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 Women break through on a big Valley first weekend

Moonee Valley racked up its inaugural first win in women’s cricket in a big first week for the Valleys in the 2008/09 season, when our White team took the first points of the season.
Four of our five teams which took the park on the October 4 & 5 weekend recorded strong wins, which carries great promise for the season ahead.
The winning team is shown above: (L-R) Back - team manager Danny Terzini, Bec Fitzgerald,
Tanya Intagliata, Jan Moore, Nicole McLachlan, coach Tony Gleeson. Front: Sharon Nicol,
Carolyn Tan, Clare Ardern and captain Sam Marr.
Our Moonee Valley White women’s team ventured up to Campbellfield on the Sunday, while our Moonee Valley Black team was at home at Ormond Park hosting Darebin.
Our White team included a number of our new recruits, and were up against a new VWCA team in Campbellfield – which is a representative team for the North West Cricket Association.
Led by captain Sam Marr, who came to Moonee Valley from higher grade club Essendon Maribyrnong Park, we restricted Campbellfield to 125, with the wickets shared around.
We chased down the total in 19 overs for the loss of just three wickets, with Sam Marr top-scoring with 45 not out.
Other encouraging performances came from Clare Ardern both as wicketkeeper and opening bat, and Tanya Intagliata with a couple of wickets and 18 runs.
Our Black team’s performance was a major improvement on our showing against Darebin – one of the power teams in the grade – last season.
We batted out 35 overs for our 70 runs, with opener Kim Johnston absorbing 22 overs to set the base for an increased run rate later in the innings.
Darebin chased down the total without losing a wicket. But it was a vastly improved performance on Round 14 last season, when Darebin bundled us out for 22 in around 10 overs.
Our three men’s teams which took to the field over the weekend also did well.
With the Firsts, Seconds and Thirds not able to get on the turf due to weather, we took the opportunity to give some of our players who’ve put in a solid pre-season a hit on matting.
Our Sixths was moved up two grades after making the finals in 2007/08, and came up against Kealba-Green Gully, also promoting two grades after winning the Premiership in our Division last season.
Moonee Valley showed its class by winning comfortably, with new player Kane Harding hitting 43 and Mark Madden taking three wickets.
Our Fourths were down at Maribyrnong Park, and posted 6/306 on the back of 72 runs from Matt Thomas, 54 from Josh Maginness, including two sixes, and a whirlwind middle-order 71 from Sean O’Kane off just 10 overs.
Maribyrnong Park made a game chase of it, getting to 8/250, but Bede Gannon put the stops on with 4/24.
And our Fifths played at home at Ormond Park, restricting St Mary’s to 170 from their 40 overs, with Jim Polonidis taking three wickets.
Coach Lou Raffaele withstood some unsportsman-like behaviour from the sidelines to hit 86 as an opening bat, while Jim Polonidis made a chanceless 81 not out as we ran down the total for the loss of two wickets in just 29 overs.
All in all, a good weekend for the Valleys.
Shown above are members of our two women's teams for 2008/09: (L-R) - Back - team manager Danny Terzini, Sam Lawson, Jenny O'Brien, Bec Fitzgerald, Adele Walker, Tanya Intagliata, Jan Moore, Victoria Thorneycroft, Nicole McLachlan, Bernadette Hobbs, Sally Rotunno, Lina Muratore and coach Tony Gleeson. Front: Tien Ha, Sharon Nicol, Carolyn Tan, Clare Ardern, Sam Marr and Kim Johnston. 

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Senior Training: It's on Tuesdays & Thursdays

 

 

 

Senior coach Lou Raffaele (right) has got our teams well primed for the 2008/09 season. Our seniors train at Ormond Park from 5pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Remember: White shirts/tops are compulsory.

The Club is happy to talk to potential new players. Anyone interested in joining Moonee Valley should ring Charlie Walker on 0409 237 543 or Lou Raffaele on 0433 456 436. 

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Net Result is great for the Valleys
Our new Ormond Park nets are finally up and running, and we're already noticing an improvement in training and enthusiasm.
We're no longer fighting to get a good bat or bowl, as the four nets now in operation give us the chance for a good hit-out.
Pictured at right at Sunday training: Steven Ball
with batsman Tom Aitken in the left net, while
Paul Comino bowls to Mick Bannister. 
It's been a long drawn-out project, but now we can reap the benefits.
The concrete strips were laid mid-year, the carpet went down three weeks later and the cages were completed in August, so we're right into using the nets now.
These projects don't happen by themselves, so there are a lot of people to thank for their wonderful support and efforts.

