THE success of Grassmere Cricket Association club Hawkesdale has plenty to do with the Cozens family.

Brothers Harrison and Fletcher were members of the club's A grade premiership team last season and continue to be key players this year.

Off the ground, their parents are just as important to the Cats.

Dad Simon, a former player, is the ground curator, putting in plenty of volunteer hours to have the playing surface up to standard.

And mum Jackie has one of the most important roles in country cricket – organising afternoon tea. 

Jackie said she loved the social aspect of her cricket involvement.   

"It's good catching up with the locals and having a bit of chat," she said.

"You find out what's gone on for the week and sit out in the sun and watch world go by."

In cricketing tradition, Jackie said all players bring a plate for afternoon team with old favourites, barbecue Shapes, Tim Tams and egg and lettuce sandwiches, still popular. 

Port Fairy was staring down a sinking ship only for veteran bowler Stephen Dwyer, who has returned to the division one side for the first time since the 2015-16 season, to save the day and plug up the leak. 

The equation was Allansford needed two runs and the Pirates needed two wickets in the final over on Saturday.

Dwyer’s first ball was on the money to Ben Fary, who hit it back to the bowler for a dot. Second ball Dywer pitched the ball outside off-stump and he thought it was all over.

“It should have been four but he managed to sky it and hit it straight to gully and Nic Ryan took a screamer,” the line and length bowler said.

The third ball was hit towards Travis Parsons who threw it to Dwyer who fumbled it onto the stumps for a run out, confirming an extraordinary win for the Pirates.

Rukshan Weerasinghe (Russells Creek) 108; Nick Butters (Woodford) 78; Ben Threlfall (West Warrnambool) 81; Jason Perera (Port Fairy) 69 and 1-23; Sam Younghusband (West Warrnambool) 53; Sam Clarkson (Merrivale) 2-9 off seven overs; Mark Jones (Merrivale) 4-20; Hank Schlaghecke (Woodford) 4-43; Glenn Moore (Russells Creek) 3-11; Tom Bowman (Wesley-CBC) 3-20; Shannon Beks (Dennington) 3-28.

Paddy Mahony (Panmure) 45 and 2-13; Lachlan Boyle (Maliors Flat) 46 and one stumping; Hamish Gleeson (Yambuk) 43*; Corey McKenzie (Yambuk) 38; Matt Boyle (Mailors Flat) 41 and 3-24; Lachlan Glare (Hawkesdale) 4-17; Fletcher Cozens (Hawkesdale) 4-11; Daniel Jones (Killarney) 5-33; Ben Small (Grassmere) 4-5; Tyson Umbers (Yambuk) 3-34; Declan Bourke (Panmure) 3-24.

Jeff Rosolin (Heytesbury) 112; David Murphy (Pomborneit) 79; Jake Flynn (Terang) 48; Oliver Mahncke (Mortlake) 42; Isaac Wareham (Mortlake) 40 and 2-8; Tyler Schafer (Mortlake) 3-16 and 24; Liam Geary (Terang) 3-11; Sam Munro (Terang) 3-1; Bayley Thompson (Heytesbury) 3-16; Steven O’Neill (Pomboneit) 4-22; Fraser Lucas (Bookaar) 3-38.

Georgia Wareham’s rise from Mortlake cricketer to emerging Australian star is giving young female players in the south-west something to aspire to. Heytesbury Rebels’ Milly Illingworth and Port Fairy’s Maddie Green are starting their pathways and will represent Vic Country at the Cricket Australia under 15 championships next year. At 13, the pair is already making a mark.

Russells Creek’s century-maker Rukshan Weerasinghe didn’t want to wait too long to bring up his maiden Warrnambool and District Cricket Association ton against Dennington on Saturday.

The Sri Lankan import cruised his way to his first 50 in 100 balls but once hitting that mark he put the foot down and reached triple figures in just 18 balls.

The innings of 108 comprised of 15 fours and three sixes before he was caught by Chris Cheslin off the bowling of Michael Howley.

Weerasinghe was the highest scorer by 70 runs. The Creekers’ second-highest scorer was James Elford (38), while Dennington’s was Shannon Beks with 16.

Top batsmen, Mortlake’s Shane Slater and Heytesbury Jeff Rosolin, seem to be unknowingly sharing notes in the South West Cricket Association.

Cats opener Slater scored 112 in the round one victory over Cobden and Rosolin also scored 112 as an opener in his side’s victory over Camperdown on Saturday. 

Merrivale president and long-time player Bill Fary is set to play his 500^th game for the Tigers in division two on Saturday and upon our search for this week’s flashback we came across a photo of Fary in action in November 1987. 

In that game Fary and the Tigers’ division one side were playing West Warrnambool in the first two-dayer of the 1987-88 season, after wet weather had delayed the start of the season. 

Bowling spin, Fary took 3-65 in the Panthers’ first innings total of 8-209. The Tigers would go on to win the match by one-wicket the week after with Fary contributing three in the run chase.