Cessnock District Cricket Association 2021-22 awards presentation: "A season like no other"

"Season 2021-22 has been like no other within the Cessnock District Cricket Association and also other associations across Australia," CDCA secretary Mark Bercini said.

"The ongoing affect of the COVID-19 pandemic saw our competition delayed by four to five weeks for our first, second and fourth grades, with third grade not commencing its competition until the first week in December.

"If this wasn't enough of a disruption to our season, our association then went on to witness what I can now officially say the wettest season on record. I've been involved with this district for 27 years and can remember the 2008-09 season where approximately 50 per cent of the season was washed out, but this season there were at least 55 per cent of matches washed out across all grades and juniors.

"Speaking to some players that have been involved in the game for close to 50 years, they haven't witnessed a season this wet in their time either.

"This unfortunately included grand finals in all grades, where even after two weeks of spare days to complete these fixtures, clubs involved all had to settle for joint premierships in their respective grades."

Weather also affected outcome of the combined Coalfields Cup competition, which took place for the second year running, involving the five first grade clubs from Cessnock and the five first grade clubs from Singleton.

The newly-introduced six-team semi-final format featured four Cessnock clubs. Greta/Branxton and Mulbring were scheduled to contest the final, but it was unable to be completed due to the weather.

The John Bull Shield Senior Representative competition was reduced to a three-team competition due to the withdrawal of Maitland and Newcastle Suburban Districts before the season. Cessnock won their only game played, with the other scheduled match abandoned due to the weather.

The final against Singleton was scheduled to be played here in Cessnock, but it too was washed out, with Cessnock awarded the shield for the second consecutive year after finishing higher on the competition ladder after the preliminary rounds.

Another highlight of the year was that Coalfields Junior Representative Cricket Association is now an officially registered entity with Cricket NSW. Bercini thanked Tammie Howard and her team of volunteers for conducting this representative season.

Bercini also thanked Tom Lewis and the umpires' association, club executives, the association's major sponsor East Cessnock Bowling Club, curators across the district, and fellow board members (president Darren Thomson, vice-presidents Laurie Howell and Scott Robertson, treasurer Jordan Field, and board member Sean Wright) for their ongoing support.

(Full list of award winners appears below the photo gallery)

CESSNOCK DISTRICT CRICKET ASSOCIATION AWARDS PRESENTATION 2021-22

Life Members: Ross Smith, Clarrie Smith (Deceased), Pat Ptolemy, Tom Lewis, Bruce Wilson, Robert Stapleford, Richard Allen, Alan Hill (Deceased), John McMullen, Dallas Wade, Dot Heath, Graham Edgell.

Junior Rep Players Medals:

CDCA U/13's Coalfields Representatives 2021-22: Andrew Beer, Riley Brown, Max Clark, Ethan Edgell, Koby Follan, Lochie Lennard, Cooper O'Dwyer, Ben Regan, Lara Robertson, Tate Wootton-Brydon. Coaches: Michael Clark and Wade O'Dwyer.

CDCA U/15's Coalfields Representatives 2021-22: Jacob Callan, Lachlan Eather, Riley Fitzpatrick, Aiden Gibson, Ryder Howard, Riley McKewen, Oscar Vaughn, Jesse Wright. Coaches: Tom Vaughn and Sean Wright. Manager: Tammie Howard.

CDCA U/17's Coalfields Representatives 2021-22: Thomas Callan, Aiden Eather, Jayden O'Connor, Jack Wright. Coach: Rhys Eather.

Junior Individual Trophy Winners:

U/11's: Batting aggregate, Charles Wallace (Hotel Cessnock), 63 runs. Batting average, Charles Wallace (Hotel Cessnock), 63.00. Highest score, Riley Bedford (Hotel Cessnock), 28. Bowling aggregate, Madhav Bansal (Wine Country), 9 wickets. Bowling average, Rawson Drage (Bellbird White), 5 wickets at 2.60. Most wickets in an innings, Madhave Bansal (Wine Country) 4-13 off 5 (4/12/21). Player of the Year, Charles Wallace (Hotel Cessnock).

CDCA Junior Premiers: U/11's, Minor Premiers, Greta/Branxton; Major Premiers, Greta/Branxton and Bellbird Maroon.

