OTG Clubs OTG Cricket Changing of the Guard A delayed start to the season due to a global pandemic only prolonged suspense and further whet our appetites for what promised to be another enthralling 13 rounds of leather on willow. After a host of names synonymous with Trinity cricket – think Tyson, Balme, Yeoman, West and Randles – decided to spend their summers away from the hallowed turf of the Hudson, it was with great delight Old Trinity welcomed fresh blood to the Club. In fact, 10 youngsters across the Firsts and Seconds made their Club debuts over the course of the season. Out with the old, in with the new: for the first time in as long as Dave Cowley (OTG 2008) can remember (a very long time for those wondering), we had a group excited to train on Tuesday evenings, and even practise fielding. With vast change to both teams’ best XI, expectations were tempered. The Firsts began their campaign with two wins from as many rounds, and the realisation of
possibly losing a tenth consecutive semi‑final quickly became a reality. With Captain, Seb Nicolosi (523 runs @ 65.38, 2x 100s, MCC League Batting Award), at the helm, and cameos from Arthur Nitsopoulos (214 runs @ 35.67) and Myles Scott (11 wickets @ 15.55), the Firsts won their final three matches to prize a deserved finals berth. Unfortunately, grim weather reigned supreme, eroding any glimpse of causing a semi-final upset against top‑of‑the‑table Old Scotch.
Finally, congratulations to the following players on their selection in the 2020/21 MCC League Team of the Year: Seb Nicolosi, Myles Scott, Adrian Johnson, Matt Keys (215 runs @ 26.88, 6 wickets @ 19.33).
The Seconds first win came in Round 2, a masterful victory thanks to final-ball-of-the-innings heroics from Vice-Captain, Nick Galbraith. But the young group, led by first-year skipper Adrian Johnson (274 runs @ 34.25, 4x 50s), would be made to wait until Round 12 for its second: a narrow victory against MCC for the annual David Hooper Trophy, in honour of the former Old Geelong cricketer who sadly lost his battle with mental health seven years ago.
OTGAFC is experiencing its strongest participation year with over 270 players playing and living the Trinity way. The castle that is the Bulleen Playing Fields has never been busier with two U19s and an U23 team forming the Speros Beasley Development Squad. In addition, there are two female teams in the Premier VAFAW and three Senior men’s teams. 2021 is all about ‘the VIBE’ and we are keen to ensure that anybody in the Old Boy and OTG/ORA community that wants a game of footy can get one.
In a tradition initiated by MCC Captain, Roly Imhoff, and former OTG Cricket President, Hugh Krantz, the yearly fixture aims to encourage discussion and facilitate awareness around men’s mental health. It is a game the Club is honoured to play, and a tradition we are extremely proud to maintain.
Old Trinity Second XI retain the David Hooper Trophy
28 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN
OTG Football
Adrian Johnson (OTG 2014) and Seb Nicolosi (OTG 2012) President
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The VAFA competition is providing its unique challenges for our Senior men’s and women’s teams as they ‘future-proof’ under the respective coaching leadership of James Francis/Terry Mason and Stephen Maus/Damian
