Hepburn Cricket Club had a big weekend of finals cricket with their Under-16s winning their third premiership in four years and the Seniors winning their semi-final to advance to the grand final this weekend.
The Under-16 team captain, Bhodi Robinson, won the toss and elected to bat leading the charge with a captain’s knock of 78 not out. In form, Tyson Scoble, added 106 not out and the side posted 9/212 at the completion of their 40 overs. Nathan Anderson and Chaz Woottan contributed three wickets each for Barkers Creek. In reply, Barkers Creek was in trouble early when Tyson Scoble had opener, Nathan Anderson, caught for 1 run and then bowled the Barkers Creek captain, Tia Davidge, for a duck. Nethaniel Lowe contributed a bag of 5 wickets to have Barkers Creek all out for 53.
Tyson Scoble has had outstanding seasons representing the Club in the Under-16s and Senior competitions. Tyson has scored 474 runs at an average of 67.1 and has taken 23 wickets at an average of 6.7.
In the Seniors A Reserve Semi-final played at Wesley Hill in Castlemaine, Harcourt won the toss and batted. Opener Harley Brereton contributed 37 runs before falling to Braydon Yanner. Harcourt number 4, Matt Sobey, also had a good start but was caught off the bowling of Tyson Scoble for 30. Harcourt lost wickets steadily adding only 43 for the last 6 wickets. Tyson Scoble finished with four wickets. In reply, Hepburn were never in trouble. Nash and Wayne Robinson were undefeated on 86* and 35* respectively to see Hepburn home by 8 wickets after 28 overs.
Nash Robinson won the Under-18 Kirton Shield and the A Reserve Best and Fairest in the Creswick and District Cricket Association.
Six of the Senior XI have come up from the junior program or were also playing juniors this season. Next year another handful of the Under-16s will move up to Seniors so the Club is hoping to field A Grade and B grade teams in the Castlemaine and District Cricket Association. “We’ve had a great few years as a cricket club,” said Club President, Lindsay Olver. “After eight years without a cricket side in Daylesford or Hepburn, we’re experiencing a resurgence. We’ve got some terrific juniors coming through and they’ll be feeding into our senior sides over the next couple of years so the future of the Club is bright.”
Hepburn will field an unchanged side for the Grand Final against Newstead at Wesley Hill Reserve on Saturday. Newstead is looking for their third premiership in a row and will be hard to beat. Hepburn prevailed in a close encounter at Newstead in the only regular season game the two sides have played this year.
In another success for the Club, Nash Robinson was named A Reserve Best and Fairest and Under-17s Kirton Shield Best Player at the Castlemaine and District Cricket Association Presentation Night held Thursday evening at the Harcourt Cricket Club. Over the season, Nash scored 955 runs at an average of 36.7 and took 44 wickets at an average of 14.1.
Congratulations to the Hepburn Cricket Club Under-16s and to Nash Robinson! And good luck to the seniors in their Grand Final clash this weekend.
