Season 1998/99 - The Unexpected ... and the unbelievable

Season 1998/99 was probably the best in the Club’s 25 year History - and since its formation in 1974 there have been some very, very good Seasons - 1993/94 when we won our first (and only) District 1st XI Premiership, the 2nds and 3rds took out the Premierships, we won the Kookaburra Knockout Cup and 1995/96 when we won our first Provincial 1st XI Premiership. To win the Premiership in 1998/99 was so good because it was so unexpected and so sweet because the win featured a group of mates who beat every obstacle placed in front of it - and there were a few. It was made even sweeter because we defied the views of almost everybody by even getting to the finals.

Alan Splatt was again President, Cameron Park - Vice President, Doug Van Raay - Treasurer and Peter Ridgway became Secretary. The Committee comprised Stuart McLeod, Bob Hough, Gordon McLeod, Neil Kent, Paul Roach, Ross Wilson, Mal Ritchie, Jeff Roach and Roy Watts.

Players who departed the Club were Paul Barton (Sorrento), Leigh Batey, Bob Bowden (200 games, 4312 runs @ 22.46% & 40 wickets @ 16.83%), Spider Burton (Karingal), Adam Chubb (52 games & 1491 runs @ 29.82%), Sam Coates - Frankston Peninsula - (51 games & 1193 runs @ 29.83%), Jamie Ferguson (Peninsula Old Boys), John Forrest - Frankston Peninsula - (43 games, 533 runs @ 20.50 & 51 wickets @ 21.76%), Stephen Johnson (51 games, 868 runs @ 27.13% & 35 wickets @ 23.06%), Gary Housley, Les Hunter, Grant Kellerman - Karingal - (75 games, 2170 runs @ 32.88% & 35 wickets @ 20.26%), Lance Koch, David Scabs Martin (returned to Heatherhill), Brian McCue (80 games & 144 wickets @ 21.55%), Craig Noonan, Luke Ritchie, Trevor Ryan (Frankston YCW), Gary Strong (71 games, 2037 runs @ 28.69% & 29 wickets @ 16.55), Adam Strong, Nathan Swan (39 games, 655 runs & 19.85% & 25 wickets @ 22.92%), Chris Traynor - Frankston Bombers - (22 games & 32 wickets @ 24.22), Graham Vose and Dave Webster.

New players to the club were Andrew Noel Ferrier, Peter Harry Madden and Joe Rule from Baxter, Shane Dooley, Matt Barker, Trent Robinson and Colin Harrison filled-in, former Captain/Coach Bob Martin and Under 12’s guru Graham Cox were roped-in for one game, Sean Limpens and Kieran McCluskey returned after a few Seasons of inactivity, Matty Moohead Bryant finally summoned the courage and intestinal fortitude to actively participate and joined the club as a player.

The Club had lost a great deal of playing experience - Brian McCue and Stephen Johnson (Johnno did fill in a few times, ranking up his 50th game and giving the 4ths a huge kick-start to the season) had been extremely vital in our progress over the past few years and that experience would be very hard to replace, however the club had blooded a number of young players in 1997/98 and it was ready to take on the best in this Season. It was fair to say however that our expectations were not overly high - we would be competitive and give the top sides a shake ... how wrong we were ... and aren’t we glad that we were!

The 7ths, under the leadership of Bob Smith, struggled throughout the Season and their ladder position (7th) was probably about where they deserved to be. One thing in our favour was that we did not field the team purely for old timers - there are quite a few young players that wanted to play. Alby Howie took out the batting with 359 runs at 25.64%, Alex Blackshaw scored 233 runs, Adrian Koch 251 and Bob Smith 184 while Alex Blackshaw took out the bowling with 17 wickets at 10.65%, Adrian Koch took 15 wickets, Matt Bryant 14 and Peter Madden 13.

The 6ths made the Finals losing to Langwarrin by 2 wickets in a close hard-fought match. Mitch Wilson scored 81 in a terrific display. For the Season David Thompson scored 397 runs at 33.08% to win the batting, Mitch scored 285, Chris Buddha Hocking 279, Darren Watt 249 and Peter Ridgway 248. David Smith won the bowling trophy with 32 wickets at 10.25%, Paul Roach had a fantastic Season with 40 wickets and Buddha and Mitch took 17 wickets each.

