Penrith Cricket Club Champion Colts 1984-85

Back Row - Andrew Bridge, Hratch Sekzenian, Michael Caldwell, Ian Schofield, Rod Gozzard, Derek Arnberger, Keith Martin (Manager)

Front Row: Steve Mitchell, Scott Prendergast, Matt Regent, Ray Morphett, Stuart Morphett, Paul Martin, Mark Dixon

Ray Morphett, the Sixth Grade captain, was from a cricketing family and had a strong local Junior background and an eye for talent. He felt things could be done better.

Before the season he approached the Committee with a plan: instead of the sixth team being chosen from the Grade train-on squad Ray would nominate a team of his own choosing, and there would be only one player from the Grade ranks.

He said, “The players I had in mind (to select) comprised the majority of boys in the District Under-15 side with some players from the Under-16s.

My aim was to provide the Club with a closer view of the players likely to be competing for Grade selection in the near future, and to introduce them to Senior cricket.

These aims were certainly achieved, and the final results exceeded my expectations.” In his report Ray made the following point, which went to the character of his young side: “The rules of the NDCA provide for the new ball to be taken after 200 runs or 65 overs. In both the Semi and Final our lower order batsmen had to face a second new ball, yet we scored well over 200 runs in both games.”

The scores: Semi-final, Penrith 276 (D. Arnberger 67, Regent 56, Bridge 51) def Penrith Leagues 241 (Morphett 4/56).

Final, Penrith 9/234 (Morphett 93*) def Snakes XI 202 (Regent 4/74, Caldwell 3/40).