Gentlemen awarded for outstanding season
It was hard for the committee to decide who should be awarded due to the high standard of players in the league, but in the end the best had to be crowned.
A season of highflying sixes and stump-shattering wickets culminated on Friday as teams gathered The Food Palace for the official prize giving of the Newcastle District Cricket Association (NDCA).
President of the association, Stephen Francis, better known to the cricketing fraternity as, Uncle Steve, addressed the teams.
“This 2013/2014 year has been excellent for us. Although we had many issues with the fields, and the dangers some of them proved to the players, we had a season without incident requiring disciplinary action, proving that here in Newcastle cricket is gentleman’s sport played by gentlemen.”
The issues that plagued the cricketing season were overshadowed simply by the excellent displays of skill shown by the sportsmen.
Uncle Steve touched on a subject that has caused concern in the league in recent years.
“The lack of participation of the youth in the cricketing league is scary. In the past, we had often had two to three teams of schoolboys participating in the league, but this year, there were just a handful.”
Schools willing to participate in the league were called upon to get in touch with the relevant officials.
Once these matters were addressed, vice-president of NDCA, Quentin Ferreira, handed out awards.
Asians claimed the Saturday league, while the Trevor Smith knockout trophy went to Phoenix. SAPS managed an impressive win of both the Night Leagues and the Pro 20 Cup.
It was hard for the committee to decide who should be awarded due to the high standard of players in the league, but in the end the best had to be crowned.
Altaf Topia was crowned Batsmen of the Season, and the cheers erupted as the association members voiced their approval when he claimed his award.
For the third time running, proving to be a real hero, Uthmaan Desai claimed the Best Bowler award for his efforts with the ball.
The coveted All-round Award was awarded to Nishen ‘Gaps’ Ramduth for a season of excellence.
The NDCA thanked its sponsors, especially Trevor Smith.
