Andrew Scotney was a very popular man in Brisbane sports circles having played first grade cricket for Wests and Premier Rugby for Easts.
Whilst a very talented junior cricketer representing Queensland in Under 19s & Colts, Rugby was always going to win out particularly with the game embracing professionalism in 1995.
Despite the obvious benefits of professionalism for a young footballer, it certainly presented challenges for a diminutive flyhalf in an age where opposition forwards could afford to spend hours each week in the gym.
Scotney played 10 times for the Queensland Reds and is part of an elite group to have scored a first grade century and points in Super Rugby.
Since retiring Scots has coached rugby at the Western Force, in Italy & Japan and is now in charge of rugby at Nudgee College.
Andrew Scotney - coaching at Western Force
What year you were born?
1975
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
Aged 6 with MacGregor Cricket Club – can’t remember anything from it
Tell us briefly about your cricketing & rugby journeys?
Started in Brisbane with MacGregor (Cricket) and with my father being a Bank Manager we moved around through my primary schooling to Rockhampton (Cricket – Bluebirds) and Toowoomba (Cricket – Souths and Rugby – Rangers) before moving back to Brisbane and attending Brisbane State High School. From there The Great Toot Byron got a few us to play Cricket for Wests, whilst with Rugby I went straight to Easts from school
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket & senior club rugby?
3rd Grade Cricket aged 16.
3rd grade in Rugby aged 19 the Saturday after playing in a 1st Grade Cricket Semi versus University.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in club cricket & rugby and can you remember how you performed in debut?
I was 17 in cricket and made 8 and 38 on debut versus Valley and out both times slogging.
Rugby – I went from 3rd Grade to 1st Grade, missing 2’s and we had a good win over a strong Sunnybank team at the time.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer & rugby player?
Middle order batsman who liked to get the odd over when he could and a flyhalf who liked to tackle as little as possible
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
155 on my 3rd grade debut for Wests. Went to the crease at 4-40 from memory, padded up first ball to a ball that would only have knocked middle out of the ground and was somehow given not out. Finished 153 not out at the end of the day. Luck certainly plays its part in sport.
What was your highest points tally in a game of senior rugby?
Couple of 20+ point days for Easts
Andrew Scotney line up a kick for goal
Who have been the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Brett Lee – I made a painful duck from about 20 balls in the 19’s against him.
Scott Muller – Swung the ball
Brad Williams – Hit the bat hard
Brett Lee
Who have been the best three Rugby backs you have played against?
Jonny Wilkinson – could do everything well and made you realise what next level meant
Matt Giteau – Acceleration off the mark
Tim Horan – quick and deceptively strong – match winner
Tim Horan
Who have been the best three forwards you have played against?
Toutai Kefu – always seemed to like running over me
Mark Murray – tough and in your face
Glenn Marsh – Tough, aggressive Kiwi Flanker who was non stop
Who did you least want to look up and see bearing down on you just after you received the ball?
Anyone weighing over 100Kg
Who has been the best three spinners you have played against?
Craig Howard from Victoria had good bounce,
Paul Jackson was accurate and Matt Anderson had good flight
Who has been the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Martin Love – always had time and always scored runs
Brad Hodge – great player square of the wicket
Brett Henschell – looked organised and in control every ball
Martin Love
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
A guy called Chris Mason from WA in the 19’s. It was a semi-final at Northcote against WA and we had them 6 for 100 with the big names out (Hussey, Katich, Rob Baker, and Michael Dighton) and he came in at 7 and smashed 150 to take the game away from us.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Wade Seccombe
Wade Seccombe
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played in both cricket & rugby?
Rugby – Nathan Grey and Chris Latham. Cricket – Jimmy Maher and Greg Rowell
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with in each sport?
Jimmy Maher – always trying to win the game and set the tempo, Peter Murdoch my initial Easts captain was a calming influence which you need when young
Who have been your funniest team mates?
Matt Hayward and Nathan Williams
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket & most embarrassing moment on the rugby field?
Cricket – run out without facing a ball vs Sandgate in a one day game. I was run out at the bowlers end with a direct hit from the fine leg fence coming back on a two and with rugby – getting a conversion charged down in front of the posts versus Souths
Who were your childhood heroes?
Craig Coleman (South Sydney Halfback of the 80’s) and Allan Border
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Craig Coleman, Mike Tyson and Jim McMahon (the former Chicago Bears Quarterback of the 80’s)
Who’s your favourite sports commentator?
Graeme Hughes
What were your favourite grounds to play at?
I liked batting at St Lucia and Ballymore is my favourite rugby ground
Were there particular teams that you looked forward to playing against?
Cricket v University and Rugby v Souths as both teams had plenty of first class players and always a good gauge as to how you were going.
What do you enjoy most about both sports?
The Mateship
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket & rugby?
In Cricket scoring a first grade hundred funnily enough vs Easts at Bottomley Park and winning the 1997 premiership with Easts in Rugby to win the club’s 1st A Grade premiership
What are the best wins you’ve been involved with?
In Cricket, winning the 2nd Grade Grand Final in 92/93 – great mix of people in that team for a young cricketer to be a part of. In rugby, beating the Sharks in Durban and the NZ Maori at Ballymore were great wins whilst any finals win with Easts was special.
Andrew Scotney charges down a kick playing for Queensland Reds
Who are the three teammates from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Any of them as couldn’t name a team mate whose company I didn’t enjoy
What are your hobbies?
Still love my sport and the odd punt on it, but enjoy being a Dad and what that brings
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Be patient, but unfortunately I had given up cricket when I finally realised why it was such great advice
What is your current occupation?
PE Teacher
Let’s give your employer a plug, who do you work for?
Nudgee College
Are you still involved in sport and if so, in what capacity?
Coaching 1st XV Rugby at Nudgee College
If you were running Cricket QLD & QLD Rugby what would be your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
Tough question - as long as the finances in those organisations are being delivered to the appropriate areas then that is a good starting point. Need to build from the ground up and nurture the juniors at each club and make the game as affordable as you can for families.
About Dean Tuckwell
Former premiership first grade player with Western Suburbs in Queensland Premier Cricket Dean opened The Adventure Traveller in 2000.
In this crazy year it is important to support small business. With 30 years’ experience in the travel industry Dean has preferred arrangements with many suppliers, access to online deals not available to the public and a wealth of knowledge to ensure you get the most out of your trip so even if you only require a flight or accommodation, give him a call on 1800 181 020 or visit The Adventure Traveller
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