Clubs to play for Mark McPhee Shield

The Fremantle and North Perth Cricket Clubs will pay tribute to a former star batsman when they compete annually for the Mark McPhee Memorial Trophy.

McPhee, who played a combined total of 137 first grade matches for the two clubs, died tragically in a road accident north of Perth, aged 35, last month.

The first presentation of the trophy will take place on October 3 when Fremantle and North Perth meet for the only time this season in a BankWest Cup clash at Stevens Reserve, Fremantle.

From next year, the shield will be contested in the two-day SmokeFree WA League fixture.

New North Perth coach Ken Lilly, a former team-mate of McPhee's at club level, instigated the trophy with approval from the McPhee family and strong support from the Fremantle Cricket Club.

McPhee played for North Perth from 1982-83 to 1988-89 and Fremantle from 1989-90 to 1994-95. He captained Fremantle to the first grade title in 1990-91.

An attacking opening batsman, he also played 40 first-class matches for WA, scoring 1,699 runs at 27.85.