Moonee Valley
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26 April 2021


The Premiers with their medals. L-R. Back - Manu Singh, Paul Bannister, Tom Morrissy, Sunny Singh, Andreas Skiotis, Sam Carbone, Mick Bannister and Sam Coventry-Poole. Front: Pavan Menugonda, Dominic Rettino, Jay Patel, Prashant Hirani and Ben Skok.FOUR-TUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE

It was a big decision to bat first on a wicket that still had juice in it from a week's rain, but Fourths skipper Manu Singh was brave and made the right call.
Moonee Valley had shared the points with Melbourne City during the season, but it was winner-take-all with the Grand Final on March 28.
We had the advantage of a home Grand Final at Ormond Park, and there were plenty of teammates on hand to cheer the Fourths on.
Moonee Valley posted 117 to be all out off the second ball of the 45th and final over, and we were quietly confident that runs on the board on a difficult track would be worth their weight in gold. If we could get some early breakthroughs and keep the pressure on, surely things would fall into place.
Incidentally, 117 was the target which our Thirds had been set in their Grand Final the previous day - a mark which proved a bridge too far.
But on their Grand Final day, the Fourths were up to the challenge.

The Premiers with their medals. L-R. Back - Manu Singh, Paul Bannister, Tom Morrissy, Sunny Singh, Andreas Skiotis, Sam Carbone, Mick Bannister and Sam Coventry-Poole. Front: Pavan Menugonda, Dominic Rettino, Jay Patel, Prashant Hirani and Ben Skok.
There was a bit of unease as Melbourne City got to 2/30, then Jay Patel bowled their No. 3.
Paul Bannister took a superb catch off Sunny Singh to have Melbourne at 6/55 then Pavan Menugonda bowled a double-wicket maiden to have the score 8/55, with the highlight being an incredible leg-side catch from keeper Dom Rettino.
The innings was wrapped up for 74 a further eight overs in, and the Premiership was ours - the first flag for a Moonee Valley Fourths team since 1984/85.
***For more photos from the victory, click HERE


Premiers - and proud to show their medals: L-R Tara Newman, Yasmin King, Sandra Verschoor, Tanya Intagliata, Sarah Ronayne, Katherine Baker, Jane Raman, Sarah Gooden, Audrey Brown and Kelsie Armstrong, with Katherine's sister.Flag in the bag for our girls

Moonee Valley's women's team has capped off their fairytale season with a nailbiting Grand Final win.
From an inexperienced group of women and young girls - two of our young stars had to get special dispensation at the start of the season because they were below the minimum age - the group improved steadily across the season, and brought it all together on the day that counted.
We beat Grand United by two runs in the March 14 decider.
At right: Premiers - and proud to show their medals: L-R Tara Newman, Yasmin King, Sandra Verschoor, Tanya Intagliata, Sarah Ronayne, Katherine Baker, Jane Raman, Sarah Gooden, Audrey Brown and Kelsie Armstrong, with Katherine's sister.
Skipper Tanya Intagliata was the only player who had been in our last women's team a decade ago, and has been instrumental in putting the side together. Tanya played a real captain's knock in the big game with 25 invaluable runs, even though she was severely hampered by a leg injury she sustained early in her innings.
With the flag at the NWMCA presentation night on April 9: Katherine Baker (left) and Tanya Intagliata.Her loud advice and instructions from the sidelines, allied with the disciplined game plan set by coach Channa DeSilva, ensured we were always thereabouts as we defended our total of 96 off the 20 overs.
The Valley girls held their nerve, and allied with the brilliant ground fielding prevented Grand United from fully utilising their strengths.
Moonee Valley previously had women's teams from 2007 to 2011 - our two youngest premiership winners weren't even born when we had our first team - but this is the first premiership for our women.
At left: With the flag at the NWMCA presentation night on April 9: Katherine Baker (left) and Tanya Intagliata.
Our strength throughout the season has been our steady progress and team-oriented performances, with a spread of players capable of posting a good score and a disciplined bowling attack.
Girls, we're proud of you!
For more pictures, click HERE
And here's David Baker's match report


OUR TEAM IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

 Some of our Sevenths squad get together at the end of the season. L-R: Gavin Fischer, Nick Pigitsakis and partner Amber, Noah Nimorakiotakis, Luca Nimorakiotakis, George Manousos, Charlie Walker, Tom Janetzki, Simon Kapitelli, Joshua Boult, Shaun Rayment, Felix Fischer, Bill Nimorakiotakis, Anthony Cafari, Luke Brock and Rupert Fischer.
The Moonee Valley Sevenths were a team to be proud of in the 2020/21 season, and almost pulled off the upset of the year when they pushed the top side into the last over in the Semi Final.
Above: Some of our Sevenths squad get together at the end of the season. L-R: Gavin Fischer, Nick Pigitsakis and partner Amber, Noah Nimorakiotakis, Luca Nimorakiotakis, George Manousos, Charlie Walker, Tom Janetzki, Simon Kapitelli, Joshua Boult, Shaun Rayment, Felix Fischer, Bill Nimorakiotakis, Anthony Cafari, Luke Brock and Rupert Fischer.
But all good things have to come to an end - although only for the season - and the players got together for a celebration to mark a wonderful year on March 13.
Thanks to skipper Bill Nimorakiotakis and wife Cherie for hosting the gathering.
Our committee recognised Bill's leadership talents in helping to set some direction for a rag-tag team in 2019/20, and he had no hesitation in accepting when invited to take on the captaincy this season.
Bill recruited some fine young men into our club, and allied with some wiser heads, players through our juniors and some of our top grade players, steadily built a cohesive team.
The group gelled towards the end of the season, and hit its peak for the finals.
Bill's already got plans for next season, so watch this space!
****Another photo - click HERE



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Main Club contact details:

* Charlie Walker - President [contact via the club]; [contact via the club]
* Peter Golding - Treasurer [contact via the club]
* Michael Ozbun - Secretary [contact via the club]
* Mark Gauci - Vice President [contact via the club]
* Peter Pickering - Junior Co-ordinator - [email protected]

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Last updated : April 19, 2021.
For more of our history, including our Premierships, click HERE

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