Sport
16 February, 2024
Milestone for Tolland
A MAJOR milestone was celebrated at Pomborneit last week when Simon Tolland made his 250th appearance at senior level for the Bulls.
Tolland’s milestone was marked during the club’s division one match at Frederick Street on Saturday.
Debuting in the under 16s in the 1991/92 season, Tolland made his senior debut in the 1993/94 season, playing in the Pomborneit Gold under 16 premiership team that same year.
Tolland’s early years in senior cricket saw him opening the bowling as a left arm quick, but as the years went on he became a reliable opening batsman at division one level.
Tolland, whose grandfather played some games for Pomborneit in the late 1930s, went on to have two stints as the club's division one captain, and is a two-time division one premiership player as a member of the 2007/08 and 2008/09 title winning teams.
Tolland was also a late call-up for the 2022/23 Twenty20 grand final and added another premiership medal that night at Cobden.
Tolland has appeared at senior level alongside his two oldest sons Finn and Fletcher.
Pomborneit Cricket Club secretary Luke Reynolds made his junior debut on the same day as Tolland back in 1991 and was full of praise for his long-term club mate.
“Tolly has been a wonderful senior player for the club for many years, but his contribution to the Pomborneit junior program over the past eight or nine years has been incredible,” Reynolds said.
“He’s been a major driver at various times in our under 13, under 14, under 16 and now under 17 boys’ teams and still has plenty of years of involvement left.
“All the junior boys have always looked up to him and his contributions do not go unnoticed. “He’s still capable of playing very good cricket and I’d love to see him play on to reach further milestones, and no doubt he’d like a few games with his youngest son Sam.”
The Bulls honoured Tolland’s milestone with speeches at the Bulls Ball at the Commercial Hotel on Saturday night.