THE initiation back into division one of the Emu Valley Cricket Association was a tough one for Axe Creek in the 2019-20 season.

The Cowboys returned to the top flight for the first time since 2015-16 and claimed the wooden spoon in a season that hit its first bump in round two when they were bowled out for just 41 and 76 in an outright loss to reigning premier Sedgwick.

That was one of three outright defeats the Cowboys endured as they also surrendered maximum points to Spring Gully in round four and Emu Creek in round seven.

While there were plenty of challenging days with bat and ball throughout the season, the Cowboys did secure one win when they defeated West Bendigo by 38 runs in round 11 in a game headlined by a knock of 73 from Wayne Hodgskiss.

Hodgskiss' 73 against the Redbacks was the Cowboys' highest score of the season and the only time an Axe Creek player got beyond the 50s in an innings.

The batting struggles the Cowboys endured - their highest tally was 176 in their win over the Redbacks - are highlighted by their best average being captain Ash Dixon's 21.27. Dixon made 319 runs from 16 hits.

Opening batsman Dean Comensoli (305 from 16 innings) was the only other Axe Creek player to make more than 300 runs.

Comensoli was the Cowboys' standout player with the ball, collecting 22 wickets with a best of 4-73 against premier United in round 12, with his contributions with bat and ball and eight fielding dismissals earning him a team-high 830 Addy MVP points.

The Cowboys' best performance with the ball was delivered by Blake Hodgkiss, who bagged 5-33 off eight overs in the victory over West Bendigo.

Record - 10th

Finished - 1-11-1

Batting rank - 10th

Bowling rank - 10th

Average scores:

Batting - 129

Bowling - 322

Round 1: 110 lt Maiden Gully 9-175

Round 2: 41 & 76 lt Sedgwick 7-277 (outright)

Round 3: 141 drew California Gully 3-29

Round 4: 79 & 116 lt Spring Gully 5-215 (outright)

Round 5: 154 & 7-67 lt Marong 2-215

Round 6: 169 lt Maiden Gully 382

Round 7: 140 & 99 lt Emu Creek 6-265 (outright)

Round 8: 9-170 lt West Bendigo 7-172

Round 9: 115 lt Mandurang 4-163

Round 10: 6-161 lt Sedgwick 8-227

Round 11: 176 def West Bendigo 138

Round 12: 131 lt United 274

Round 13: 156 lt Mandurang 5-245

Round 1: 7th (0-1)

Round 2: 10th (0-2)

Round 3: 9th (0-2-1)

Round 4: 10th (0-3-1)

Round 5: 10th (0-4-1)

Round 6: 10th (0-5-1)

Round 7: 10th (0-6-1)

Round 8: 10th (0-7-1)

Round 9: 10th (0-8-1)

Round 10: 10th (0-9-1)

Round 11: 10th (1-9-1)

Round 12: 10th (1-10-1)

Round 13: 10th (1-11-1)

1 - Ash Dixon

Runs: 319 Innings: 16

Avr: 21.27 High: 59

100s: 0 50s: 1

League rank: 19

............................................

2 - Dean Comensoli

Runs: 305 Innings: 16

Avr: 20.33 High: 56

100s: 0 50s: 2

League rank: 23

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3 - Connor Bulger

Runs: 205 Innings: 16

Avr: 12.81 High: 38

100s: 0 50s: 0

League rank: 46

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4 - Paul Barber

Runs: 202 Innings: 10

Avr: 20.20 High: 41

100s: 0 50s: 0

League rank: 49

............................................

5 - Daniel Dixon

Runs: 153 Innings: 16

Avr: 10.20 High: 52*

100s: 0 50s: 1

League rank: 64

1 - Dean Comensoli

Wickets: 22 Overs: 128

Avr: 21.64 Best: 4-73

Strike: 34.91 5W Inns: 0

League rank: 16

............................................

2 - Blake Hodgskiss

Wickets: 12 Overs: 48

Avr: 19.25 Best: 5-33

Strike: 24.00 5W Inns: 1

League rank: 34

............................................

3 - Ash Dixon

Wickets: 11 Overs: 120

Avr: 40.73 Best: 3-22

Strike: 65.45 5W Inns: 0

League rank: 43

............................................

4 - Daniel Dixon

Wickets: 10 Overs: 98

Avr: 40.20 Best: 2-33

Strike: 58.80 5W Inns: 0

League rank: 46

............................................

5 - Jakk Trenfield

Wickets: 9 Overs: 97

Avr: 46.78 Best: 2-24

Strike: 64.67 5W Inns: 0

League rank: 51

1 - Dean Comensoli

Points: 830

Runs: 305 Wickets: 22

Fielding: 8

League rank: 9

............................................

2 - Ash Dixon

Points: 604

Runs: 319 Wickets: 11

Fielding: 6

League rank: 28

............................................

3 - Daniel Dixon

Points: 393

Runs: 153 Wickets: 10

Fielding: 4

League rank: 53

............................................

4 - Connor Bulger

Points: 325

Runs: 205 Wickets: 5

Fielding: 2

League rank: 64

............................................

5 - Jakk Trenfield

Points: 309

Runs: 84 Wickets: 9

Fielding: 4

League rank: 67

None

5-33 - Blake Hodgskiss

vs West Bendigo, rd 11

Record - 0-4

MOST RUNS:

Jakk Trenfield - 47

MOST WICKETS:

Jakk Trenfield - 5

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