A poor turnout at Tamworth Cricket House on Saturday night took the shine off what was another Tamworth District Cricket Association winning season.
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On a night when the TDCA celebrated success in the representative arena as well as off the field, only about 50 people took the time to attend.
It was a sad indictment of the lack of respect and regard the clubs have for the overall game.
A few weeks previous, the Tamworth Junior Cricket Association celebrated a mediocre season on the representative front with a full house at West Diggers but the senior clubs were noticeable by their absence.
TDCA president Andrew Peiper said it was a disappointing turnout.
“I suppose it might have been because only two clubs won the four premierships (South first grade and Bective East 2nd, 3rd and 4th),” he said.
“It is sad too because we are coming off another very good year.
“We won the Northern Inland T20 in Armidale, which the boys donated to Aaron Flaherty, and we won the War Vets and MA Connolly Cups too.
“We had a lot of players make rep teams as well and have young players heading off to Sydney to play as well.”
He cited the example of Andrew “Buddy” Harriott heading to England to play Premier League and cricketer of the year, Michael Rixon, playing in Bollington over the
winter.
“Michael was having his first game for Bollington tonight,” Peiper said.
Rixon was the Tamworth Representative Player of the Year as well as the winner of the Fred Allen Memorial Cricketer of the Year. He also represented NSW Country Colts.
South Tamworth’s James Psarakis also received deserving recognition for his big season when the Tamworth High student was named Ron George Junior Cricketer of the Year.
He opened the batting for South Tamworth, helping them to a first grade title.
He also captained Central North Under 15s to a win in the Macquarie Generation Carnival at Raymond Terrace and was a member of the first CN Under 16 side to win a Bradman Cup.
He was also in the North West CHS side and selected in CHS 2s. Selected in the NSW All School Under 16 side, he helped that side win the Australian All School Championship in Hobart, where he was the leading wicket-taker (13).
He topped that off by being selected in the Australian Under 16 side to play in Dubai later this year.
Moree’s Max Houlahan has since joined him in the side.
North Tamworth had some success, winning the Good Companions Club Championship whilst third grade skipper David Robertson won the McKellar Medal.
Robertson scored 445 runs, claimed 33 wickets and took eight catches to win the prestigious award.
Young South Tamworth firebrand Angus McNeil, player of the grand final, also snared the John Muller Best Bowling Award.
He took 8-25 in 13 overs of mayhem against City United on February 25 at Dick Edwards Oval.
West Tamworth, who won the One Day First grade Final, also had success, with club president Anthony Crompton winning the Arthur Daley Services to Cricket award.
A player for West Tamworth for more than 15 years, he has been president of the club for more than five years and seen it through some desperate days.
Crompton also skippered the young Tamworth side to victory in the MA Connolly Cup, no mean feat given the high amount of pullouts by players on the night before rep games.
The TDCA also gave out six junior encouragement awards.
ENCOURAGEMENT AWARDS: Jack McVey (City), Keytan Hislop (North), Matthew Smith (South), Harrison Gill (Old Boys), Campbell Baker (West), Harrison George (Bective).
Leon Erich also won the Betty Scott TDCA Umpires award and Peiper made special mention of the Imperial Hotel and Struddy’s Sport for their sponsorship support.
“We had a good season off the field too,” Peiper said.
He said $63,000 was spent on a new roof for Cricket House and recovery of water as well as another $30,000 on the toilets at Cricket House and making it more energy-efficient.
“We have also received a $10,000 grant to do up the kitchen as well,” he said.
“So we are putting a fair bit back into cricket off the field.”