rest offered only token resistance as Oliver Gualano bowled with much skill into the strong southerly wind.

vs SCOTCH COLLEGE - 3 February (by David Strudwick}
Scotch won by 3 wickets
Umpires: G Slater & G Andrews
Crusaders 8 for 225 (B McRae 61 ret, I Cockbain 33, T Buszard 52, S Navaratnam 24no, S Roberts 2 for 26, T Kerr 2 for 31)
Scotch 7 for 228 (T Kerr 24, A McMahon 51 , J Mclaughlin 30, N Jamieson 30, G van den Broek 43no, S Shearer 36, D Tomkins 4 for 29)

Teams: Crusaders - P Bedford (capt), A Fekete, M Fitzgerald, B McRae, C Janik, C Read, S Navaratnam, S Alagaratnam, l Castellas, O Gualano, I Cockbain, D Tomkins, T Buszard
Scotch - A McMahon (capt), S Shearer, N Jamieson, T Whittle, A Reeves, G van den Broek, S Roberts, T Kerr, E Furey, H Phillip, H Short, J Mclaughlin

In excellent batting conditions, the highlights for the Crusaders were hard hitting innings by Ben McRae and Tim Buszard, a solid contribution by lan Cockbain and a late flurry of scoring by Suresh Navaratnam.

The Scotch bowling had good variation and was supported by outstanding fielding which incorporated six very good catches.

The School openers Tom Kerr and Harry Phillip gave their innings a sound start; captain AI McMahon played beautifully but just when he looked like taking the Crusaders attack apart, he was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Buszard.

John Mclaughlin and Nick Jamieson continued to attack the bowling until Mclaughlin was also run out.

The run chase, nearly seven an over from the last twenty overs, was taken up by Gene van den Broek and Sam Shearer with each playing a series of innovative shots.

Chris Read's left-arm slows came in for a mauling so that when Dave Tomkins came up to bowl the last over, seven runs were needed.

Shearer was bowled, AI Reeves fell lBW, but van den Broek successfully edged the last ball for four and Scotch were home.

v. ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE, BALLARAT- 24 February
Crusaders won by 117 runs
Umpires: D Holt & A Taylor
Crusaders 5 for 269 (C Sheedy 47, J Dickinson 51 ret, M Sheedy 52ret, D Daly 29, N Ross 48ret, C Read 21no, B Crouch 2 for 55)
St Patricks 9 for 152 (R Monument 55, M Nolan 31 , J Graham 3 for 51 , N Ross 2 for 11 , M McKenna 2 for 28)

Teams: Crusaders - M Sheedy (capt), C Sheedy, A Blizzard, J Dickinson, D Daly, N Ross, I Cockbain, J Graham, C Read, A Dickinson, M McKenna
St Patricks - J O'Brien (capt), M Begbie, S Peeters, l Thomas, B Crouch, J Mead, R Monument, l Mullen, M Nolan, D Dickinson, C Carter, J Hayes, S Spriggs

Richmond captain Michael Sheedy took a strong Crusaders side back to his old school. He was accompanied by five former pupils, all of whom were rapturously greeted by a sizeable crowd of students and staff.

Batting on a bland pitch and fast outfield, the Crusaders took to the School bowlers in spite of losing Aidan Blizzard in the second over.

Chris Sheedy and James Dickinson put on 80 in just 46 minutes and this tempo was sustained throughout the innings.

When the School batted, the Crusaders bowled their 45 overs in under two hours, stark contrast to the School's effort of taking three hours to bowl 40.

The School lost seven for 44 before Rhys Monument and Mick Nolan stepped up to add
84 in 46 minutes, albeit against some less than intense bowling.