Senior Representatives:

CDCA John Bull Shield Champions 2021-22: Joey Butler (c), Peter Brennan, Drew Olsen, Sam Peacock, Nathan Holz, Reuben Andrews, Joey Main, Matt Hopley, Jace Lawson, Zach Sneesby, Brent Watson, Zach Kronholm.

T20:

Scores of 100+: Jason Orr (Bellbird), 103no (First Grade, 4/12/21). Jason McMichael, 119 (Fourth Grade, 18/12/21). Andrew Wanless, 103no (Fourth Grade, 22/1/22).

Senior Individual Trophy winners:

Fourth Grade: Batting aggregate, Ryan Wilcox (Chelmsford Hotel), 214 runs. Batting average, Ryan Wilcox (Chelmsford Hotel), 107.00. Highest score, Jason McMichael (Wine Country), 119. Bowling aggregate, Jamie Spence (Hotel Cessnock), 17 wickets. Bowling average, Jamie Spence (Hotel Cessnock), 6.71. Most wickets in an innings, Matthew Kemp (Piranhas), 7-25 off 8 (18/12/21).

Third Grade: Batting aggregate, Jordan Field (Bellbird), 119 runs. Batting average, Jordan Field (Bellbird), 39.67. Highest score, Jordan Field (Bellbird), 99. Bowling aggregate, Jordon Jackson-Tilley (Hotel Cessnock), 9 wickets; Jamie McNamara (Greta/Branxton), 9 wickets. Bowling average, Cody Beavis (Mulbring), 7 wickets at 4.43. Most wickets in an innings, Jamie McNamara (Greta/Branxton) 6-21 off 10 (12/2/22).

Second Grade: Batting aggregate, Matthew Fairlie (Bellbird), 146 runs. Batting average, Matthew Fairlie (Bellbird), 48.67. Highest score, Jakob Bartley (Chelmsford Hotel), 92no. Bowling aggregate, Mark Peace (Greta/Branxton), 13 wickets; Robert Clark (Bellbird), 13 wickets. Bowling average, Arron Follan (Chelmsford Hotel), 12 wickets at 3.83. Most wickets in an innings, Clint Starkey (Bellbird) 7-10 off 8 (18/12/21).

First Grade: Batting aggregate, Jason Orr (Bellbird), 275 runs. Batting average, Jason Orr (Bellbird), 91.67. Highest score, Jason Orr (Bellbird), 103no. Bowling aggregate, Zach Kronholm (Bellbird), 19 wickets. Bowling average, Zach Kronholm (Bellbird), 8.05. Most wickets in an innings, Zach Kronholm (Bellbird) 6-15 off 7.2 (11/12/21).

CDCA Senior Premiers:

Fourth Grade: Minor Premiers, Chelmsford Hotel; Major Premiers, Chelmsford Hotel & Wine Country.

Third Grade: Minor Premiers, Bellbird; Major Premiers, Hotel Cessnock & Piranhas.

Second Grade: Minor Premiers, Bellbird; Major Premiers, Greta/Branxton & Wine Country.

First Grade: Minor Premiers, Greta/Branxton. R.E Smith First Grade Major Premiers: Greta/Branxton & Bellbird.

Coalfields Cup Premiers: Greta/Branxton & Mulbring.

Club Champions: Greta/Branxton.

Junior Rep Player of the Year Awards and Shields: Under 16's, Jack Knight. Under 14's, Oscar Vaughn. Under 12's, Tate Wootton-Brydon.

Senior Rep Player of the Year Award and Shield: Joey Main (Bellbird).

Senior Player of the Year Awards and Shields: Fourth Grade, Andrew Wanless (Chelmsford Hotel). Third Grade, Matthew Gough (Mulbring). Second Grade, Arron Follan (Chelmsford Hotel). R.E Smith First Grade, Jason Orr (Bellbird). Coalfields Cup First Grade, Jason Orr (Bellbird). Ted Brown (Highest Batting Average): Ryan Wilcox (Chelmsford Hotel), 107.00. Brad Smith Memorial Trophy (Dedication to Cricket), Tammie Howard & Mark Bercini. Ray McCord Trophy (Junior Talent), Ben Regan (Greta/Branxton). Dallas Wade Umpires Sportsman of the Year, Fletcher Sharpe (Piranhas).