A clean sweep, but Matt wanted a premiership
A clean sweep, but Matt wanted a premiership
May 23, 2007
Section: Sport
DESPITE winning a clean sweep of the major awards at the South Coast cricket presentation, outgoing Kiama skipper would swap them for just one , a premiership.
Meurant was named first grade cricketer of the year, best first grade all-rounder, won the Umpires Award and the batting average and aggregates at the presentation.
However, he said he would have preferred his Kiama Cavaliers side to win the premiership.
They were bundled out by eventual runners-up Lake Illawarra in the semi-final.
"I would give them all back for us to have won a semi-final or the competition," Meurant said.
Meurant was motivated to hammer 703 runs at an average of 78.11 as a means of proving himself to the Cavs after scoring "only" 380 runs in 2005-06.
"Individually I had a good year, to be honest I wanted to prove myself to my teammates," he said.
"It didn"t help too much , (Oak Flats premiership skipper) Kerry Penfold didn"t make runs all season then he hit a century in the final.
"I would have rather done that , I couldn"t get it done in the semi-final and that was when I needed to step up."
Despite the powerhouse season and the lingering disappointment of Kiama"s early exit, Meurant confirmed he would not be playing in 2007-08.
Meurant, who won the corresponding award in the Illawarra competition before switching to Kiama, joined former Campbelltown teammates Penfold and Graeme Smith as winners of the award.
Meurant"s teammate Dale Scifleet won the Dennis Cranston Trophy as Burns Cup Player of the Year.
Gerringong"s Dave Reid was named under 19s player of the year, while Warilla Sports" Nathan Docker won the Athol Noble Medal for highest representative honour.
Oak Flats, premiers in all but fourth grade, won the Emery Shield as Club Champions, while Geoff Shaw Oval"s Matt Faint was named curator of the year.
Bruce Whiteman was named first grade umpire of the year, Mick Moran second grade umpire of the year and Barry Ferguson won the outstanding performance award.
Phil Delorefice won the first grade bowling average and aggregate with 42 wickets at 7.02.