By JARROD POTTER
CAPPING off his DDCA junior season in emphatic style, Ryan Quirk showed his class as he posted back-to-back centuries to guide Springvale South to a DDCA Under-17 flag.
Quirk, 17, from Narre Warren, proved too mighty last weekend as his Springvale South (5/250) side ably restricted Narre North (9/165) to claim the cup.
It has been a sensational year for the young dynamo, as he averaged 142.6 and smashed five centuries to round off his under-17 season.
The Springvale South junior captain was pleased with his efforts, but what mattered most was the team game as the Bloods won the trophy and went through the year undefeated.
“Very happy, and more importantly the team got two pretty big wins in two finals, so that’s really the main point of the whole game,” Quirk said.
“Big shout out to our boys, it’s been a fantastic year from us.”
It’s been an eventful March for Quirk, as his semi-final weekend could have ended in disaster.
He had to head to the doctor’s with throat problems after his match-winning under-17 ton against Endeavour Hills.
But the Bloods’ batting up-and-comer shrugged off medical advice to finish the day with the Turf 1 side in its semi-final as he made 21 at the unfamiliar spot of number 11.
“The uvula in my throat had swollen up to three or four times the size, so had to go to bat 11 and unfortunately still got a loss in that round,” Quirk said.
“Went to the doctor’s, had a check-up, they said I probably shouldn’t play, but it’s a semi-final so you’ve got to play don’t you?
“But there’s not as much pressure at 11, so I enjoyed that.”
Springvale South’s Under-17s coach Andrew Sharp said Quirk had a tremendous season and was able to get it done with the bat and also setting the fields to ensure the Bloods’ success.
“He’s fantastic – not only his batting but I think his captaincy as well,” Sharp said.
“Bowling changes, fielding places – all part of an outstanding finals series.”
It’s been a premier season for Quirk, who was also part of the DDCA’s Under-21 side that defeated Diamond Valley to win the Neil Wright Shield.