The 5ths had a fantastic Season and how they didn’t win the Grand Final - let alone make it! - is one of the greatest mysteries of this club. We finished on top of the Ladder, well clear of the field but went down to Delacombe Park by 24 runs despite a great effort from Ryan Lee - 6/53. Led by Pat Van Raay who made 407 runs at 37.00% the team had some terrific performers - Ryan Lee made 381 runs at 38.10% and took 28 wickets at 13.39%, brother Darren took 25 wickets at 8.28%, Brendan Kelly scored 230 runs, Tom Webster 214, Paul Connolly 204 and Richy Nissanka 203 while with the ball Michael Middleton took 15 wickets.

The 4ths too led the competition for the Season but collapsed with the bat to lost the Semi-Final to Red Hill. Laurence Hall did a great job as skipper scoring 483 runs at 40.25% and with the experienced campaigner Glenn Fossett (502 runs @ 41.83%) the team did well. Other fine performers were Marty Kelly (370 runs), Chris Burke (242), Damien Des Barres (210), Richard Hall (206), Luke Fossett (18 wickets), Damien (14), James Haley (13) and Dale McCurdy (13).

The 3rds won their fourth Premiership in a row - all in the strong A1 Grade - in fact they have now won 5 Premierships in 6 years - and the rotter who spoilt the party was Logs who skippered Heatherhill to victory over us in 94/95! We defeated Karingal in the Semi-Final then beat Somerville in the Grand Final.

The team was well led by that hard taskmaster Ken Lonie who took 16 wickets at 9.63%. Steve Wisniewski took out the batting with 306 runs at 153.00%, David Worland scored 334 runs, Damien Des Barres 285, Gareth Park 247, Joe Rule 239, Gary Measham 224 and Steve Meddings 218. Bowlers in form were Gabba who took 26 wickets at 9.27%, Kieran McCluskey - 34 wickets, and Nathan Lonie - 14 wickets.

The 2nds finished in fifth position - snatching defeat in a number of games from the jaws of victory. Cameron Park led the team throughout the Season - unable to play in the 1sts due to injuries suffered just after the end of last Season (you shouldn't have removed the Training Wheels). Gary Measham won the batting with 285 runs at 71.25%, Cameron made 432, Michael Burke 289, Luke Van Raay 268 and Mick Godfrey 216. Nathan Ross took the bowling with 38 wickets at 14.92%, Cam Bicknell got 27 wickets and David Disco Collins took 21. The beauty of this team is that any one of the players could at any time play 1sts for this club - all of them would be permanent fixtures in any other MPCA club’s 1st XI!
The 1sts were fantastic. We made the finals courtesy of an outright win over reigning Premiers Baden Powell and we never relinquished our position in the four after that. At the end of the Home and Home games we were in “bonus territory” and the rest is, as they say in the Classics (well at least in this one!), HISTORY.

Semi-Final
Langwarrin batted first and scored a competitive 227 on the slow Seaford surface with Simon McEvoy (36), Ben Wells (38) and Jim Boyd (58) in good touch and fine support from Matthews, Munasinghe and Al Davie. Scott Phillips (4/56) was in fine form not only with the ball but his fielding was brilliant. Long Island’s batting was excellent led by Doug Van Raay (65) and some big-hitting by Paul Hartle (45) then terrific support at the end from Scooby Doolan (31), Rod Park, Striker Kent and Sid Phillips. Mal Coutts (4/69), Ben Wells and Jim Boyd bowled well. So the 3rd and 4th placed teams went into the Grand Final.

