DARREN Connell has again shown he is still performing in the South West Slopes Cricket League by taking out four awards at Friday night’s presentation at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club.
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The Crusaders all-rounder won the batting aggregate and average 275 runs at 34.37.
He won the Mel and Gloria Paterson award for the best performance in the Delta Agribusiness Cup, 81 and 4/8 in the preliminary final against Coyotes.
“The best thing for me this year is having won the competition and having had a pretty successful year as a team,” Connell said.
“It didn’t look like we were going to get a team, so we grabbed a few blokes left, right and centre.
“We hadn’t played together before, but we had a bit of fun on field and off. Everyone really enjoyed the season.”
He credited the team’s winning efforts with a good training regime through-out the season.
“We were lucky enough that our two best performances came in the semi finals and the grand final,” Connell said.
Connell capped off a fine night by winning the Ray Ward Memorial highest partnership award.
Together with Scott Meale, the pair added 151 runs for the second wicket against the Coyotes in the preliminary final.
For Connell this was eighth time he has won this award, the first time was in the 1995/96 season when he and Brent Milthorpe added 256 runs batting for Big O against Stockinbingal at Fisher Park. Both batsman remained not out, Connell 142 and Milthorpe 131.
Dean Bradley and David Garness dominated the representative awards. They both shared the Pat Kerin award for the best cricketer in the first X1 and they shared the aggregate wickets with both quicks capturing 13 wickets.
Bradley said he was “pretty chuffed” with the award for a year which included Cootamundra reclaiming the O’Farrell Cup.
“It was very good year, both individually and team-wise and it’s good to get recognition after a good year,” Bradley said.
For the first time two encouragement, awards were presented. Tom Grace played every game for the Crusaders and played in all six-rep matches.
While Aaron Basham made his presence felt when he started playing for Stockinbingal before Christmas.
Josh Purtell won the Bennett Rudd award for a second time. Josh had previously won this award in 2011-12.
GARNESS WINS FRANK SMITH AWARD
THE Frank Smith Award Services to Cricket honour was awarded to David Garness.
The Garness family arrived in Cootamundra in 2001 and David got involved in cricket at a very young age.
Some highlights include:
- In the 2008/09, season at the age of 15, won the Merrin Cup bowling aggregate with 27 wickets.
- In 2010/11 represented NSW under 17 at the national carnival in Hobart.
- 2010/11, awarded the Warren Smith Medal for the best under 17 cricketer in Riverina Cricket Zone. In 2011/12, awarded a Basil Sellers scholarship.
- In the 2012/13 season, played second grade cricket in Sydney with North Sydney.
- In 2016/17, he was the leading wicket taker in Wagga cricket with 20 wks.
- Locally in our rep scene, in 2010, debuted for Cootamundra at the age of 16.
- In 2013/14, David was a member of the Cootamundra representative side that won both the Country Plate and Stribely Shield. During that season David captured 26 wickets and tied with Mick Butler as the rep cricketer of the year.
- Three seasons ago joined the Cootamundra board and this season was a valued selector.
This season Garness came on board to help as the curator and put his hand up to improve the seven a side carnival.
His hard work saw team numbers increase from eight to 10.
The tall speedster was wrapped to play in his first premiership with the Crusaders and at 24 years of age, is the youngest winner of this award.
