Hillgrove Colts Cricket Club – 2018/19 Little Dougie’s Mate 2010/11 2018/19 Hillgrove Committee President – Michael Stace Vice President – Nick Sewell and Tony Jones Secretary – Kris Croft Treasurer – Matt Schaefer Junior Co-Ordinator – Ian Reeves Registrar –Brian Parsons 2018/19 - Hillgrove Junior Report The 2018-19 junior cricket season is done and dusted. Once again Hillgrove provided teams for each age division and we continue to lead the way in providing opportunities for both boys and girls in cricket. Girls now play a significant role in all of our teams and our oppositions are now used to facing, and getting out to, our fine players! We can easily describe our season as successful. We have over 80 young players, boys and girls, actively engaged in a wonderful sport, learning skills beyond merely the physical. Skills that will be invaluable throughout life such as teamwork, tolerance, patience and resilience; all required when playing this game. It feels great to win, but that’s just not going to happen all the time. It feels better to know you have given your best, supported your team and played in the spirit of the game; and that can happen always! This year Hillgrove welcomed players from Uralla, Inverell and Glen Innes. They were welcomed with open arms into their respective teams and I trust will be back again next season. I must congratulate all teams on their performances throughout the season. A special congratulations to the Hillgrove Brumbies Under 14s team on winning their grand final against the minor premiers CSC. There were many fine individual performances throughout the season and you can check some of these out on the following pages. We congratulate the many players who have played representative cricket for Armidale this season. Ben Heagney and Mitch Duddy both represented Central North at the Under 14 Kookaburra Cup in Albury. While Vanessa Simpson has just been selected to play in the Sixers State Challenge Under 14s team to play in Sydney over Easter. As always our club must firstly thank the coaches. The time willingly given by these people, not only on game day, but training and general organisation, is significant. Teams can only exist if we have people willing to volunteer their time and it can be a difficult task. I encourage all players and parents to personally thank their coach and recognise the time they have given to allow everyone to play the game. Secondly, thank you to all the ‘support’ parents. Those parents who help out with scoring, umpiring and all the other little jobs that ‘crop up’ during the season. Finally, thank you to the players. We are ‘the family club’, and we ensure that we play in that spirit, supporting each other. On the occasions that I was able to visit teams on a Saturday morning I was pleased to observe great team spirit amongst our players. I am proud to be involved with this club and hope others feel the same. As my time involved with the juniors has now come to an end I hope others will ‘step-up’ to the roles required in order for our club to continue to provide outstanding opportunities for our young people in this great game. Soo the ‘Grove. Ian Reeves Under 10 – Hillgrove Colts The U10 Colts had a great year, with plenty of wins (in fact, no losses) on the board, but, more importantly, great improvement in the skills of the game as the year progressed. with lots of fun and enthusiasm! As is usual in U10’s, cow corner got a solid work out, but there were some nice cricket shots being played by the end of the year, with a boundary or two even being scored on the off side! Likewise the bowling and fielding improved out of sight after the Christmas break. Low totals were often defended, with many less illegal deliveries and some great catching and fielding in general. Thanks go to the parents of the Colts for their support, especially Ben Sawyer for doing much of the work. Until next year, Gary Eastment Back Row: Ollie Sawyer, Owen Yates, Zac McFarlane, Jake Coventry, Sam Wysel. Front Row: Slok Khadgi, Hamish Eastment, Aaroha Gautam Coach: Ben Sawyer Under 10 – Hillgrove Brumbies 2018-19 was the first season of cricket for most if not all of the Brumbies team, and the team had a great time getting to know each other and learning how to play the game. All members of the team showed great improvement as the season went on, with some great batting, bowling, catching and fielding. Well done to Archie, Ben, Blake, Brooke, Isaac, Jack, Jacob, Jem, Riley and Tyler! It was a pleasure to coach the Brumbies and I hope to see everyone back next season. A big thanks to all the parents who helped with training, scoring and umpiring at different stages throughout the year. Soo the Grove Andrew Byrne Front row (L-R): Tyler Brodbeck, Brooke Moran, Jacob Williams, Archie Byrne, Ben Cox Back row (L-R): Isaac Brown, Blake Swilks, Jack Heffernan, Riley Tosolini, Jem Watson Under 10 – Hillgrove / CSC Back Row: Tommy Page, Chloe Brennan, Luke Peardon, Isaac Rogers, Tommy Biddle, Lincoln Brennan Front Row: Chloe Clarke, Mackenzie Gash, Chelsea Curry, Claire Kelly, Eve Newsome. Coach: Andrew Curry The Under 10 Hillgrove/CSC side had a fantastic season considering for the majority, it was their first attempt at playing competitive cricket. They improved over the year and it showed by the number of wides bowled in the innings. This dramatically decreased as the season progressed. Fielding also improved with a number of good catches taken towards the end of the season and the basics starting to be applied on a more regular basis. Two areas on which the team really improved on the field was their grass stains on the knees and cartwheels. These two skills I haven’t seen in many coaching manuals, but I am sure that the Australian cricket sides could take them on board. Batting developed throughout the season as well. We had many that hit fours and we even had a couple of sixes hit. Our running between the wickets was a bit of a hit and miss affair, some weekends they were great and others not so. One area in which we can work on next year. I would like to thank the parents of the side who were there to support the kids every weekend and also help out with things such as scoring. It makes the day a whole lot more enjoyable and the kids really appreciate it. I hope that all of the team play again next year. It was great to see so many girls playing cricket and enjoying it. They have so many pathways available to girls and boys now it is really exciting. I would encourage the team to drag another friend or two along next year so we can continue to grow. Looking forward to next year. Cuz. Andrew Curry Under 12 – Hillgrove Colts It has been a privilege to be the under 12 coach for this season. All I can say is what a team! We should be selling tickets for the weekly entertainment this team provides each and every week (minus the grey hair increase on those close games). A big thankyou to the parents that bring the kids along each and every week and supporting the team and I during the season. Most of this team stepped up from under 10’s last season. The entire team have had a massive improvement in their cricket skills and development, which will only get better thanks to NSW cricket training on coaching. The most rewarding aspect of this great team is that they give it their all each and every week, competitive at time, but all love the game. The competition in under 12’s was really tight, especially with the top 3 positions and we only just missed out on the grand final appearance. Congratulations team on a very successful season and looking forward already to the 2019/20 season. Now to the individual players: Emily Simpson: The lady of our team and sole female player and yes she kept the boys inline! Emily is a delight to see her play the game and she is developing into a good leader on the field. She is calm cool and collective in the middle, and didn’t we need that during the season. You’re a delight to coach for the year Em, all the best for the U14’s. Agoi Marial: Hillgrove’s version of Curley Ambrose- but better! Agoi did not miss a single game this year. His fast bowling improved each and every game, and the opposition knew that. With the bat he was steadfast as a rock and took some great catches during the year. But his greatest attribute is his attitude towards his peers and thinking of other before himself. All the best for u14’s next year, you will be sorely missed. Daniel Emmery: Dan took on wicket keeping and had made massive improvements with the gloves. Each and every game Dan give it 100%. But what has impressed me the most is his taste for spin and can he move that ball, confusing even the best of batters. You should be very proud of your season Dan, we are and well done. Nathan Smith: Nathan too had developed a taste for spin this year and he did not disappoint. He has stepped up very well and his development this year has been fantastic.