COMEBACK KID: Cameron Dunne with the Bernie Davey Medal he won on Monday night. Picture: Kate Healy.
CAMERON Dunne is lucky just to be playing cricket, let alone be any good at it. The 22-year-old Ballan all-rounder was forced to miss the entire 2014-15 season after a freak football accident nearly cost him the ability to walk. But after months and months of rehabilitation – which is still ongoing – Dunne decided to return to the sporting field for Ballan’s foray into the revamped Ballarat Cricket Association seconds competition. And his comeback was so good it resulted in victory during Monday night’s Bernie Davey Medal count. Dunne polled 14 votes – including three in the final home and away round – to finish one clear of Buninyong’s dual winner Joel Kitchen and a further one ahead of teammate Zac Graham. Dunne’s total of 434 runs during the home and away rounds – the fourth highest in the competition – came at an average of 48.22, while his 22 wickets were at 15.95 runs apiece. His season returned votes in five separate matches, four of which were adjudged best-on-ground performances. Formerly presented to the standout player in the now defunct BCA district division one competition, the Bernie Davey Medal was this season awarded in the 14-team seconds grade. |
Another successful night with Ballan taking out several awards was had at the Association presentation night at the Ballarat Golf Club on Monday the 7th of March.
Several awards were taken out by Ballan with the top 2nd Grade award, the Bernie Davey Medal, being won by Cam Dunne. Before the BCUA ( Ballarat Cricket Umpires Association) vote count there were individual awards the Ballan taking out three of them. Zac Graham won the award for the 'most catches' being 10 just beating Mick Nolan by 1 catch, J Cahir (Dunnstown) & J Hartnell (Golden Point) also took 9 catches each. Jack McGregor won the wicket keeping award with 22 dismissals. Jack took 20 catches and 2 stumpings. A great effort having played the entire season with the U16's and doing well with the bat, ball and as keeper. He also has to play in the U16 Grand Final next week. Jack finished 5 dismissals clear of his nearest rival. Shortly after the awards were handed out for the Champion player for all the senior grades. As it was Zac's shout he headed to the bar to get drinks when he was called up to receive the '2nd XI Champion Player' so the bar was bypassed and up he went to claim his award. The Champion player is worked out against individual statistics. Zac was also runner up with the batting averages; 548 runs @ 60.89. The Bernie Davey vote count began shortly after the Association President confirmed that Noel Heafield was in the house as he was last years Bernie Davey Medalist and was required to present it this year. Throughout the season the favourites seemed to be Joel Kitchen (Buninyong) and Zac Graham, so the votes headed that way early in the night. However Cam Dunne was getting 3 votes regularly along with Jeromy Johnston (VRI). It came down to the last round with Cam getting 3 votes, Zac getting 2 and Joel getting only 1. Cam won with 14 votes ahead of Joel Kitchen 13 and Zac Graham on 12. Cam was a surprised winner as through the count didn't think he was in the running. An amazing season considering the battles he has and still is going through with the football injury sustained a couple of years ago. Cams stats for the 2nd Grade were: 434 runs @ 48.22 , 22 wicket @ 15.95, 6 catches and 1 run-out. A great honour for Cam as he was presented the Medal by coach and teammate Noel. 2 Bernies for Ballan as Noel would say. Congratulations to Cam, Zac and Jack. Congratulations also to Captains Mick Nolan and Troy Connor for making the Semi Finals, quite often a thankless and criticized task. All Ballan votes; BALLAN: Cam Dunne 14, Zac Graham 12, Ben Loughnane 5, Mick Nolan 3, Brendan Masters 3, Noel heafield 2, Mick Loughnane 2, David Gardiner 1 |

BCA Junior awards for 2015/16
Following on from the senior success at association level, our juniors have continued the form.
Jack McGregor has had a busy 2015/16 season having taken out both Senior ( 2nd Grade) and U16 association awards.
On Monday 7th March he won the senior 2nd Grade Wicket Keeping award with 22 dismissals ( 20 catches and 2 stumpings). Wednesday the 9th March saw him take out the U16 2nd XI association Best & Fairest with 15 votes, polling in 7 matches, to win by 1 vote from Blake McPhan ( North Ballarat) and 5 clear of Callum Shaw (East Ballarat) on 10 votes.
Jack Crowe was our next highest vote getter with 5, followed by Riley Ranieri on 4, Clint McEgan and Dylan Graham with 3 each.
Jack also won the association U16 2nd XI Batting Averages. His stats were; average 146, runs 438, strike rate of 212.6 and scored six 50's in his 10 innings with a top score of 53 not out. He was not out 7 times through the season.
Clint McEgan picked up the U16 2nd XI Best Bowling performance with a match winning 7/16
The boys performance for these awards don't take finals into account.
The Ballan U16's finished off a very successful year by winning the Grand Final ,at Brown Hill against Ballarat/Redan, by 98 runs. A great team effort with everyone doing their bit, especially with some great all round fielding, ensuring the the shield returns back to Ballan for another 12 months. Ballan did win the Grand Final last season as well.
Following on from the senior success at association level, our juniors have continued the form.
Jack McGregor has had a busy 2015/16 season having taken out both Senior ( 2nd Grade) and U16 association awards.
On Monday 7th March he won the senior 2nd Grade Wicket Keeping award with 22 dismissals ( 20 catches and 2 stumpings). Wednesday the 9th March saw him take out the U16 2nd XI association Best & Fairest with 15 votes, polling in 7 matches, to win by 1 vote from Blake McPhan ( North Ballarat) and 5 clear of Callum Shaw (East Ballarat) on 10 votes.
Jack Crowe was our next highest vote getter with 5, followed by Riley Ranieri on 4, Clint McEgan and Dylan Graham with 3 each.
Jack also won the association U16 2nd XI Batting Averages. His stats were; average 146, runs 438, strike rate of 212.6 and scored six 50's in his 10 innings with a top score of 53 not out. He was not out 7 times through the season.
Clint McEgan picked up the U16 2nd XI Best Bowling performance with a match winning 7/16
The boys performance for these awards don't take finals into account.
The Ballan U16's finished off a very successful year by winning the Grand Final ,at Brown Hill against Ballarat/Redan, by 98 runs. A great team effort with everyone doing their bit, especially with some great all round fielding, ensuring the the shield returns back to Ballan for another 12 months. Ballan did win the Grand Final last season as well.