Big scores the casualty of excellent ball work

COLTS

It was a funny season for the reigning premiers, who returned to first grade action without key players Jayden Goodwin and Jaysen Miguel.

But with these departures came opportunities and youngsters Nicholas Wilson and Tyler King made the most of every opportunity given to them.

Wilson, a plucky 15-year-old, burst onto the first grade scene against Hay Park on October 26 and throughout his nine matches performed well.

In the first semi-final, Colts benefited from the return of Murray Goodwin, who blasted a telling 55 off 76 balls, which sunk Hay Park in a low scoring affair.

Aside from Goodwin’s heroics under the gloomy sky, the story of this match was Colts paceman Wilson, who recovered from some early treatment to snare two wickets.

EATON BEAVERS

It was a summer of discontent for the Beavers, who looked a shadow of their former selves this season.

After finishing agonisingly short in the 2018/2019 grand final, many experts tipped Clint Hewson and company to challenge once again.

But early injuries to electric quick Steven Barron and James Hillery were less than ideal and horrible results followed.

The Beavers’ sole victory for the year came against Colts in round eight, after the umpires penalised Colts for a slow over rate, resulting in their final score being reduced.

It appears to be a long off-season ahead at the Eaton Sports Ground, as the club works through several variables to ensure they can fire again.

HAY PARK

The Redbacks returned to the finals this season, on the back of excellent efforts from Jono Whitney, Michael Tassone, John Richardson and Grant Milbanke.

Firmly entrenched in fourth spot for the majority of the season, the Redbacks were competitive, although they did tend to fall away at times if Richardson or Whitney were unable to hang around.

One positive moving forward though was Milbanke’s bowling. His breathless 3-1 off three overs against Eaton was easily the best spell of the season.

By season’s end, he finished with multiple wicket hauls and became a man most batsmen did not want to face.

MARIST

Marist were the feel-good story of the 2019-2020 season, with their renewed morale playing a massive part in their resurgence.

The Blues got their first taste of silverware in the T20 competition after easily defeating Hay Park in the grand final on December 21.

But Brayden Clarke was the star of this team. Whether it was with the bat (341 runs at an average of 37.9) or ball (28 wickets at an average of 10.1), his deeds not only produced belief, but they got results.

Although they were riding high towards the top end of the ladder, the Blues were still keen to give youth a chance, with promising junior Jaxon Cornford not looking out of place at first grade level.

Marist booked their place into the grand final after triggering a monumental Leschenault batting collapse.

LESCHENAULT

Despite losing their way in last season’s preliminary final, the Green Caps showed no ill-effects early in the campaign, with skipper Tom Buchanan again leading by example.

With a fearsome bowling attack consisting of Jacob Templeton, Brody D’Agostino, Matthew Bowles and James Letchford, Buchanan’s side set the pace for much of the year.

Although prone to the odd batting collapse, Buchanan, along with Matt Fink and Justin Woods, routinely dug in and were brilliant at the crease.

Towards the end of the regular season, the Green Caps looked to be on course to win the minor premiership, however they were denied on the final day by Marist, who tore through their run chase. Both sides met a week later, with the Blues replicating their effort.