Langwarrin 7/227 (Scott Phillips 4/56) lost to Long Island 8/228 (Doug Van Raay 65, Paul Hartle 45)

Grand Final
The Grand Final started in bright sunshine but with the Long Island bowlers - Phillips and Hartle - unable to keep their footing - only 27 minutes of play was possible by tea. Following the break YCW worked itself into a terrific position - 1/76 - but the Loss of Matt Lane was soon followed by the dismissals of Jansz and Bedford and at 3/123 after the first day’s play (53 overs) the game was evenly balanced. Peter Wilkins (62) and Joey Lane (121) were superb on Day 2 (the actual second day was a washout) and Randolf De Silva (34) hit crisply helping YCW to a score of 7/321 when the declaration came. Paul Arnie Hartle (3/125) and Greg Lamb (2/49) were the wicket-takers. Long Island commenced the long chase full of confidence and at stumps it was 0/61. On the final day Doug Van Raay (75) and Stuart McLeod (103) met every challenge thrown at them putting on 130 for the opening stand then despite losing quick wickets to Goldfinch and Dignan, Long Island put the contest beyond doubt when veteran Peter Bedford (50no) and Stuart Doolan figured in a stand which at no time looked like being broken and in fading light and misty rain Keith Jansz conceded that the game could not be won - Long Island 4/262 and Premiers.

Doug Van Raay led the batting with 397 runs at 44.11%, Stuart McLeod scored 519 runs, Peter Bedford 248, Stuart Doolan 229, Paul Hartle 216 and Peter Conell 203. Greg Lamb won the bowling award taking 32 wickets at 17.59%, Paul Hartle took 43 wickets and Scott Phillips took 33.

Jack Peacock Knockout Cup
During the Season Long Island played and won its way into the Grand Final of this Competition and met Heatherhill in the Grand Final. To get there the team won the following games -

Grand Final
The game was played on turf at the A.H.Butler Oval in perfect conditions. Heatherhill opened in great style taking advantage of everything loose. The introduction of spin - Striker Kent and Greg Lamb saw the run-rate drop and wickets started to fall, however a handy partnership between Hille and Bradley again put the game Heatherhill’s way - their innings closed at 8/221 - Arnie had taken 3/44 and Striker 3/39. Our innings got away to a good start with the Van Raay brothers in top form. When Doug went for 20 (well down the track to Bradley!), the Stapler took control and scored a fantastic century - unfortunately we had no-one to stay with him for a period of time and the last few had to hit out - again unfortunately we didn’t reach the required total, falling 5 runs short.

In this special Season - our 25th - a number of players stood up and the future augers well with the tremendous talent that exists in the Long Island Cricket Club.

Batting
Runs
621 Doug Van Raay
543 Glenn Fossett
519 Stuart McLeod
509 Gary Measham
500 Damien Des Barres
484 Steve Wisniewski
483 Laurence Hall
452 Cameron Park
438 Ryan Lee
437 Luke Van Raay
408 David Worland
407 Pat Van Raay
397 David Thompson
387 Chris Burke
370 Marty Kelly
363 Gerard Rabot
359 Alby Howie
335 Michael Wilson
319 Richard Hall
290 Adrian Koch
289 Michael Burke
288 Chris Hocking
280 Joe Rule
275 Gareth Park
251 Peter Conell
248 Peter Bedford & Peter Ridgway
237 Ben Coates
236 Alex Blackshaw
233 Paul Connolly
230 Brendan Kelly & Steve Meddings
229 Stuart Doolan
220 Darren Watt
216 Mike Godfrey & Paul Hartle
210 Tom Webster
203 Richira Nissanka

Centuries
Stuart McLeod (2) 110 & 103
Damien Des Barres 178
Chris Burke 145
Laurence Hall 142
Steve Wisniewski 127
David Thompson 117
Steve Meddings 116
Ryan Lee 113
Paul Connolly 110no
Alby Howie 107
Cameron Park 106no
Tom Webster 105no
Gary Measham 101no
Glenn Fossett 100

Bowling
Wickets
43 Paul Hartle
40 Paul Roach
38 Nathan Ross
34 Kieran McClusky & David Smith
33 Scott Phillips
32 Greg Lamb
31 Ryan Lee & Gareth Park
27 Cameron Bicknell
25 Darren Lee
24 Damien Des Barres & James Haley
21 David Collins
20 Alex Blackshaw, Michael Dixon & Michael Wilson
18 Luke Fossett & Dale McCurdy
17 Chris Hocking
16 Adam Collins, Ricky Curtis, Adrian Koch & Ken Lonie
15 Michael Middleton

