Cricket: Hutchison stands out

Royals cricket captain Tim Hutchison was rewarded for a standout season by almost scooping the pool at the Albany Cricket Association awards night last Saturday.

Picture by Laurie Benson

After moving across from Collingwood Park last season, Hutchison revelled in his leadership role at the Lions, lifting the 2010-11 wooden spooners to a preliminary final this year.

Hutchison cleaned up in the A-grade awards, winning the ACA captains’ cricketer of the year by 11 points from Gary McGlade, while also taking out the ACA umpires’ cricketer of the year trophy by five votes, also from McGlade.

He also claimed the ACA all-rounder of the year title, scoring a staggering 1111 points to defeat Matt Clothier (827 points) and McGlade (751).

Rounding out a magnificent season for the 20-year-old, Hutchison won the prestigious Syd Harper under-21 cricketer of the year, the ACA batting aggregate with an impressive 701 runs, and the ACA batting average award after averaging 63.73 for the season.

The left-handed batsmen also improved dramatically with the ball this season, taking 22 wickets to finish fourth in the ACA bowling aggregate award while narrowly missing out on the ACA bowling average award.

Park’s strike weapon Hayden Burling won the bowling aggregate with 26 wickets, while Burling’s team mate Matt Hope (10.50) won the bowling average just ahead of Hutchison (10.68). “It was pleasing to go to a new club and do well,” Hutchison said.

“I was a lot happier than last year and I enjoyed opening (batting) a lot more.”

Hutchison will leave on April 8 for a six-month stint in England before returning home to Donnybrook.

He aims to play grade cricket in Perth next season.

cameron.newbold@albanyadvertiser.com