Now the dusk has settled after yesterday's Grand Final, we can reflect on what would have to be one of the most amazing performances in the history of Grade Cricket in SA. To come from wooden spooners last year to be the first Club ever to win all three Premierships in one season is still hard to comprehend.
With the merger stuff going on last year, we were basically dead and buried. We then had all other Clubs trying to pinch all our players (Kelvin to Glenelg, Drew to Kensington, Drennan to East Torrens, plus several others as well). We may as well have packed our bags and closed the door.
But full credit to the A Grade players, led by Trent Kelly, they had a team meeting last August and agreed to all stick together and pay back all the volunteers at the Club who were trying to make it survive. After Round 1, he told them all the reason he was playing on was because he knew this young group of talented players would win the Premiership. How profound that statement turned out to be!
We have played 23 games this year in all formats and lost one (due to one hour of bad cricket against Glenelg) which is remarkable. We won six out of six in One day and 20/20 games. Comprehensive wins in all finals. Only the Port semi was close, and that was the most intense game of Grade cricket I have seen, full credit to Port.
We had the best bowling line up in the comp by a mile. Spencer Johnson with his left arm quicks would be the quickest in the comp. Braeden Renshaw is hugely under rated, but lots of wise people from various Clubs rate him the best bowler in 1st Grade. Ben Williams has relished having three other pace bowlers support him after going solo last year, ended up the leading wicket taker in the comp with 33 wickets @ 16.6, every game got the breakthrough whenever the team needed it. And last but not least, Trent Kelly with his experience and competitiveness no doubt won us many games, with both bat and ball. Logan Pastyn with his spin late in the year was vital too.
Batting was massive improvement this year, Kelvin was awesome after Xmas, and Bailey Capel for a 16 year old to open in A Grade and score 340 runs was brilliant. His innings in the GF was amazing. Drennan with three centuries and over 600 runs to go with his Keeper award was remarkable. Daniel Drew went to another level this year, resulting in a comprehensive Bradman Medal win. Pat Fisher improved with over 400 runs and Carl Mickan did his bit during year too.
The best thing was 10 of the 12 in the Grand Final are West Torrens Juniors, plus Drennan and Renshaw have played all their Senior cricket here. Other clubs could take a leaf out of our book. Ironically, we now have had approaches from 4 very good 1st Grade players from other Clubs wanting to join us, how times have changed!
Well that ends the 2016/2017 season. Expect to wake up soon and it has all been a dream, but if it is all true, then we will keep celebrating for a little while yet!