All-round talent wins top cricket award

TWEED cricket star Pat Rosser has capped his best season in Far North Coast cricket by being named the LJ Hooker League Player of the Year.

Rosser was instrumental in the Cudgen Hornets winning the premiership and was the top wicket-taker in the competition, claiming 33 scalps.

The former NSW and Australian country all-rounder also took home the bowling aggregate award.

He recently competed with the NSW team which reached the final of the National Indigenous Cricket Championship at Mackay.

Far North Coast LJ Hooker League president Phil Melville said he is one of the most skillful cricketers to play in the local competition in recent years.

“He’s had an illustrious career and he’s a very special talent,” Melville said.

“There were games this year where he took control with his bowling and he also contributed with his run-scoring when they needed it.

“I don’t think anyone else got close to him, he was an obvious winner when you look at how well Cudgen went this season.”

Rosser, originally from Parkes, won a NSW Country cricket title with the Western zone.

He is now a zone selector and is involved in the FNC representative program.

“Pat would be one of the only people to captain NSW Country in cricket and rugby league,” Melville said.

“He probably played the most cricket he has this season since he first moved here about 10 years ago.

“I think he really enjoys playing in higher calibre competition and against our better teams.”

Melville said it was great to see some of the younger players in the senior competition winning awards this season.

Tintenbar-East Ballina teenager Kai Dalli won the batting aggregate award, having scored 493 runs.

Marist Brothers young guns Cooper Williams and Joe Parsons also scored over 400 runs for the season.

“It’s a really good thing for the competition to have our younger players winning trophies,” Melville said.

“Some of them helped out with our junior academies and they look like they’re going to be really good prospects.”

Vincent Benfield, Junatan Mansbridge and Sam Cottee won the Best and Fairest award from the FNC Interdistrict competition.