MONDAY night saw the senior cricket community come together and celebrate the season ahead of the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association grand finals this weekend. Ovens Valley United’s Geeth Alwis almost clean-swept the entire A grade category, taking home the batting and bowling aggregate and average awards, alongside Player of the Year gongs in PlayHQ points and umpire votes. Due to the close nature of the B grade umpire vote count, the award winner will be announced at a later date. Full list of award winners A grade Player of the Year – Points: Geeth Alwis, Ovens Valley United (1035 points). Chronicle Trophy – Umpire Votes: Geeth Alwis, Ovens Valley United (16 votes). Batting – Average: Geeth Alwis, Ovens Valley United (69.50 average). Batting – Aggregate: Geeth Alwis, Ovens Valley United (695 runs). Bowling – Average: Geeth Alwis, Ovens Valley United (8.74 average). Bowling – Aggregate: Geeth Alwis, Ovens Valley United and Angus Heslin, Yarrawonga Mulwala (31 wickets). Golden Gloves: Reid Clarke, Yarrawonga Mulwala (17 catches, 3 stumpings). A reserve Player of the Year – Points: Mark O’Loughlan, Delatite (692 points). Player of the Year – Umpire Votes: Fraser Smart, Yarrawonga Mulwala (20 votes). Batting – Average: Justin Solimo, City Colts (50.80 average). Batting – Aggregate: Mark O’Loughlan, Delatite (572 runs). Bowling – Average: Mark Drage, Rovers United Bruck (11.10 average). Bowling – Aggregate: Will Graham, Rovers United Bruck (29 wickets). Golden Gloves: Connor Dennis, Rovers United Bruck (15 catches, 0 stumpings). B grade Player of the Year – Points: Jeremy Ackroyd, Rovers United Bruck (596 points). Chronicle Trophy – Umpire Votes: pending. Batting – Average: Jeremy Ackroyd, Rovers United Bruck (58.00 average). Batting – Aggregate: Andrew Balfour, Rovers United Bruck (438 runs). Bowling – Average: Kurt Schmidt, Rutherglen United (5.60 average). Bowling – Aggregate: Brendan Duncombe, Benalla Bushrangers (31 wickets). Golden Gloves: Nathan de Vries, Milawa (26 catches, 0 stumpings). C grade Player of the Year – Points: Jordan Smith, Benalla Bushrangers (710 points). Chronicle Trophy – Umpire Votes: Simon O’Brien, Greta (15 votes). Batting – Average: Jordan Smith, Benalla Bushrangers (74.67 average). Batting – Aggregate: Chris Nuck, Beechworth Wanderers (481 runs). Bowling – Average: Ryan Niklaus, Beechworth Wanderers (6.45 average). Bowling – Aggregate: Nicholas Jacobs, Benalla Bushrangers (27 wickets). Golden Gloves: Damian Leeburn, Yarrawonga Mulwala (14 catches, 5 stumpings). Best Player at Melbourne Country Week: Paddy McNamara, Rovers United Bruck and Cooper Thomason, Ovens Valley United (16 votes). Best Young Player in B/C Grade: Darcy Hargreaves, Yarrawonga Mulwala. A Grade Rising Star: Jed Marek, City Colts. Best U/21 A Grade Player: Gregor Fraser, Ovens Valley United. Umpire of the Year: Len Holden. Volunteer of the Year: Nic Bonwick, Wangaratta Magpies. Spirit of Cricket Team Award: Beechworth Wanderers A grade.
