![STARS: Christo Rook and Brendan Chatfield were named the Grassmere Cricket Association's cricketers of the year in division one. Picture: Supplied STARS: Christo Rook and Brendan Chatfield were named the Grassmere Cricket Association's cricketers of the year in division one. Picture: Supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/sean.hardeman/34572e10-9374-4661-b22b-9095e5fc99c8.jpeg/r0_0_600_800_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
TWO prolific run-makers shared Grassmere Cricket Association's division one cricketer of the year award on Friday night.
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Yambuk all-rounder Christo Rook and Killarney wicket-keeper Brendan Chatfield secured the honour after strong individual seasons.
Chatfield also scored the batting aggregate and average as well as the wicket-keeper awards after scoring 544 runs at 77.71 runs and claimed 16 dismissals with the gloves.
The opener's highlights were a double century against Mailors Flat in round seven followed by another century the round after against eventual premiers Hawkesdale.
![SWINGING HARD: Yambuk's Christo Rook bats in the Grassmere Cricket Association (GCA) semi-final between KIllarney, where he top-scored. Picture: Anthony Brady SWINGING HARD: Yambuk's Christo Rook bats in the Grassmere Cricket Association (GCA) semi-final between KIllarney, where he top-scored. Picture: Anthony Brady](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc74eypys13yfo2fmv4te.jpg/r0_153_1908_1230_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Rook, who was in his first season in the GCA after moving over from Portland and District Cricket Association, finished fifth in the batting aggregate and third in the average with 359 runs at 51.29.
He also took 19 wickets to finish seventh in the bowling aggregate. His best game came against Killarney in round six where he took 6-44 and made 92.
Chatfield, 26, who is apprentice electrician, said he was shocked to be sharing the award with Rook.
"To be honest I thought Christo was the best cricketer all year and you sort have ot bat and bowl to win this award," he said.
"I just bat and keep so I thought I would poll a couple of rounds but I didn't think I would get anywhere near it.
"I rate Christo and to be seen as equal with him is a bit of a honour."
![DOUBLE: Brendan Chatfield shows off his impressive score against Mailors Flat. Picture: Supplied DOUBLE: Brendan Chatfield shows off his impressive score against Mailors Flat. Picture: Supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/sean.hardeman/8b360399-fc49-41f9-be04-76ebe8c7c636.jpg/r0_0_998_561_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Rook, 27, who works as a teacher, said the award was thanks to the support of his new club.
"I have had a pretty reasonable year but I got a lot of support from the Yambuk boys," he said.
"So it was pretty easy to perform well in the team environment. I think the enjoyment we had during the year made it easy to feel comfortable in the league especially with the other players form the other teams."
GCA president Rhys Dews commended the pair on their outstanding seasons.
"Christo is a good all-rounder and you would see his name come up in runs each week and he is also a handy bowler in the wickets," he said.
"He was new to association and went away to Bendigo (country week) and was a pivotal part in the division 2 win.
"Brendan had a good second half of the year scoring that 258 and also backing it up with a 100 and 60 in the games following, while still getting starts and 50s early on.
"He is one of the better players and when you see these big millstone it sets the standard for our association to follow."
Division two cricketer of the year went to Wangoom skipper Nick Sinclair, while the third tier gong was shared between Panmure opener Andrew Bridge and Mailors Flat captain Steven Edwards.
Dews said the association was proud of the year that was but is eager for a new season and fresh changes in 2019-20.
"It's been a competitive season and it was good to see six different clubs represented in the grand finals," he said.
"The games were all high quality and we are now looking forward to moving into one-day cricket next year."
The association's president said it was tough to break away from the longer format but the top grade's players have begun to accept the changes.
"Two-day cricket is still popular amongst a lot of the players but they understand where we need to go to become viable in the future," he said.
"That's where everyone sits but we need to think about the bigger picture and take our personal preferences out for the best of the association."
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