Header

Front Page - up to May 18, 2015

Our highest honors at Presentation Night

Channa DeSilva and Mark Cini were afforded Moonee Valley Cricket Club's highest honors at our Presentation Night on April 18 - Channa won the Lindsay Jones Best Clubman award, and Mark was elevated to Life Membership.

Matt Thomas, who has been at Moonee Valley since Under 12s, won the Club Championship award for the second successive year, and Sean O'Kane's stellar season, which culminated in the Sixths Premiership, netted the Moonee Valley Award.

At right: Badges of honor - Club Champion Matt Thomas (left) and Lindsay Jones Best Clubman Channa DeSilva.

Around 60 players and partners attended the event, at the Moonee Ponds Club.

The Lindsay Jones Award and Life Membership are the two greatest honors which can be bestowed at our Club, and both Mark and Channa are worthy and deserving recipients.

New Life Member Mark Cini (right) with his mentor and fellow Life Member Joe Ansaldo.

New Life Member Mark Cini (right) with his mentor and fellow Life Member Joe Ansaldo.

Channa started pre-season late because he wasn't certain with his level of commitment or even if he was going to play, but ended up taking a crucial role in junior development, answering the call when needed in our top grades, and playing a crucial role in the Second Eleven Premiership.

Mark has been a stalwart of our Club for 200 games, and was acknowledged by Fourths captain Allan Cumming as his crucial right-hand man in marshalling the team into the finals this season.

"Junior" was inducted into the Life Membership Club by fellow Life Member Sandro Capocchi, and was joined at the front of the room by the other Life Members in attendance.

At left: New Life Member Mark Cini (right) with his mentor and fellow Life Member Joe Ansaldo.

He particularly acknowledged Joe Ansaldo for persisting with getting him to come to Moonee Valley and continue playing.

A visibly shocked Channa acknowledged his love of Moonee Valley and his belief in a strong future built on some of the younger players rapidly gaining senior experience.

He was warmly acknowledged by everyone in the room when his honor was announced by Club President Charlie Walker.

Channa and Mark, we salute you!

****Watch this space for more photos and details from Presentation Night.

Neil King (left) and Rex Bennett in their Australian uniforms for the national Over 60s tour of England.

ENGLAND BOUND!

Moonee Valley's own Rex Bennett and Neil King are England-bound in June with the Australian Over 60s team, and leave in early June with 16 other players to do battle with the old enemy on their own turf.

Both Neil and Rex played in the victorous Victorian team at the national titles, and won through to the Australian team.

They have just been presented with their Australian blazers and other gear, which they will wear proudly in England. Neil and Rex (far right) show off their green and gold here.

Even though they're Victorian and Australian teammates, they lock horns during the regular Over 60s season - Neil playing with Essendon and Rex with Macedon Ranges.

Most of their Over 60s games are on Sundays - which is why you see Rex and Neil turning out with Moonee Valley for our Saturday fixtures, but they're rarely available to roll the arm over for us on Sundays.

We wish them all the best in representing Australia in the Old Dart - as we know they'll be representing Moonee Valley just as proudly over there!

SECONDS BEST - AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE MEAN!

Champions and Premiers - that's the mantle for Moonee Valley's Second Eleven from season 2014/15.

After going through the regular season undefeated, the team skippered by Jim Polonidis had to dig deep in both finals - withstanding a late charge from Flemington in the semi, and then turning a heavy first innings loss against Maribyrnong Park/St Marys in the Grand Final into a reverse outright and a Premiership.

It was Seconds Best - and certainly not second-best!

Skipper Jim Polonidis had the honor of accepting the perpetual North B2 plaque and also our own plaque when he attended the VTCA presentation night with a contingent of other players on April 24.

Premiership skipper Jim Polonidis is on the right with the plaque we keep on the left, and the perpetual North B2 plaque.

It's a credit to the guys that they managed such a herculean turnaround across the four days of the VTCA North B2 Grand Final, played at home at Ormond Park on March 14/15 and 21/22. From 73 all out in the first dig to 9/343 declared in the second, the Valley Boys showed what tough cricket is all about.
Matchwinning batsman Channa DeSilva waves a stump to the crowd, as the triumphant team comes off with umpire Brian Lazzaro, led by coach Rex Bennett and keeper Peter Golding on the left.

Matchwinning batsman Channa DeSilva waves a stump to the crowd, as the triumphant team comes off with umpire Brian Lazzaro, led by coach Rex Bennett and keeper Peter Golding on the left.

When Maribyrnong's last wicket fell around 5pm on the final day, caught keeper Peter Golding off the bowling of coach Rex Bennett, the Valley joy was unrestrained.

The players on the field embraced, and the big contingent of Valley supporters on the boundary also leapt with joy and emotion. It's a Grand Old Flag.

Above right: Matchwinning batsman Channa DeSilva waves a stump to the crowd, as the triumphant team comes off with umpire Brian Lazzaro, led by coach Rex Bennett and keeper Peter Golding on the left.

*****For more photos and a match report from the Premiership, CLICK HERE.

Main Club contact details:

* Charlie Walker - President 0409 237 543; 9370 1802
* Adam Patchell - Club Secretary 0407 552 141
* Peter Golding - Club Treasurer 0419 009 721
* Simon Thornton - Vice President 0417 570 779
* Kevin Gardiner - Junior Co-ordinator 0417 536 896

Email: mooneev@club.cricketvictoria.com.au

For more contacts, see " Office bearers & Officials " under "Club News & Info" at the top of the page

Last updated: May 13, 2015.

For more of our history, including our Premierships, click HERE