The end and the beginning

For many Hillers the on-field season came to an end last weekend bur for some, the season is just beginning as the men’s season heads into the semi-final stage.

Men’s 1st XI v Mt Waverley Catholics at Ramsden St: GOING OUT ON A HIGH

Batting first in our season finale we got off to a solid start with Cottsy (14) and Stinga Barrett putting on 35. Stinga and BenCap (also 14) put on another 23 and Stinga and Malty (36) put on another 33 before Stinga fell for an innings high 37. T-Rob (35), Lou B (24) and others helped us through to an excellent 44.

MWC started solidly also (bar an early run-out at the hands of Kieran), reaching 2/58 before killer Cottsy took control. MWC collapsed at the hands of Cottsy’s wiley off-spin to be all out for an even 100. Cottsy’s carnage yield him figures of 5/21 off 8, but every bowler had great figures. They were: Wardi 1/17 off 6, Malty 1/8 off 2.3, Kieran 1/24 off 5, Lou B 0/14 off 5 and Jamie 0/16 off 5.

A comprehensive win to finish the season off with a win. 5 wins from 14 games saw us finished sixth of eight, two games out of the top four and two games off the bottom. Let’s get a few more in 2022/23 lads!

CHICKEN: Chicken to T-Rob for his 35, followed by a catch and a stumping.

KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Knowing Steve Cotter was sitting on 299 wickets, BenCap placed himself at first slip hoping to take the catch that took Steve to 300. Hugh stole his thunder, taking the catch at short cover. BenCap did take two catches of Steve later, but they were not quite Killer Hiller Moments.

Men’s 2nd XI v West Ivanhoe United at Seddon Reserve: HILLERS REIGN AFTER RAIN

No play because SEDDON was SODDEN.

KILLER HILLER MOMENT: The 2s finish on top of the ladder! Home final this Saturday!

Men’s 3rd XI v Victorian Cavaliers SC at Fregon Reserve: WATER UP TO THE KNEES, NO PLAY FOR THE THREES

It was so wet at the Cavaliers, the players would not have been surprised to see a frog on Fregon.

(That may not be true, but it was too wet to play.) Season over!

KILLER HILLER MOMENT: The 3s Killer Hiller Moment will come right now when you have a look at the A Synthetic Ladder and turn the phone upside down. Look! We finished 2nd!

Women’s 1st XI v Holy Trinity at Rammo: SEASON ENDS WITH A FIVE-WAY CHICKEN
Match Report by Bek Drake

The rains seemed to be pouring everywhere except Clifton Hill on Sunday. A lovely crowd built for our Semi Final against old foes Holy Trinity. Having lost the toss, we were sent to the field. Our opening bowlers, Hannah "Handsy" Watson and Taryn "Fred" Heddo, began as usual, bringing the pressure from the start. Runs were hard to come by, and the breakthrough came in the sixth over, with Fred trapping the batter LBW in a wicket maiden.

Amy "Wolfie" Howell and Ash "Steam Train" Murdoch came on at the change of ends and continued to build the pressure. Steam Train had her usual swing and Wolfie was bowling the fastest she had all season! Wolfie's second over saw the next wicket, another LBW, that Rebekah "Bobbie" Drake had appealed so hard for from behind the stumps that she almost passed out. We continued with Handsy and Fred at the change of ends, and runs continued to be hard to come by for Holy Trinity.

Rachael "Razzle" Jones came on in the 18th over and we went to drinks feeling confident, with Holy Trinity 2/54. Wolfie continued after drinks and Lauren "Rex" Chester came on with her. In Wolfie's first over, there was an opportunity for a catch behind the stumps, that was missed by Bobbie. In her next over, Wolfie decided not to rely on the keeper, bowling the batter out instead in what was a wicket maiden! It was an important wicket, as this batter had gone on to make a half century against us in the last match.

The pressure continued and Rex joined in on the wicket action after a sensational catch from Handsy (is there anything she can't do?!?!). Rex was feeling good and turned the over into a double wicket maiden as Bobbie took a rather unorthodox catch behind the stumps, with the ball landing between her forearm and bicep. At the change of ends, Emily "Dominos" Costigan joined Handsy and both continued some magnificent bowling.

Our fielding was also at a very high standard, with Isobel "Maxy" Fenner and Laila "Electric Train" Rae stopping runs with their quick reflexes, while Rachel "Greyhound" Gray stopped the runs with her quick running! While the batters were not scoring at a fast rate, they looked set. Dominos thought “enough of that” and got the breakthrough, though a lot of credit has to be given to Steam Train, who took a spectacular one handed diving catch! With six overs to go, Holy Trinity were taking any run that they could. That began shakily, as Steam Train did a sensational stop and effected a run out, with Bobbie calmly taking off the bails (just kidding, she unnecessarily knocked them all over, but I guess it was effective!) Wolfie then got her third wicket of the match, another LBW (luckily Bobbie decided to breathe while appealing this time). Holy Trinity continued scampering through for singles in the last few overs, plus added two massive sixes. We finished on a wicket, with Rex taking a rather dubious LBW, as Holy Trinity finished on 9/119.

Beautiful bowling figures as always: Handsy 0/21 off 9, Fred 1/11 off 5, Wolfie 3/32 off 9, Steam Train 0/6 off 3, Razzle 0/19 off 3, Rex 3/18 off 4, Dominos 1/11 off 3

We knew a total like this was in reach, but our batting innings did not begin well, with Rex out bowled for a duck. Fred joined Handsy at the crease and they began patiently and looked to build a platform for the team. They were working well together and managed a 29 run partnership before Handsy was bowled out for 14. Steam Train joined Fred at the crease. Unfortunately no runs were added to the score before Fred was bowled out for 11.

