WEST Tamworth Cricket Club president Anthony Crompton received the three points in the Cool Blue Ice Best and Fairest Award on Saturday but the club stalwart thought left- arm seamer Julian McGovern deserved the major points in the Tamworth first grade best and fairest competition.
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Crompton, who topscored with 45 in his side’s 9-144 was part of a thrilling run chase that was left to McGovern (7no) and Deklan Baker (11no) to scramble the side home after City United had made 143.
McGovern had claimed 4-12 in that innings and then had the luck to strike the winning runs with an over left.
“I thought he deserved the points,” Crompton admitted.
“He’s been going real well for us all season.
“He’s carried us with the ball this season.
“He’d have to to be just about the leading wicket-taker in Tamworth.
“Taking 4-12 for us again was great and then hitting the winning runs too!”
McGovern, 27, is saving to go to England and play a season in Bollington.
“Yeah I’m heading over with Stuie (Plant),” McGovern said.
“That’s why I’ve been playing as hard as I can.
“I’ve played as many games as I can.”
Saturday’s 4-12 haul took his season’s tally to 24.
He’s also looking forward to this week’s final round.
His club has an outside chance of making the semi- finals but must beat competition leaders Old Boys.
“I don’t think we can make it,” McGovern said.
“Having to beat Old Boys is going to be tough anyway.”
McGovern, who has been working at a local chicken farm, flies out for his English sojourn in early April and hopes his side might have some finals matches to keep him match-fit.
His trip to Bollington continues a recent link with the English club that has seen Adam Jones play over there, with Calum Rowe and Stu Plant playing here in Tamworth.
Tamworth also played a tour match there on the last Ashes tour, although the match was washed out after just a few overs.
McGovern’s points took him to three while Crompton moved up to seven and eight points behind new leader Simon Norvill.
Norvill’s century against Bective-East Bulls enabled him to leapfrog clubmate Aaron Hazlewood into top position and have three Old Boys players in the top three spots.
Norvill leads from Hazlewood and Adam Lole, who polled the two points in Saturday’s win against the Bulls.
Bulls top order bat Adam Jones grabbed the one and joined South Tamworth keeper Tom Groth on six points after Groth also polled the three points in his side’s five-run win over North Tamworth.
