UGSCA 2023-24: Williams clean up at season awards as Rodney Ford claims another cricketer of year gong

Williams captain Rodney Ford was rewarded for a stellar 2023-24 season by being named the Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-Grade Cricketer of the Year after leading his team to a thrilling grand final win over Wandering on Saturday. Williams cleaned up at UGSCA awards after winning their first A-grade premiership, with Riley Ford taking out the Under-21 Cricketer of the Year and Broc Titko being named man of the match in the decider. Rodney Ford took the title with 948 points for the season and was awarded the honour by UGSCA president Blair Forrest and secretary Pete Baker. “This goes to a guy — I don’t know how many times he’s won it, it’s ridiculous now,” Forrest said. “He’s an absolute freakish cricketer.” Rodney Ford made 478, averaging 59.75, and took 21 wickets and three catches for the season. “Thanks to Bluey as president for running the association, you’re doing a great job, and to Pete, unbelievable what you do for the association, so thanks a lot,” Rodney Ford said. “Thanks to Wandering, I’m sure we’ll chat a bit later, but great game of cricket, one of the best games — it could have gone either way. “It was a really good day. I think the whole comp all year has been really even with some great cricketers and the standard of cricket has been really good.” Riley Ford made 159 and averaged 26.5 over the 2023/24 season and took 18 wickets and one catch on his way to the under-21 honour. “This young kid’s been playing A-grade cricket for two or three years now but he’s just gone leaps and bounds this year and it’s been his batting that’s gone really well,” Forrest said. The A-grade grand final man of the match award was presented by UGSCA life member Lindsay Scott to Titko. “It feels pretty bloody good really — it’s our fourth go at it, we’ve had a fair few cracks,” he said on the premiership win. “We’ve lost by close margins before, it’s good to finally get one in the bag — it’s good for the old fellas and good for everyone else.” The UGSCA Cricketer of the Year for Country Week went to Arron Quartemaine, who made 128 and took three wickets and six catches to finish on 248 points. The bowling aggregate and average awards went to Cuballing captain Grady Francis with 27 at a superb average of 7.74. The batting aggregate and average awards went to Towns’ Arron Quartermaine, who made 482 with a brilliant average of 120.5.