Seven grand final wins from 11 appearances in 15 years
LEFT : THE OLD SCOTCH CRICKET CLUB 1ST XI – MCC CLUB XI DIVISION 1 PREMIERS , 2021 / 22 . BACK ROW : SAM DAWBORN (’ 15 ), HAMISH FRANCIS (’ 21 ), WILL CLARK (’ 12 ), WILLIAM BONWICK (’ 16 ), HARRISON GOAD (’ 13 ). FRONT ROW : WILL HAYES , CAMERON HEMP (’ 19 ), SAM SHEARER (’ 10 ), NICK SPARKS (’ 16 ), MATTHEW MITCHELL (’ 12 ), NICK SHEARER (’ 17 ). SEATED : MICHAEL SPARKS (’ 18 )
TOP : THE 2ND XI CELEBRATES A WICKET
DURING THEIR SEMI-FINAL AGAINST OLD WESLEY .
LACHIE-FRASER-SMITH (’ 85 ) BOWLING FOR THE 3RD XI .
SUCCESS FOR OLD SCOTCH CRICKETERS
After unexpected grand final losses to Old Melburnians in recent years , the Old Scotch Cricket Club 1st XI was eager to set the record straight and continue its dominance across the 2021 / 22 season with a grand final win .
After successfully defending 105 against MCC ( all out for 64 ) in the semi-final , the 1st XI went into the grand final on 13 March undefeated , and with the pressure of being favourites .
Tight bowling from Harrison Goad (’ 13 ) and William Bonwick (’ 16 ) kept Old Melburnians to 138 , a modest total on the superb Main Oval pitch . Cameron Hemp (’ 19 ) came out blazing , and with Sam Shearer (’ 10 ) and Michael Sparks (’ 18 ), the total was calmly passed with five overs to spare .
The premiership was a real team effort , with strong season performances from Will Clark (’ 12 ), Will Hayes , Nick Shearer (’ 17 ), Hamish Francis (’ 21 ) and Sam Dawborn (’ 15 ). It brought the 1st XI ’ s performance to seven grand final wins from 11 appearances in the last 15 years .
The 2nd XI , led by John Stavris (‘ 12 ), headed into the final with strong performances and looking for its first grand final appearance since the MCC Club XI Division 2 was created . The 2nd XI had beaten Old Wesley in January , but a sticky wicket after rain suited the medium-slow Old Wesley bowlers , and they quickly had Old Scotch in trouble with three early wickets .
Old Scotch fought back strongly with a modest total , thanks to Mitch Sennitt (’ 15 ) and Oliver McLeish (’ 17 ). Great bowling from Will Meggitt (’ 12 ) and James Halse (’ 16 ) brought the game into balance with four overs remaining . Unfortunately , Old Wesley rallied and won with just two overs to spare .
Throughout the season Tom Polkinghorne (’ 18 ), Cameron Melville (’ 13 ), Nick Bennett (’ 20 ) and Tom Edney (’ 15 ) all made strong contributions . Special mention to Cameron Melville who scored the club ’ s only century of the season .
The 3rd XI reformed this year , and while winning only three games it had a couple of close finishes in other matches , and the
RIGHT : THE OLD SCOTCH CRICKET CLUB 3RD XI
team enjoyed a memorable season . It was a great opportunity for a group of friends to continue playing together once more , often accompanied by their sons , as they had done when taking up cricket again together some nine years ago .
The team was led by Paul Lund , Chris McKenna and David Polmear (’ 80 ). Most of the opposition were significantly younger , and each week the team had to work closely as a unit to be competitive . There were some terrific individual performances , but fundamentally the season outcomes were based on the team effort , banter and enjoyment between Chris McKenna and the family combinations of David , James (’ 14 ) and Scott Polmear (’ 17 ), Paul and Oscar Lund (’ 18 ), John (’ 81 ) and Ben Lloyd (’ 18 ), Bill and James Kelsall , and Lachie (’ 85 ) and William Fraser-Smith (’ 18 ).
We wish to sincerely thank our sponsors the Elgin Inn , AANDI Lawyers , Pinnacle Road , McDonald Management and Events and OSCA , all of whom have helped to maintain the club ’ s strength during challenging times .
The club plans to field three teams again in 2022 / 23 , and encourages recent school leavers to enjoy a high standard of cricket in a welcoming and fun environment on some of the best pitches in the country , courtesy of Scotch Curator Mick Smith and his wonderful team of Grounds people .
Weekly updates of team performances , fixtures and social memberships are available on www . oldscotchcc . com . au or through our regular e-newsletters . Surround yourself in the excitement .
MARK GRIFFITHS – PRESIDENT , OLD SCOTCH CRICKET CLUB
www . scotch . vic . edu . au Great Scot 85