PLENTY of grand finals over the weekend saw competition reach a crescendo.
Gisborne District Cricket Association (GDCA)
It was a weekend to remember for Wallan, who secured promotion back into the McIntyre Cup with not just one premiership to show for it, but two.
In the Johnstone Shield Firsts grand final, it was a blockbuster battle between the top two, with the Magpies meeting Eastern Hill at a packed Greenhill Reserve.
Wallan attacked the game immediately after Eastern Hill won the toss and elected to bat.
Magpies’ playing-coach Steven Bell was at the forefront at the Magpies’ charge on Saturday, taking 4/16 off 14 overs as he tore through the Eagles’ middle order, while Scott O’Donnell took 2/34 off 22 overs as he helped clean up the tail, with Eastern Hill finishing 9/150 after day one.
The Eagles needed quick wickets to get themselves into the contest when play resumed on Sunday, and succeeded thanks to a mix-up between Spencer Whittingham and Matthew Clayton which saw the latter run out, but Whittingham knuckled down in a handy partnership with captain Bryan Vance.
While the game was still on the line with Whittingham dismissed on 40, Vance (40), Nathan Fowler (29), and Ryan Cumberland (36) ensured it would be the Magpies’ day, chasing down the target of 151 in 49 overs with seven wickets to spare, and Cumberland memorably sealing the game with a four and a six in successive balls.
Bell would be awarded best on ground for his exploits on Saturday, but post-game, was full of praise for his teammates.
“It’s something we’ve been aiming for since I took over as coach five years ago,” he said.
“We’ve had a couple of losses in grand finals during that time, but it’s good to finally get one and be back where we want to be.
“McIntyre Cup is where this club should be, and I can’t wait to be there next year.
“The last two months, we’ve probably played the best cricket we have in the five years I’ve been here.
“There was a two-week period after Christmas where we started to doubt ourselves again, that there could be a repeat of what happened last year, but a few of us got together, had a chat, sorted it all out, and it’s been a great last month.”
Bell said the bowling on Saturday was critical to the Magpies’ success.
“It’s trademark Wallan, the way we bowled,” he said.
“I use the word ‘boring’, another guy on the team uses the word ‘relentless’, and that set us up.
“Everyone did their job—seven of us can bowl, but we all bowled that relentless line and length, and for all of us to do it on the day we needed to, it helped set up the win.”
In the Johnstone Shield Seconds, it was also the Magpies who took the flag, winning by four wickets over Aintree away from home at Woodlea Reserve.
Brenton Hanson was the architect behind bowling Aintree out for 148 on the first day’s play, taking 4/29 off 16.2 overs, while Beau Fowler (2/25) and James Farrell (2/14) also took multiple wickets.
Bradley Regan set the Magpies up at the top of the order, scoring 49, but it was Fowler who continued his Saturday exploits to finish unbeaten on 40, hitting the winning runs and taking the best on ground medal.
In the McIntyre Cup Firsts, a whirlwind Jarryd Vernon innings, which saw him score an unbeaten 217, brought Romsey’s season to an end, with Gisborne too strong at Gardiner Reserve.
Gisborne scored 6/407 as Romsey simply had no answer to Vernon, despite the best efforts of Logan Collins (2/52) and Aaron Paterson (2/96).
Romsey lost three quick wickets to fall behind almost immediately, and while Ben Way’s 51 and Chris Burkett’s 43 helped steady the ship, they were bowled out for 156.
Romsey’s weekend wasn’t much better as they went down in the McIntyre Cup Seconds grand final to Sunbury United.
Tim Dale’s 47 kept Romsey in it on the first day as they made 133, but while Daniel Paterson did his utmost to lead from the front, taking 2/27 off 22 overs, Sunbury United eventually chased down the target with five wickets to spare.
Seymour District Cricket Association (SDCA)
Tallarook crowned their dominant A grade season with a third consecutive premiership, securing an eight-wicket victory over Yea in a game where they had the ascendancy right from the start.
The game looked set to be a battle of the bowlers, with both teams conceding the fewest runs throughout the season, but it was Tallarook who lit up the final with a devastating display of attacking bowling.
It was Lachlan Watts and Blake Munari-O’Dwyer who did all the damage throughout the early stages after Yea won the toss and elected to bat, reducing Yea’s top order to rubble and leaving the Tigers 5/25.
Save for Andrew Butterworth’s 46, Yea were never in the hunt, with Watts finishing with an incredible 4/5 off 7.1 overs, while Munari-O’Dwyer took 3/24 off six overs.
Tallarook continued to be relentless when it came time to bat, and did what they needed to, ensuring they were able to cruise towards the title.
Joshua Rudge set things up with 43, while Mitch Itter played a supporting role with 23.
Watts completed an incredible day of cricket with the man of the match award, scoring the winning runs as part of his 32.
In other news around the league, Avenel claimed the B grade premiership with a comfortable 66-run victory over Alexandra.
