The Season in Review 2006-07

Once again, having reached the conclusion of another cricket season, it feels uncomfortable to come up with apparently negative attitudes to the outcome for the Kiama Cricket Club. And yet, despite all of the superlative individual performances that punctuated the summer months, it was the inability to perform as a unit, as a team, as a Club, that has been our downfall at the final hurdle. It has again brought forward questions as to what the players of Kiama actually want to achieve with their cricket.

It was hard to foresee at the end of November. The Club was riding high on the success of the four Grades – so much so, that three veterans in Joe Murphy, Gary Koks and John Watts were encouraged to return to the playing field, so as not to miss out on the obvious premiership glory that was going to occur. As veterans of the Club, they really should have known better. :)

First Grade's was again a season unfulfilled, the promise of being on top of the ladder at the Christmas break and the possibility of a home semi-final, falling away to consecutive losses to Lake Illawarra in the final round and the subsequent semi-final. Though the team’s form after the break was not as diabolical as last season, Firsts could still only manage to defeat The Rail, draw with Albion Park, and lost key matches against Warilla and Jamberoo, as well as the aforementioned Lake match. As a premiership challenge, it again told the story loud and clear – compared to other teams, especially Oak Flats and Lake Illawarra, they were not in the same class.
In fact it speaks volumes. It showed that the team – or more specifically, many of the individuals – had not learned the lessons of last season. Theories abounded as to why this was the case. In the long run, it comes back to the basics. The team that trains together, wins together. The team that doesn’t, loses. The Oak Flats club’s incredible success this season didn’t occur with just a half dozen people showing up to training. Excuses, like losing, wear thin after a while. Whether our Club can change its culture to offset it is an entirely different question.

Two players seasons stand out.
Captain coach Matt Meurant led from the front with bat and ball. Following on from his fine first season with the Club, Matt went out and broke a 24 year old record for most runs scored in a season for Kiama First Grade, finishing with 708 runs at the impressive average of 78.67. Only twice did he fail to make double figures – one of those almost predictably in the semi-final. He scored five half-centuries and an unbeaten 139 against The Rail. Moreover, he was often left stranded at the non-strikers end as he watched the innings fold at the other end. Add to this 29 wickets and eight catches, and there was little more Matt could do to lead his team to glory.

Arguably an even finer all-round achievement came from Dale Scifleet. He followed last season’s breakthrough performances by improving even more, scoring 473 runs at 43.00, and taking 42 wickets at 12.88, and snaring 11 catches. In the process, he became only the third Kiama 1st Grader to do the 400 runs / 40 wickets double in a single season, following two legends of the Club in Ken and Trevor McDonald, who both performed the feat twice. Dale also scored his maiden 1st Grade century, 128 against Jamberoo, added to it with a century for South Coast, and represented Southern Zone.

The influence these two had on Kiama’s season was immeasurable. Between them, they scored 46% of 1st Grade’s season runs, and took 32% of the wickets. Kiama need these two back on deck next season if real success is to be achieved.


Second Grade finally suffered for their relative successes and ageing player base in recent seasons, and missed the finals for only the second time in the past ten seasons. This appeared impossible after winning five of their first six matches, but followed by six losses in the final seven rounds, it was perhaps a better indication of the troubles that faced the side. An amazing 37 players appeared in 2nd Grade during the season, as they battled constant player unavailabilities, lack of form and massive inexperience in high Grade cricket.
The generational change, one that everyone knew was coming and had been planned for over the past two seasons, was blown apart when those that had been prepared to take over found themselves either required for First Grade duty, or having lost interest in playing altogether. Only two of the side that played in the previous season’s semi-final were regulars in 2006-07. The rebuilding needs to be underway now.
Skipper Steven Holz found himself shouldering the majority of the batting and bowling load, but it was his absences that left some instability in the side. Seconds needed a constant leader, but with the captaincy split between Steve and Dan Reilly during the summer, and almost completely different sides playing week to week, there was no consistency. Players like Andrew Ross and Nathan Barr scored brightly in patches, and then couldn’t back it up with consistency. The bowling lacked penetration all season. The chaotic assembly of Second Grade’s season was illuminated by the troubles in selecting a full side each weekend. This in turn harmed First Grade, as under-performing players who would normally find themselves back in Seconds were held on to through a lack of players performing in that Grade.
There needs to be some thought put into Second Grade before the start of the new season, to ensure these problems are rectified for the good of the team and the Club as a whole.


Third Grade entered the new season with the hangover of last season’s great effort in the Final, and seemed to be playing catch up for most of the summer. To a lesser degree they suffered from the same problems as Second Grade – teams changed weekly (34 players in all), and the loss of inspirational Skipper and batsman Jeff Lawler after Christmas was a blow. However, they hung in most of the season, and when it came down to the last round, they had to defeat the reigning premiers and undefeated leaders, Lake Illawarra, to reach the semi-finals. Showing the same spirit and determination that they had last season, they beat Lake convincingly, so much so that they finished second on the ladder and grabbed another home semi. From here, though, their luck ran out, and they fell to eventual premiers Oak Flats on a soggy weekend and an unforgiving outfield.

