The Old Ignatians' Cricket Club's talent scouts are always scouring the online results of cricket matches near and far for potential recruits for season 2026/27.

Congratulations to Simon Burke (OR1989), who won the Warm Discussions Cafe Trophy for the best Bowling Average with the outstanding average of 11.36 for Manilla Bowlos at the club's presentation night for season 2025/26 on 10 May.

Simon took 11 wickets at 11.36 for the season, with best match figures of 3-4, to claim the club's bowling award. He also had a handy season as the team's opening batsman, scoring 300 runs at an average of 30. 

Simon's team, Manilla Bowlos, play in the Peel Valley Bush Cricket competition, and took out the 2nd Grade Premiership, with an extremely exciting win over Nemingha 6-192 vs 5-191, with the Manilla Bowlos scoring one run off the last ball of the match to secure victory. 

Mark Eather (OR1985) played for Nundle in the 1st Grade competition this season, with Nundle being runners up in the grand final against the Moore Creek Marlins, in another game which came down to the last ball to decide the winner. 

Mark, who our correspondent remembers famously kicked a penalty goal in 1985 from behind the half-way line at the SCG in a Wallabies vs USA Eagles test match curtain raiser between the Riverview 1st XV and Grammar, also had an outstanding cricket season for Nundle in 2025/26, scoring 257 runs for the season and taking 12 wickets. 

Congratulations to Simon and Mark on your combined efforts on the cricket field.

If you ever feel like a game for the Old Ignatians' Cricket Club next summer, please don't hesitiate to contact the club via its website https://www.oldignatianscricket.com.au/ or send an email to oldiggiescricket@gmail.com. 

You'd be most welcome to play for the club whenever you are in Sydney, with three teams playing on Saturdays, and the over 40s Masters and over 50s Classics playing on alternate Sundays.