By David Nagel
Pakenham champion Chris Smith has stamped himself as one of the great players in the modern era of WGCA cricket after claiming his second Terry Stephenson Medal on Sunday at the Cardinia Park Hotel.
Smith polled 17 votes to win by two from Kooweerup skipper Chris Bright, with Demons’ all-rounder Luke McMaster and Carlisle Park-gun Ravi Kodithuwakku polling 12 votes to finish in equal third.
Tooradin opener, and premiership skipper, Cal O’Hare, rounded out the top five on 11 votes.
Smith added a second Stephenson Medal to the one he secured in 2015/16 – after a magnificent season where he compiled 515 runs at an average of 57.22 from just 11 games.
Round one of the 14-game season was a wash-out; while the elegant right-hand opener also missed a further two games, in rounds four and 11, both against Kooweerup.
Smith polled in seven of the 11 games he played, compiling four three vote performances, two twos, and a single vote effort in round 13.
In other highlights of the night, Devon Meadows skipper Lucas Ligt polled 12 votes to take home the District Division Player of the Year.
Ligt narrowly edged out Pakenham Upper/Toomuc pair, Nick Kyval and Rajith Ranaweera, who polled 11 and 10 votes respectively.
Ligt made 460 runs at an average of 38.33 to take out this year’s award.
The Clyde Cricket Club had a successful night, with Trevor Bauer taking out the A Grade Player of the Year, and Shem Smith (B Grade) and Shane Jack (E Grade) winning the same award in their respective divisions.
Bauer made 288 runs, at an average of 28.80, and took nine wickets as well.
Smith made 174 runs, at 17.40, but also took 17 wickets at the highly respectable average of 14.12 with the ball.
Jack compiled 335 runs, at a clip of 37.22, to share the E Grade award with Officer’s Skeeta Vangeninden.
Merinda Park all-rounder Brenton Huyskens made 191 runs (27.29) and took 16 wickets (19.44) to take out the C Grade award, while Tooradin skipper and power-hitter Kane Latham smashed 483 runs at 48.30 to win the D Grade Player of the Year Award.
And Pakenham Upper/Toomuc also had a winner on the night with Mark McDonald polling 19 votes to be a runaway winner of the F Grade Player of the Year Award.
McDonald, who made 446 runs at an average of 49.56, polled more votes than any other player in West Gippsland cricket this season.
Batting and bowling averages were also handed out on the night, while the Lang Lang Cricket Club was announced as the Best Administered Club for season 2021/22.
Kooweerup spinner Matt bright made a clean sweep of the Premier Division bowling awards, with Ranaweera doing likewise in the batting awards in the second-tier District Division.
TERRY STEPHENSON MEDAL – MOST RECENT PAST WINNERS
PREMIER PLAYER CLUB VOTES
2021/22 Chris Smith Pakenham 17
2020/21 Jake Prosser Cardinia 16
2019/20 Russell Lehman Tooradin 26
2018/19 Dale Tormey Pakenham 19
2017/18 Jess Mathers Kooweerup 22
2016/17 Mark Cooper Kooweerup 23
2015/16 Chris Smith Pakenham 18
2014/15 Russell Lehman Pakenham 21
2013/14 Aaron Avery Tooradin 15
2012/13 Callum O’Hare Tooradin 17