Luke Bombaci, who took over the captaincy from Jeff, again led with bat and ball. Last season it appeared he was destined for Second Grade, and the fact he still played almost the entire season in Third Grade remains mystifying, despite the reasons given by Luke, selectors and captains alike. Without him, however, Thirds may have sunk without a trace. The fact that veterans such as Gary Koks, Joe Murphy and Frank Weir were the most consistent performers is a portent to where the Kiama club stands at the moment.
Jason Horley stood up and had his best season so far for Kiama. Rob Wakeham continued to baffle batsmen and wicket-keepers, while Brendan Shaw’s first season with the club augers well.

Fourth Grade was unable to capitalize on their good showing from last season, though they managed to offload the wooden spoon to Lake Illawarra with a convincing victory over them in the final round. With the introduction of a Fifth Grade competition, and only one team from each Club allowed in higher Grades, it made for a tougher and higher standard than has been the case in recent years, and the young Kiama team discovered the difference. It was pleasing to see a number of juniors coming through into the side, and in some cases into higher Grades. New arrivals to the Club, such as Dave Creighton, Randall McGregor and Rod Williams, also played well and boosted the young sides prowess.

Kiama's chances of glory in the Country Cup knockout competition fell victim to the weather for the second successive season, with their second round match against Lake Illawarra washed out before a result could be achieved. As a result of no spare day being scheduled, Lake progressed through to the next round by having a higher seeding in the competition.
The ridiculous seeding became even more obvious, when the winners of last season’s Country Cup were eliminated by rain, because they were seeded LOWER than their opponents, on the same weekend. How can the previous season’s winner be eliminated in this fashion? It begs the question “Who the hell is running cricket?” And the answer is generally “Idiots”.

Kiama also entered two Twenty20 tournaments.
In the combined Illawarra/South Coast Twenty20 Knockout, our side was defeated in the first round by Keira. This competition was played on Wednesday evenings, and proved popular in the area, with the novelty of playing against Illawarra teams showing obvious popularity.
In the local 1st Grade Twenty20 Knockout, our side defeated The Rail in the preliminary round, and then went down to Oak Flats in the semi-final. Rain disrupted this small tournament and played havoc with the scheduling.
In both tournaments, Kiama were unable to field full strengths teams, though with emotions still mixed over the format that didn’t seem to deter many within the Club.

While turnouts to the Grand Hotel after play each weekend dropped in relation to the performance of teams’ on the field, other events went off smoothly. The get together at the Grand for the First Day of the First Ashes Test was a great success, with all those who attended having a great day. While we may not be able to reproduce that festive atmosphere, no doubt a similar event will be held this November. The second annual Mexican Night again proved popular, despite the late notice.

The Club executive, headed by President Ross Wolf and Treasurer Wayne Richardson has again done itself proud with the administration of the Club as a whole. The election of Ross and Wayne as the 10th and 11th Life Members respectively of the Kiama Cricket Club was a just reward for their work over many years. Their tireless efforts are to be applauded. It is to be hoped that the new administration for the coming season can continue the great work that has been done in the past decade.


Our Club stands at the crossroads once again, and the direction is unknown. A new Executive will be elected at the Annual General Meeting, after the stability of the past six seasons. Our influential Coach and First Grade skipper looks to be moving on for personal reasons, though mixed with reservations on where we as a Club are headed.
The Executive of this Club has done everything in its power to bring success on and off the field. The coaches that the Executive have appointed have done everything in their power to create a successful Club. Unfortunately, the on field results have not been forthcoming.

Certainly, it is not the ability of the players of Kiama that is in question.
It is their commitment.


The same things are said every season, and yet very little changes.
Sometime very soon, our Club will have to make a decision. Two options appear prevalent. Either that the player base of the Kiama Cricket Club grow some commitment to the cause of improving their own cricket, that in turn will improve the Club’s cricket, or we accept that our Club culture will never change, and we turn into a social club.
It is senseless to continue spending money on a Club Coach when less than 10 players turn up for training on a regular basis. The money isn’t the issue – it is a waste of a Coach’s time and ability if he is not being utilized.
Kiama can never hope to compete with Clubs such as Oak Flats, Albion Park and Warilla if we continue to ignore the basics.
Oak Flats competed in every Grade final this past season, including the Women’s competition, and won all but 4th Grade. This was not a fluke. It is because their structure is fantastic, their players are motivated and keen, they have a desire to succeed… AND THEY TRAIN 2 TO 3 DAYS PER WEEK.

Those in charge of running the Club have done everything they can do. Now it is up to the players of the Club to come to the party. To put up… or shut up.
The 2007-08 season may well be one of the most important in this Club’s history. Time will tell if that is a positive thing.