5-Wickets an Innings
Ryan Lee (3) 8/21, 7/32 & 6/53
Paul Hartle (3) 6/20, 5/32 & 5/40
Paul Roach (3) 5/17, 5/20 & 5/36
Damien Des Barres 8/24
Luke Byrne 6/11
Stephen Johnson 6/24
Darren Lee 6/33
Adam Collins 6/49
Nathan Ross 6/71
David Smith 5/9
Brendan Kelly 5/9
Michael Dixon 5/13
Ricky Curtis 5/22
Scott Phillips 5/41
Alex Blackshaw 5/43
James Haley 5/43

MILESTONES
During the Season a number of players reached personal Milestones with the club -

Games
200
Peter Conell
150
Peter Ridgway
100
Laurence Hall,
Nathan Ross,
Gareth Park,
Marty Kelly

Runs
4000
Stuart McLeod
1000
Joel Stevenson,
Luke Van Raay,
Glenn Fossett,
David Worland

Wickets
200
Nathan Ross
150
Kieran McCluskey
Paul Hartle
100
Cameron McLeod
Paul Roach

In addition, Life Membership was awarded to Dale McCurdy, Mal Ritchie and Jeff Roach. Dale joined the Club in 1978/79 - the first year of Juniors and has been with the Club every year since bar one when he followed his great mate Craig Small to Skye which he felt “was the limit”. Mal Ritchie has been a tremendous Club-person for many Seasons who is always to the fore when work is to be done. His work with the Juniors - albeit in a supporting role - and as Team Manager of the 1st XI has been nothing short of fantastic. Jeff was Secretary of the Club from 1994/95 to the end of the 1997/98 Season and is one of those Club people who works his hardest for the club and who prior to becoming Secretary turned his hand to all manner of tasks. All have been tremendous servants of this fine club.

Juniors

The Under 16 East team finished in 5th position - 33 runs from a Final Four position - the Under 16 Central’s were well down the table, the Under 14 East team finished in 3rd place and the Central’s and the West’s were also a fair way out of finals contention. The Under 14 East’s met Langwarrin in the Semi-Final and went down in a very close game - we batted first and made 120 and had them 8 wickets down when the required score was reached.

Performances for the Season were -

Under 16’s
The East team were very well served by Ryan Lonie (534 runs & 9 wickets), Nathan Lonie (382 runs & 11 wickets), Brett Wilson (232 runs), David Thompson (144 runs), Sean Lindsey (154 runs & 13 wickets), Jason Burgan (125 runs), Michael Coulter (13 wickets) and Mark Sullivan (12 wickets). For the Central team Aaron Hall (146 runs), Ben Jasiewicz (98 runs & 13 wickets), Jamie Tomlinson (87 runs), Matt Hill (83 runs & 13 wickets), Damien Dunn (63 runs & 9 wickets), Chris Barrett (70 runs) and J-J Hannon (10 wickets) were the major performers.

Under 14’s
We fielded three Under 14 teams with Sam Reddaway scoring 210 runs and taking 10 wickets, Luke Middleton (190 runs), Ben Coleman (178 runs & 17 wickets), Jamie Quanchie (160 runs), Evan Kill (133 runs), Richard Thomas (129 runs), Brendan Spencer (122 runs & 17 wickets), Paul Barnsley (120 runs & 15 wickets), Anthony Corbin (117 runs), Michael Bryans (113 runs), Darren Koch (23 wickets), Jamie Wilson (20 wickets), Robert Edgerton (17 wickets), Stephen Hocking (15 wickets) and Glenn Davey (14 wickets).

Under 12’s
For the Under 12’s Leigh Noble had an exceptional Season scoring 273 runs and taking 9 wickets, Chris Spencer (190 runs), Adrian Calcedo (174 runs), R.Pratt (151 runs) and M.Bennett (119 runs) did well with the bat while M.Sudomlak (15), J.Bailey (13), Adrian Calcedo (13), M.Bennett (13) and A.Damen (12) were the leading wicket-takers. Following the Season the MPCA organised an Under 12 Match between the Northern-based clubs and the Southern-based ones and Leigh Noble was selected from Long Island.