By RUSSELL BENNETT
ARGUABLY the biggest highlight of this Friday’s West Gippsland Cricket Association senior presentation night at the Kooweerup Community Centre will be the announcement of the Terry Stephenson Medal for the best player in the competition’s Premier Division.
And it’s almost certainly a race in two between gun Cardinia all-rounder Neil Barfuss and Pakenham counterpart Russell Lehman.
Barfuss scored 563 runs at an average of 37.5, while also snaring 40 wickets at just 10.4.
His highest score came in Round 7 against Emerald with an imposing 96, which kick-started a purple patch of five consecutive half-centuries from Round 7 to Round 11.
Fittingly, his best bowling figures of 6/46 came when they were needed most – in the grand final against nemesis Kooweerup – but the Demons’ all-around game was just too strong for Barfuss’ Bulls.
Lehman’s 2014/15 was just as spectacular, particularly given his dominance at Country Week level for the West Gippsland Warriors where he scored 187 runs at 62.33 and took five wickets at just 15, which included a hat-trick against Goulburn Murray.
He amassed 522 runs for Pakenham in Premier Grade, averaging a touch over 40. He also took 42 wickets at 14.1.
Lehman’s consistency with the bat was simply outstanding – with a stretch from Round 2 to Round 8 with only one score below 35. He ultimately recorded four half-centuries for the Lions with a top-score of 92, while he only went wicketless in one round all season – Round 10 against Merinda Park.
The lionhearted Lehman bowled some massive spells throughout Pakenham’s 2014/15 campaign and each time he stood up to be counted. In just his last four games of the year, he took 25 wickets.
At District level, Cranbourne Meadows skipper Brent Murdoch is a practically unbackable favourite to be named player of the year after a premiership-winning season.
He finished with a brilliant 724 runs at an average of over 48, while also picking up 22 scalps at 24.2.
Tooradin all-rounder Aaron Avery won last year’s Terry Stephenson Medal – struck in honour of the former league president and Pakenham life member – after scoring 425 runs at an average of 47, and snaring 25 wickets at 10.4.
The association’s senior presentation night will kick off at 7.30pm this Friday at the Kooweerup Community Centre on Rossiter Road, Kooweerup.
