A tumultuous week in the history of our 126 year old club, with the funeral on Monday, November 8 of one of cricket’s greatest ever all-rounders and a man who embodied the spirit and character of Western Suburbs, the truly great Alan Davidson AM MBE.
If ever any proof was needed that ‘Davo’ was cricket royalty, his funeral was attended by six former Australian Captains (Neil Harvey, Brian Booth, Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and our own Michael Clarke). Richie Benaud’s widow Daphne attended and Alan’s long time team mate at Wests, NSW and Australia, Bob Simpson, was represented by his daughter Deb. Additionally, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard attended the Davidson family church at Strathfield, for the farewell.
Davo was 92 years old, however, as was pointed out in the WSDCC official Vale, he was “never an old man”. He always had a bright, young mind and a determination to encourage and develop youth wherever possible.
He would have been very proud of the excellent performances over last weekend, with Magpie youth to the fore.
Wests’ Firsts and Seconds recorded valuable wins over Eastern Suburbs on Saturday, with the Fourths falling short by only two wickets. Unfortunately, Thirds and Fifths were rained out, as were many other matches across the competition.
Wests followed up on Sunday at Pratten Park with PG’s and Firsts T20 victories over Hawkesbury.
Our young Players are being guided through the ranks by some senior Players who are also producing good results.
On Saturday at Pratten, Isaac Taylor, who debuted for Wests in Green Shield and has played through the grades, led the Magpies out of trouble with a stylish half century on a tricky wicket after being sent in. Wests made 204. Taylor was ably assisted by Callum Hotham’s 59 and new recruit Ollie Hing’s 39. Ollie is a keeper who has joined us from Northern District.
Taylor weighed in with 37 in Sunday’s T20, James Psarakis scored 32 off 24 balls, Ollie Hing (28) and Callum Hotham’s unbeaten 30 helped Wests to a winning 6/185 on Sunday.
Due to great work by the Wests pacemen Lachlan Ford (5-26), Jack Bermingham (3-41) and Javed Mohammed (2-26), Eastern Suburbs found themselves well short with 149 runs. Ford continued the form into Sunday’s T20 clash with Hawkesbury, taking two wickets in two balls. Captain Josh Clarke also contributed two wickets in two balls in that game, with what turned into a ‘team hat trick’, as debutant Hanno Jacobs executed a brilliant run out on his bowling follow through.
Earlier Hanno had impressed in the PG’s T20 game versus Hawkesbury, taking a vital wicket and scoring 15 off 6 balls, including two sixes.
Hanno Jacobs, Rick Wayde, Isaac Taylor
Hanno Jacobs and fellow paceman Joe Slater were Country guests from Canberra and will be welcomed back as Wests continue their respective T20 campaigns.
Taylor weighed in with 37 in Sunday’s T20, James Psarakis scored 32 off 24 balls, Ollie Hing (28) and Callum Hotham’s unbeaten 30 helped Wests to a winning 6/185 on Sunday.
Wests Seconds, on Saturday, led from the front by Captain Paul Ryan, made it two straight wins, scoring 191 and restricting Easts to 168, at Waverley. A stylish 68 off 68 balls by Joe McDevitt put the Magpies into a good position after Matt Chamberlain (31 runs) and Ritish Sethi (17 off 66 balls) really dug in, putting on 52 and laying a foundation. Ryan chipped in with 25.
The bowlers shared the wickets with Zain Shamsi and Tanvir Singh getting two each early on, however, it was Sethi’s controlled 2-22 off 9.4 overs that got Wests home in the end.
Ritish completed the weekend with an invaluable 31 runs and 2-18 off his four overs in the PG’s win over Hawkesbury. Wests made 8/151 to Hawkesbury’s 8/125. Finn Gray had top scored with a stylish 70 off only 43 deliveries.
The weekend concluded with Australia clinching the T20 World Cup, defeating New Zealand, with Mitchell Marsh’s commanding 77 not out earning Player of the Final. Congratulations to Mitchell and the Aussies!
For those that don’t know, Marsh is Wests First Grade Player #676, playing at Pratten Park on January 24th. 2015. Alan Davidson presented Mitchell with his baggy black cap, as illustrated in the ‘photo below.
Mitchell Marsh and Alan Davidson
Join the cricket network to promote your business and expertise. Make it easy for people to search and find the people and services they need through people they know and trust.
Join the network
