CRICKET
CRICKET LATROBE VALLEY
By TOM HAYES
AFTER a disappointing start to life in Cricket Latrobe Valley, Churchill is aiming to shoot straight back into the top grade.
The Cobras were placed in Premier A of the league’s inaugural season last summer, but were eventually relegated to A Grade for the upcoming campaign.
Churchill finished on the bottom of Premier A last season, equal on points with Mirboo North, who joins them in relegation to A Grade.
But the Cobras have their eyes peeled on a return to the premier division, putting their pieces together in the middle of winter.
Less than a month after last season ended, Churchill was working on the next challenge upon them. The first move they made was at the top.
The Cobras announced that Englishman Ryan Ayres would return to the club as A Grade captain for the next two seasons, replacing John Keighran, who has spent a decade in the role.
“I’m buzzing to finally be back at Churchill for the next couple of years and hopefully many more after that,” Ayres said.
“I can’t wait to see everyone at the club again and get going for the season ahead.”
Ayres already has his priorities straight ahead of the 2024/25 CLV season.
“For the season, the main priority is to obviously get A Grade back into top division, where it belongs, competing with the best sides in Latrobe Valley,” he said.
“The second focus is to treat this as a fresh beginning and get a few old faces and new faces to the club for the season ahead, and really get the buzz back around the club.
“I’m just hoping for a great season for all grades and hoping to bring some success to the club, not just for the players, but for everyone associated with Churchill Cricket Club.”
Ayres will return to the Cobras following a five-season hiatus, last representing Churchill in the 2018/19 season of the Latrobe Valley District Cricket League, where they were crowned Premier A Grade premiers.
Ayres is currently playing for Clifton Cricket Club in the Greater Manchester Cricket League Premier League, appearing for the English side as the club professional.
His ability to open the bowling and perform as a high-to-middle order batter makes him a dangerous addition for the Cobras. With the ball, he has an average of 16.56, claiming 34 wickets with best figures of 4/42 for the season so far for Clifton.
From his 18 innings with the bat this season, Ayres has scored 676 runs (two centuries, high score of 113), averaging 42.25.
Ross Whelpdale, formerly of Morwell, will also don the Cobras gear next season, after becoming the next official signing in May.
Whelpdale previously won one of his two Premier A premierships with Churchill, and has made three A Grade Team of the Years, as well as one league bowling aggregate.
He returns to the Snake Pit after an outstanding individual season in 2023/24, claiming the second-most wickets in Premier A (29 wickets).
Whelpdale’s efforts landed him a spot in the CLV Premier A 2023/24 Team of the Year.
Ben Kearns also returns to the club after spending some time away from the game entirely.
The Cobras will be hoping he hasn’t lost any touch and can pick up from where he left off.
Kearns is also an A Grade premiership player for Churchill, and has scored 24 half centuries and eight centuries, also claiming the most runs in an A Grade season once before. With a high score of 194, Kearns is no stranger to the bat.
A previous winner of the Gordon Bolton Club Champion award, and a previous Traralgon District Cricket Association Team of the Year entrant, Kearns will be a welcome addition to Churchill’s stocks.
Also making his way into Churchill’s A Grade side will be Brendan Mason, also making his way over from Morwell.
Mason had shoulder surgery in late 2022, returning after Christmas to play for the Tigers in their 2022/23 Premier A flag in the LVDCL.
With those additions, the questions begs as to who will be left out of the team for next season. It will sure be a competitive pool of players vying for their place in the top grade.
Along with those four A Grade additions, Churchill has made some moves in other grades, beginning with the announcement of their B Grade captains.
Ross Johnson and Brae Kelly have been announced as the Cobras’ 24/25 B Grade captains. Johnson will enter his fourth season of captaincy, while Kelly hopes to add his knowledge to the group.
The Cobras have also announced a major boost to their women’s side, with Morwell’s Danielle Cole making the move into maroon.
Cole had a stellar season with Morwell in 23/24, collecting a number of accolades. She won the batting and bowling average awards for her club, before being named Morwell’s inaugural Women’s Club Champion.
Cole was also named as the CLV Women’s Cricketer of the Season, and earned herself a spot in the Victorian Country Cricket League Region 7 Gippsland Cricket Team of the Year – selected as a high-to-middle order batter.
She will undoubtedly add a wealth of knowledge and ability to the Churchill women’s side for the coming season.
Churchill Cricket Club President, Ryan Harvey hopes for all grades to be competitive, and believes they have the capability of doing so.
“On field we aim to be competitive in all grades. After a disappointing season in A Grade and being relegated, some strong recruiting in the offseason and getting back some familiar faces, we aim for promotion back into the top tier,” Harvey said.
“Getting four premiership players back doesn’t only make our A Grade stronger, but will filter down into B and C Grade.
“The inclusion of our women’s side last season was a highlight for us, and we look to build on a successful first season this year with the possibility of fielding two sides in the women’s division.”
Harvey hopes that some notable junior faces can make the leap into the senior side as the season progresses.
“We have a handful of very promising juniors, Ashton Ceeney, Jacob Dunn, Byron Marks and Archie Norman who will see plenty of senior cricket this year with the club, reaping the reward for years of development through the junior program.”