Maxy then joined Steam Train at the crease. We took some comfort in two of our biggest hitters being out in the middle. They began smartly, before Maxy decided to go bang, hitting a number of boundaries. The slow outfield also meant there were many twos. Steam Train joined in on the action, hitting a boundary herself and running superbly between the wickets. Our run rate took a much needed boost and we were looking back in control. Unfortunately, after running a ridiculous number of twos, Maxy was bowled out for a quick fire 28, the only player in our team to have a strike rate over 100.

We hoped that the trains would combine well, as Electric Train joined Steam Train at the crease. While Electric Train started smartly, she was then bowled out for 1. Greyhound went to the crease and was out not long later for a duck. Bobbie then joined Steam Train in the middle, in only her third time batting for the season. She got a run off her first ball and we began ticking the run rate over again.

Steam Train was batting superbly and Bobbie was just trying to get her on strike! They put on a 14 run partnership before Bobbie was caught out off a top edge for 3. While we were getting deep in the order, we do bat deep, as Wolfie joined Steam Train in the middle. Unfortunately only three more runs were put on the board before Steam Train was caught out also off a top edge, for a very well made 21. We were 8/94, requiring a very doable 26 off 47 balls. However, we did not have many wickets in hand. Only one more run was added before Wolfie was out, caught behind. It was a very sporting play, as the umpire was not going to call it out, but Wolfie walked. With only one wicket in hand, we knew it was going to be an uphill battle. It was not much longer before Holy Trinity got the final wicket, with Razzle run out for a duck, Dominos finishing 0*.

It was a tough way to finish the season, as we felt the win was very doable. Regardless, it was a fantastic season and the team is already looking forward to the next! Thank you to our coaches for the season, David, David and Ian. We have improved immensely and can't wait to see what happens with another season of your coaching!

CHICKEN: Considering it is the last match of the season, I am going to be cheeky and give a five way chicken!

Handsy - her pressure bowling was such a high standard and great attacking batting at the top of the order

Steam Train - ridiculously good bowling, bloody incredible catch and did her best to pull the team through with the bat as wickets fell around her

Wolfie - took the wickets of two of the biggest hitters in Holy Trinity, most of her bowling was unplayable

Maxy - when the run rate slowed, she put the team back in it with some sensational shots

Fred - again, phenomenal bowling, steadied the team well with the bat and great chat in the field!

KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Our Killer Hiller moment was not one specific moment, but was Greyhound's chat in the field - her positivity always lifted the team. She also definitely kept her best puns for the finals, even giving Maxy a run for her money!

Men’s 5th XI v GLEN WAVERLEY: TWO VERSUS THREE AIN’T BAD

The 5s (3rd on the ladder) may have gone down to Glen Waverley (2nd on the ladder), but at times like this, it’s important to remember the old adage**: “It’s not who wins that counts, but who has the higher score at the fall of the first wicket.” And on that score, we won! We lost our first wicket at 13, while GW lost their first at 11.

The actual score was: Them 8/176 v Us 10/90, but that’s not important right now. What’s important is that we’ll play them again in the Semi Final AND WIN!

** May not be that old – I just made it up.

Bowling: Jack Speed 3/35 off 6, Jonesy 1/8 off 3, Gilly 1/20 off 3, Timothy Neal 1/34 off 7, Stan K 1/39 off 7, Geoff Smith 0/16 off 5.
Batting: Jonesy 24 no, Jacko 19, Jack Speed 17, Tim Neal 11.

CHICKEN: Jack Speed for his 3-fa and 17

KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Gilly opened the bowling and took GW’s first wicket!

Men’s 4th XI v ASHBURTON WILLOWS: NEXT WEEK’S MORE IMPORTANT

The 4ths, like the 5ths, did not win BUT
the 4ths, like the 5ths WILL PLAY FINALS TODAY!

We batted first and J-Ho (promoted from the 3s) and Cal Behmer put on 72 for the first wicket. J-Ho made 36 and Cal 55 retired not out. Then came Eddie (35no and back in form), Roadie 21, Naj (19) and Dog (18) to help us to 7/218, an excellent 40-over score. Unfortunately they passed us 5 down. A wicket each to Captain Jack (who also got a run-out), Toughie, Roadie and Empty.

NEXT TIME, LADS!

CHICKEN: Cal for his 55 not out

KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Cal bringing up his 50 with a six!

Men’s 6th XI v RICHMOND CITY at Fritsch Holzer Park: TROUBLE IN TIGERLAND

Billy’s Boys bowled first and bowled very well! Alex and Ralph opened the bowling and finished with identical and impressive figures: 1/15 off 7. Max Sundram went one better, picking up 2/13 of 7 to help keep RC to just 6/137 in their 35 overs.

Unfortunately the batting card was ugly, with only Kelley Cheney — possibly the only CHCC player in history whose first name and surname ends with EY — and Ralph the only ones to make double figures. KC brought sunshine to the band with 23 while Ralph made 17.

All out 83, a disappointing end to a solid season.

PERSONAL THANKS FROM ME TO BILLY FOR STEPPING IN TO TAKE OVER THE CAPTAINCY FROM ME. CO-CAPTAINS NEXT YEAR, BILLY?

CHICKEN: Ralph for his bowling and batting.

KILLER HILLER MOMENT: Probably Billy’s relief when he dragged on his first post-season cigarette.

TOM BELLIS AWARD

Steve Cotter for his batting, his five-for and his 300th wicket!!