HE won the coveted title in 2002/03 and Big O Burglars allrounder Scott Roberts has given himself every chance to repeat the feat by jumping to the lead in this season’s Cootamundra Herald Cricketer of the Year.
Roberts’ maximum collect of three votes for his unbeaten 90 in last weekend’s surprise win over Harden has moved him to 13 points and to the top of what is a congested leader board as this year’s COY is one of the most open in recent years.
Nine summers ago Roberts scored 539 runs in club cricket for an average of 59.88 and, with five regulation round matches remaining this season he has plenty of chances to add to his current aggregate of 336 an average of 48.
Teammate Jimmy Mitchell collected the two votes in the 47-run win after producing with both bat (22) and ball (2-25 off 10) leaving Harden’s Matt Schofield (2-33 and 26) to add one point to his tally.
Roberts enjoys a slender one-point lead over club mate and Big O Blues opener Scott Meale, who helped steer his side to a nine-wicket win over Stockinbingal at Stock with an unbeaten 33.
Chris Dawe made quick work of the Stock batting card on his way to 5-20 and man-of-the-match
honours, while Dawe’s brother-in-law Brendan O’Callaghan salvaged something from the loss by being awarded the one vote for his 33 in a team total of 80.
O’Callaghan has moved to eight votes and still in striking distance of the lead.
Wallendbeen quick Shane O’Brien also did his Cricketer of the Year aspirations no harm, racing to nine votes following a destructive display against Ex-Services Young Guns at Albert Park.
Defending just 47 runs, O’Brien bowled 10 overs straight to finish with the excellent figures of 8-11 as the Young Guns were routed for just 34.
Ray James, who took three wickets in four balls for the Ex-Services side and showed some
resistance with the bat remaining unbeaten on seven, collected the two votes, while Justin Hampton who top scored for the day with 16 and grabbed 1-18 off 10 was afforded the final vote.
The second upset of the round saw Ex-Services Bushrangers down Central Tigers by 30 runs at Fisher Park, the victory set up by the efforts of James Dallas and Josh Purtell.
Dallas claimed several big scalps in his 5-19 off nine overs, while after impressing with 40 runs with the willow, Purtell chimed in with 3-27 including the match-turning wicket of John Stephens.
Stephens was looking ominous as the required total crept closer, but lost his wicket on 34 which, added to his 4-37 with the ball saw him collect one COY vote and take his total to seven.
Weekend points
Big O Blues v Stock
3 - Chris Dawe (Blues) 5-20
2 - Scott Meale (Blues) 33 not out
1 - Brendan O’Callaghan (Stock) 33
Big O Burglars v Harden
3 - Scott Roberts (Burglars) 90 not out, 2-17
2 - Jim Mitchell (Burglars) 22, 2-25
1 - Matt Schofield (Harden) 2-33, 26)
Wallendbeen v Young Guns
3 - Shane O’Brien (Been) 8-11
2 - Ray James (Young Guns) 3-8
1 - Justin Hampton (Been) 16, 1-18
Bushrangers v Central Hotel
3 - James Dallas (Bushrangers) 5-19
2 - Josh Purtell (Bushrangers) 40, 3-27
1 - John Stephens (Tigers) 4-37, 34
Leaders
13 - Scott Roberts (Burglars)
12 - Scott Meale (Blues)
10 - Sam Annetts (Stock)
9 - Nathan Corby (Stock), Shane O’Brien (Been)
8 - Matt Berkrey (Blues), Brendan O’Callaghan (Stock), Nathan Schofield (Harden)
7 - Adam Twyford (Tigers), John Stephens (Tigers), Justin Hampton (Been), Matt Schofield (Harden)
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