That’s number three! The Kingaroy RSL team celebrates its Grand Final win on Saturday
Tony Dugdell and Anthony Eden celebrate the fall of the last Murgon wicket

April 7, 2014

Kingaroy RSL proved its dominance of South Burnett cricket on Saturday with its third A Grade Grand Final win in a row.

It was a sweet victory for the team which had still managed to finish on top of the season ladder despite being penalised earlier in the season with a loss of points for non-payment of fees.

Murgon Crusaders won the toss and elected to bat.

Darren Geiger took the first two wickets – Paul Brunjes and Derek Sander – quite cheaply.

Batting at No 3, Jason Webber was looking dangerous, knocking out 57 runs – the top score for the day – before being caught by Peter Hourn off a ball by David Hosking; Webber seemed rattled after narrowly escaping a run-out attempt on the previous ball.

Stuart Robinson added to Murgon’s total with 20 very useful runs before being bowled by Anthony Eden, who also finished the day with two wickets.

Tony Dugdell then ripped through the rest of the line-up, having a hand in taking the last five wickets.

Young Jarrod Sippel was caught by Brady Roberts off a Dugdell ball.

Dugdell then looked like he was going to repeat his hat-trick effort from last year’s grand final win.

After taking the wickets of Tom Patton (bowled) and Troy Sander (lbw), he charged down against Graeme Brown who managed to fend it away.

But Brown didn’t last long; Dugdell’s next ball bowled him.

Murgon’s last wicket, Mitchell Pratt, fell after Dugdell took the catch off Anthony Eden’s bowling.

The Crusaders were all out for 123 in the 39th over.

In reply, RSL opener David Hosking took charge at the crease, hitting 48, including six fours.

Anthony Eden also kept the scoreboard ticking over with three fours and a six on his way to 32 before being caught by Stuart Robinson off a ball by Tom Patton.

Patton was the pick of the Crusaders’ bowlers, finishing with 2/19 off seven overs, including three maidens.

RSL overtook the Murgon total in the 30th over.

NB. To top off a big day for RSL’s Anthony Eden, he was named Queensland Country Cricketer of the Year at the Queensland Cricket Awards dinner held in Brisbane on Saturday night. Earlier this year, Eden was one of three Queenslanders selected in the Australian Country XI.

Jason Webber top-scored for the Crusaders with 57, including three fours and a six
Murgon’s Stuart Robinson swings and misses to be bowled by Anthony Eden for 20
Out … Tony Dugdell sends the bails flying for Crusaders’ Tom Patton  
Tony Dugdell powers down in a bid to get a hat-trick … it was fended away, but his next ball bowled Crusaders’ tailender Graeme Brown for a duck
Murgon’s last wicket falls … Mitchell Pratt hits a catch to Tony Dugdell 
David Hosking hits toward the boundary … Hosking top-scored for Kingaroy RSL
Kingaroy RSL v Murgon Crusaders scorecard

* * *

At the conclusion of the Grand Final, the South Burnett Cricket Association season trophies were presented.

For the third year in a row, the A Grade Player of the Season was Michael Davies, from Nanango, with 947 points.

B Grade Player of the Season was Tavis Hartwig (847), and Under 16 Player of the Season – Brayden Clark

SBCA A Grade 2013/2014 Trophy Winners

  • Highest Partnership  – T. Dugdell & D. Hosking (204)
  • Highest Score – B. Weil (145)
  • Batting Average –  A. Eden (75.67)
  • Batting Aggregate – A. Eden (454)
  • Most Catches – A. Eden (9)
  • Wicket Keeper Dismissals – J. Fleming (16)
  • Best Bowling – T. Dugdell (7/43)
  • Bowling Average – T. Dugdell (8.68)
  • Bowling Aggregate – M. Davies (34)

SBCA B Grade 2013/2014 Trophy Winners

  • Highest Partnership – R. Anderson & J. Rose (175)
  • Highest Score – A. Geiger (118)
  • Batting Average – S. Gray (87.4)
  • Batting Aggregate – E. Simpson (474)
  • Most Catches – T. Hartwig (15)
  • Wicket Keeper Dismissals – H. Wieck (10)
  • Best Bowling – S. Heness (6/27)
  • Bowling Average – S. Heness (8.59)
  • Bowling Aggregate – T. Hartwig (24)