Firstly, the fundraising.
Many of our members and parents either contributed directly or supported functions to raise the money, starting with Vice President Jim Polonidis who kicked off the fund with a pledge of $500 if Charlie Walker's mustache was shaved off after some 23 continuous years gracing his top lip.
Sixths player Mark Madden contributed significantly with his cheque book over several stages of the fundraising, and we're grateful for such a magnificent and sustained effort.
Cricket Victoria gave us a $3400 grant through Regional Manager Stuart Clark, which was also much appreciated.
Junior parent Mark Seers twisted the arm of his contacts in the steel and mesh industry, and Shane O'Brien responded with an excellent price for the black powder-coated cage which graces our new nets. Mark also lined up Leon Zelvys to erect the cage.
Dom Chiera as always was in the thick of things with the construction, leading a works crew which prepared the site and laid the base for junior parent Tony Reitano to lay the concrete.
Bob Sciacchitano also played a key role in the preparation of the site, with supervision provided by Darren Nagle.
Our works crew and other key helpers included Kevin Gardiner - who was always available for site inspections and innumerable visits - Phill King, Shane Tankard, Paul Comino and John Brelis. A job well done!
Thanks also to Glenn Mulcahy and Amanda Allen from Moonee Valley Council for their help and support.  


The new nets in action: Bob Sciacchitano in the far net, and Joe Ansaldo winding up in the near net. 

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Congratulations from the Moonee Valley Cricket Club to the Hawthorn Football Club on winning the 2008 AFL Premiership.
A team effort got Hawthorn over the line against a club which had carried all before it for more than a year.
It reinforces the old adage that a champion team will always beat a team of champions.
Moonee Valley will be hoping that playing together as a team, and playing for each other will also reap benefits for us this season, across all grades and age groups.

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The grass is greener at Moonee Valley

Moonee Valley's own curator, Ian "Spider" Beel has won yet another Victorian Turf Cricket Association and Cricket Victoria award for the quality of his turf pitches.

It's the second time that Ian has won with his pitch at Ormond Park, and follows on from a win he had with the pitch he prepares on contract at Aberfeldie Park.

Ian's services and expertise are in great demand right around the north-west, but thankfully for us Ormond Park is his home - where he prepares both our cricket wickets and the Moonee Valley bowling greens.

He's a past treasurer of the Moonee Valley Sporting Club, so we're grateful that Ian is "one of ours".

Moonee Valley hosted the VTCA's B North Grand Final last season, and premiers Greenvale were wrapt that they got to play the big game on one of Spider's wickets.

His plaque from the VTCA reads: "Cricket Victoria Turf Cricket Ground Award. Presented to Ian Beel in recognition of the presentation of Ormond Reserve during season 2007/08 when it was adjudged worthy of the Cricket Victoria Turf Cricket Ground Award in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association". 

Well done Ian!

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Junior Training has now started

Moonee Valley Cricket Club's junior training is now in full swing, and will continue throughout the school holidays.
Junior players from past seasons, our new sign-ups and intending new players should come down for our sessions to get some form under the belt leading in to the season.
Our training runs from 4.30 to 6pm, and is:

Under 10s and Girls - Mondays.
Under 16s - Tuesdays.
Under 12s - Wednesdays.
Under 14s - Thursdays.

A range of apparel - both playing gear, after-match gear and training gear - is on sale on most training nights.
Junior Co-ordinator Kevin Gardiner (right) advises that for 2008/09 we have entered junior teams across all age groups.
Our team entries are:
*     Three Under 16 teams - one playing Saturday home games, two of them playing Sunday home games.
*     Four Under 14 teams - two playing Saturday home games, two playing Sunday home games.
*     Four Under 12 teams - two playing Saturday home games, two playing Sunday home games.
*     Five Under 10 teams - which all play Friday evenings.
*     One Under 12 Girls team - which plays Monday evenings.
*     One Under 16 Girls team - which plays Wednesday evenings.

We have entered our top team in each age group in A Grade.
We still need a couple of coaches across the age groups, particularly in Under 10s. Our success in the past has been based on parental involvement, so we would be keen to talk to any Dads and Mums who are interested in finding out more.
Players or parents wanting more information should ring Junior  Co-ordinator Kevin Gardiner on 0417 536 896 or President Charlie Walker on 0409 237 543.
Training is at our home ground, Ormond Park is in Pattison Street, Moonee Ponds. The season starts on the weekend of October 10/11/12.

