King of the Lion pride

Pakenham star Dale Tormey claimed the 2018/19 Terry Stephenson Medal recently. Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Russell Bennett and Hayley Wildes

Gun Pakenham all-rounder Dale Tormey capped off a truly remarkable season 2018/19 in the West Gippsland Cricket Association’s top flight with its top honour, the Terry Stephenson Medal, at the senior presentation night in Kooweerup on Friday.

Tormey bludgeoned 1051 runs in all forms (as of the end of the season) for the Lions at a staggering average of 75.1, including a highest score of 177.

But he also made a real impact with the ball, snaring 29 wickets at 17.2

Tormey was also named in the Premier Team of the Year, and told the Gazette that the 2018/19 season was one of the most enjoyable he’d ever had.

Clearly, his side winning the Premier title helped that significantly, but there’s more to it.

“I said (to the Gazette) just after the grand final – I’ve won a couple of awards already, and it’s always nice being recognised with individual awards, however the grand final win is the pinnacle and that’s what we play for,” he said.

“Seeing how much it meant to the boys after being beaten the past couple of years, and I’d been there and seen that, it was just nice to help them get across the line this year.

“You might have a competition where a couple of clubs dominate and they’re always the powerhouses, but they may not always play off in the grand final.

“Pakenham and Koowee have both been really strong over a long period of time now, especially Koowee, but Pakenham has put together a really strong side and hopefully we can have some dominance for a few years.”

There’s a key word in that – ‘we’.

Tormey isn’t planning on going anywhere – having found a new cricketing home at the Lions’ den.

“Like anything in life you go through waves of how you feel about things and there had been times recently where, ok cricket is always there but you might not be enjoying it as much even if you are still performing – whether it’s being around a club, or being with certain blokes – but Pakenham has been great,” Tormey said.

“I’ve enjoyed every moment, I’ve looked forward to going to training, and even if I’ve had a rubbish day at work I’ve always looked forward to being out there.

“Robbie (Elston) is just so well organised with everything and the way training works.

“It’s been great fun, and there’s always some great banter and a bit of a laugh between the boys and that makes it even more enjoyable.”

But even when the Lions did experience a rare on-field hiccup during the season, the way in which they handled it spoke volumes of the group according to Tormey.

“Just with the maturity of the group, being able to sit down and look each other in the eye and deliver a few home truths,” he said.

“Previously I may’ve been involved with a few groups where you raise issues like that and people may take it personally or think you’re having a dig – they may not look past the individual side of things and think about what’s better for the team.

“The blokes are playing there (at Pakenham) because they want to win, and I’ve been really impressed with the buy-in from the blokes. They really do want to win, because I know they put in the extra work.”

Kooweerup captain-coach Mark Cooper’s season was also celebrated on the night. Not only did he take out the Glasscock Medal as the player of the WGCA’s campaign at the VCCL Melbourne Country week, he also finished second to Tormey in the Terry Stephenson Medal count – thanks to his 672 runs (from all forms) at 48, and 41 wickets at 14.1.

Also on Friday night, Lions president – and Country Week team manager – Phil Anning spoke about the WGCA’s campaign in the top, Provincial tier, and how the Warriors want to build on it moving forward.


WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNERS

BATTING AGGREGATE
(After the 14-round home and away season)

Premier: Dale Tormey (Pakenham) – 852 runs.
District: Mitch Thomas (Emerald) – 510 runs.
Sub-District: Jess Grima (Lang Lang) – 651 runs.
B Grade: Brad Trinnick (Emerald) – 463 runs.
C Grade: Justin Harris (Pakenham Upper/Toomuc) – 389 runs.
D Grade: Geoffrey Ball (NNG/Maryknoll) – 498 runs.
E Grade: Kaine Bundy (Tooradin) – 621 runs.
F Grade: Mick Hawkins (Devon Meadows) – 350 runs.
One Day: Nathan Hedt (Pakenham) – 271 runs.

BATTING AVERAGE:

Premier: Dale Tormey (Pakenham) – 94.66.
District: Michael Giles (NNG/Maryknoll) – 66.86.
Sub-District: Sahan Wijeratne (Pakenham Upper/Toomuc) – 111.4.
B Grade: Brad Trinnick (Emerald) – 38.58.
C Grade: Troy Wilson (Pakenham) – 47.25.
D Grade: Geoffrey Ball (NNG/Maryknoll) – 49.8.
E Grade: Brett Whittingham (Clyde) – 76.13.
F Grade: Mick Hawkins (Devon Meadows) – 58.33.
One Day: Brett Maddock (Emerald) – 36.14.

BOWLING AGGREGATE:

Premier: Mark Cooper (Kooweerup) – 36 wickets.
District: Sean Somers (NNG/Maryknoll) – 32 wickets.
Sub-District: Dustin Peebles (Catani) – 30 wickets.
B Grade: Shannon Marum (Officer) – 21 wickets.
C Grade: Luke Hill (NNG/Maryknoll) – 28 wickets.
D Grade: Shamraiz Medhi (NNG/Maryknoll) – 26 wickets.
E Grade: Mark Zoldak (Cranbourne Meadows) – 39 wickets.
F Grade: Ray Perkins (Cardinia) – 27 wickets.
One Day: Brett Maddock (Emerald) – 22 wickets.

BOWLING AVERAGE

Premier: Mark Cooper (Kooweerup) – 12.67.
District: Dean Henwood (NNG/Maryknoll) – 9.77.
Sub-District: Nicholas Kyval (Pakenham Upper/Toomuc) – 10.96.
B Grade: Dean Perrow (Officer) – 13.43.
C Grade: Blake McGrath (Pakenham Upper/Toomuc) – 9.33.
D Grade: Shamraiz Medhi (NNG/Maryknoll) – 13.27.
E Grade: Geoff Bradshaw (Cranbourne Meadows) – 13.22.
F Grade: Zac Downes (Pakenham) – 10.58.
One Day: Brett Maddock (Emerald) – 5.86.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Premier (Terry Stephenson Medal): Dale Tormey (Pakenham) – 19 votes.
District: Ash Smith (Officer) – 17.
Sub-District: Sahan Wijeratne (Pakenham Upper/Toomuc) – 25.
B Grade: Jamie Cape (Devon Meadows) – 16.
C Grade: Bailey Ashley (NNG/Maryknoll) and Justin Harris (Pakenham Upper/Toomuc) – 15
D Grade: Shamraiz Medhi (NNG/Maryknoll) – 16.
E Grade: Kaine Bundy (Tooradin) – 25.
F Grade: Mick Hawkins (Devon Meadows) – 15.
One Day: Brett Maddock (Emerald) – 17.

Premier Team of the Year: Mark Cooper (C) (Kooweerup), Chris O’Hara (Kooweerup), Dale Tormey (Pakenham), Imesh Jayasekara (Upper Beaconsfield), Daniel McCalman (Merinda Park), Russell Lehman (Tooradin), Kiefer Peries (W/K) (Clyde), Cal O’Hare (Tooradin), Lucas Carroll (Devon Meadows), Jess Mathers (Kooweerup), Mathew Campbell (Merinda Park) and Matthew Aslett (Clyde).

Jeff Wallace Award (best administered club): Officer.

Glasscock Medal (best player during Country Week): Mark Cooper.