Big finish for Homers’ Combe
Homers all-rounder Jarred Combe capped off a matchwinning premiership performance by winning Horsham Cricket Association’s most prestigious individual trophy.
Combe won the association’s Cec Hopper Medal as the best all-round cricketer in the competition, fresh after dominating in a Pigeons premiership win over Rupanyup-minyip.
The medium-pace bowler and middle-order batsman also won an A Grade batting aggregate award, hitting 570 runs for the year, and collected an umpires trophy.
It was a big night for the Pigeons, with Combe’s team-mate and fellow all-rounder Simon Hopper winning a bowling-average award, with 21 wickets at 12.62 with his off-spinners.
An association bowling-average award went to Horsham Saints veteran left-hander Gary Davidson, who despite playing few A Grade games, scored 235 runs at 78.31.
Rupanyup-minyip might have fallen short of matching Homers in a grand final at Horsham City Oval but it had some success at the weekend.
Front-line bowler Brent Hudson captured 27 wickets to win a bowling-aggregate trophy and fellow all-rounder Ryan Metelmann collected a best-opposition player award. Homers were simply too good for Rupanyup-minyip in the A Grade season finale at Horsham City Oval in a game dominated for much of the contest by the ball.
After rain prevented play on the opening day for an hour and a half, Rupanyup-minyip, which had won the toss, limped to 8-132 in 82 overs before bad light stopped play.
Combe was a primary destroyer for the bowling side, tearing the heart out of the Blue Panthers’ middle order and finishing with 4-18.
Left-armer Eddie Landwehr also chimed in with important wickets, while the main resistance came from Dan Clark, 26 and Hudson, 22, and Clint Midgley, 19.
The score was never enough, despite the wicket offering some assistance to bowlers, and Homers’ batting depth eventually prevailed.
Rupanyup-minyip did well to at one stage have Homers 4-60, but Combe and Adam Atwood navigated their side past the target with five wickets down.
Hudson again worked hard for the Blue Panthers, capturing three wickets.
In B Grade, Lubeck-murtoa successfully defended 165 by bowling out Horsham Saints for 141 and in C Grade Quantong responded to Rupanyup-minyip’s 9-153 with 7-156.
Other association awards
B Grade: Alan Mcrae Medal, Brad Sproule, Horsham Saints; batting average, Nathan Koenig, Colts, 239 at 79.67; bowling average, Jordan Mcdonald, Bullants, 20 wickets at 15.65; umpires award, Graeme Reddie, Lubeck-murtoa. C Grade: Ivan Morrison Medal, Jeremy Tyler, Laharum; batting average, Rodney Weidemann, Rupanyup-minyip, 227 at 56.75; bowling average, Jeremy Tyler, 22 at 6.86; umpires award, Nathan Hill, Quantong. Special awards: Ellie Flack Memorial Award for services to cricket, Trent King; Hall of Fame inductees, Marty Knight, David Puls and Leigh Funcke.