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Way ahead for our two women's teams Following on from the success of our inaugural season in 2007/08, Moonee Valley has entered two teams in the Victorian Women's Cricket Association one-day grades.

And we're training on Wednesdays at 5.30pm at Ormond Park.

We still need more players to round out our roster - either experienced cricketers or first-time players, as many of our inaugural pioneers were - so please canvass around for some recruits. Everyone's welcome - age or experience aren't a bar.

Anyone interested in joining us should phone Jenny O'Brien on 0423 775 110 or Charlie Walker on 0409 237 543 or send an email to mooneev@club.cricketvictoria.com.au

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Appointments: Captains now in place

Lou Raffaele has been reappointed coach of the Moonee Valley Cricket Club after taking on the role in 2007/08, while Mark Gauci has been appointed First Eleven captain for the fourth year.

Our Chairman of Selectors for 2008/09 is Mark "Junior" Cini (right), who has been at Moonee Valley for more than a decade and has played more than 100 games. Mark brings excellent analytical skills to the position of Chairman, and knows the players and their capabilities.

Club President Charlie Walker said Mark was an excellent choice as Chairman of Selectors, and would bring a fresh outlook to the selection table.

Daniel Phillips (left) has been reappointed as captain of the Second Eleven - the fourth year in which he has held this role.

Dino Sapuppo is captain of the Third Eleven. Dino previously held this position in 2006/07, and has proved to be a formidable opponent on the field.

Danny Terzini is captain of our Fourth Eleven, after captaining our Thirds several seasons ago when they were in A Mats.

Steve Malone has taken on the role as captain of the Fifth Eleven, and is keen for it to be a development team for some of our top juniors coming through to senior ranks. Steve is a past senior coach of Oak Park, and brings a wealth of experience to the job, particular with junior development.

Brett Curran (right) is captain of the Sixth Eleven - the third year he has led this team. A taste of finals last season has Brett and his crew hungry to go further.

In a break from tradition, the Club has elected to go with co-Captains of our Seventh Eleven - Ryan Fairclough and Jake Little. A chance of designation of grades has led to our Eighths from last season becoming this year's Sevenths. Jake, in his second year at Moonee Valley, and Ryan, in his fourth, bring a real enthusiasm to what we expect to be a settled squad which will hit the ground running. 

Richard Cooney (left) has been appointed captain of what had been our sevenths, but with the expansion of the Moreland Moonee Valley comp to three grades will now be designated our Eighth Eleven. Richard's no-nonsense style will suit the team, which we expect to be a mix of older players and younger ones coming through. Richard was one of the "parent pioneers" in 2001 who signed up to play in the precursor which led to our expansion.

Paul Comino again takes on a key junior development role as captain of the Ninth Eleven. Some young players still in junior ranks got valuable experience playing with Paul in the Ninths last season, and he will again be in charge of helping them settle in to senior ranks.

We announced the captains of our women's teams at a special night on October 1.

Tien Ha is captain of our Moonee Valley Black team, which plays its home games at Ormond Park. Sam Lawson is vice-captain. Tien and Sam were inaugural team members in 2007/08. Tien hit our top score for the season and won the fielding, while Sam won our bowling award.

Sam Marr is captain of our Moonee Valley White team, with Tanya Intagliata as vice-captain. While Sam and Tanya may be among the younger members of our squads, they are the most experienced cricketers. Sam has played both seniors and juniors regularly, while Tanya has played more junior games than any other player at Moonee Valley.

The Club is still looking for new players for next season. Anyone interested in joining Moonee Valley should ring Charlie Walker on 0409 237 543 or Lou Raffaele on 0433 456 436.

 

 

 

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Main Club contact details:
Richard Cooney - Club secretary 0411 034 707
Charlie Walker - President 0409 237 543; 9370 1802
Kevin Gardiner - Junior Co-ordinator 0417 536 896

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

(email: - mooneev@club.cricketvictoria.com.au) 
Our website: http://archive.mooneevalleycricket.com.au

 

 

 

 

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The Moonee Valley Cricket Club is a section of the Moonee Valley Sporting Club .

Last updated: October 6, 2008

For more history on our Cricket Club, including Premiership match reports, click here