Yarrawonga Mulwala managed to defend a small total with a brilliant fielding effort to take out the WDCA premiership on the weekend but the A Reserve side’s unlikely premiership charge fell short at the last hurdle.
A Grade
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Yarrawonga Mulwala 10/123 defeat Rovers United Bruck 10/50
The A Grade Lakers travelled to Wangaratta for their Wangaratta and District Cricket Association grand final against Rovers United Bruck.
The toss was won by captain coach Kyle Archibald, who decided to bat.
The top of the table clash began at 1pm in front of a swelling crowd on a warm March day.
Reid Clarke and Matt Knight opened the batting for the Lakers. Veteran Knight was out second ball of the day caught at first slip from a back of a length delivery without troubling the scorers. Lakers 1-0.
Matt Casey and Clarke dug in for the Lakers and scratched the score to 21 before Clarke slashed at a wide delivery and was caught at point for 14. Lakers 2/21.
Harry Wheeler joined Casey at the crease. Casey was patient and technical but eventually fell LBW for 7. Lakers 3/24 and in serious trouble.
Brock McCabe was the next man in and was determined as usual to absorb pressure and counterattack.
McCabe and Wheeler noodled the ball around and continued to absorb the Rovers United Bruck pressure.
Eventually McCabe was caught at second slip for five. The Lakers reeling at 4/34 off 28 overs.
In-form batsman Ben Welsh walked out to the middle and began his partnership with Wheeler.
Both batsmen knew what was required in the overs before the tea break.
Wheeler and Welsh batted with grit to push the ball in to the gaps.
However, the pair pushed one too many singles. Welsh tickled a ball to mid-wicket and Wheeler was run out at the keeper’s end. The Lakers in serious trouble at 5/54.
In the 43rd over, Lakers veteran Zach Moore marked centre.
Moore was technical and reached five runs before he spooned a drive to cover. The Lakers 6/64.
Kyle Archibald came to the crease and left without troubling the scorers. Going back to a spinning delivery - bowled. Lakers 7/64.
Adam Dodd was the next man in and shortly after afternoon tea was called.
Welsh had seen many batting partners fall around him, however, he was the next to go. LBW for a handy 24 runs. Lakers 8/68 still in the 43rd over.
Irvine joined Dodd at the crease and the boys got to work.
The pair dug deep for the Lakers, absorbing all that Rovers United Bruck threw at them for 15 overs.
Dodd got busy and started to hit the ball with his trademark timing and power. Striking four fours and a six that narrowly missed a koala.
Irvine hit two fours of his own before he was bowled for 11. Lakers 9/100.
The counterattack continued as Matt McCabe hung around for 29 deliveries. McCabe hit a valuable 13 not out that included a four.
Meanwhile Dodd continued to attack and lifted the Lakers total to 123 before he was caught and bowled by the bowler for 30. A top score for the team.
The Lakers finished 10/123 from 72.5 overs. Dodd 30, Welsh 24, Clarke 14, Matt McCabe 13* and Harry Wheeler 11.
The Lakers finished the day knowing they would need a massive effort in the field on the Sunday to have any chance at success.
Day 2
The Lakers took the team bus on Sunday and arrived in Wangaratta to a perfect view of both of the grounds and cricket nets at Barr Reserve.
The Lakers warmed up and knew they had a big task taking 10 wickets defending a small total.
The crowd swelled for day two and Lakers supporters came out in droves.
Jim Irvine took the new ball as he always does while Archibald, Knight and Clarke talked tactics in the cordon and adjusted the field.
Jim steamed in from the far end of Barr Reserve and swung the ball in to the right handers.
On the final delivery of the first over, O’Donohue looked to drive and inside-edged the ball on to his stumps. Gone without troubling the scorers. Rovers United Bruck 1/4.
Bailey Dale was the next batsman in. Dale and Luke Whitten consolidated and absorbed Irvine and Angus Heslin’s first few overs.
In the eighth over, Irvine pitched the ball a touch fuller to remove Luke Whitten - bowled for eight. Rovers United Bruck 2/16.
Rovers United Bruck’s captain Paddy McNamara was the next man in.
In the very next over Heslin joined the party. Dale was in two minds to a ball outside off. Hanging his bat in the air to have another batsman edging the ball on to their stumps.
Dale out for seven, Rovers United Bruck 3/18 in the ninth over. The Lakers quicks wrestled the game back towards an even contest.
Jacob Beattie was the next batsman for Rovers United Bruck.
However, Irvine was not finished yet. In the 10th and very next over, Irvine again bowled a fuller in-swinging delivery to the right handed Beattie.
This time, the ball didn’t hit the stumps. But the top off the off bail. Textbook. Beattie gone without troubling the score. Rover’s United Bruck 4/19 and Irvine with three wickets all bowled.
Matt Whitten was the next batsman in.
In the 12th over, Irvine’s accurate spell continued. Removing Matt Whitten LBW for zero. Rovers United Bruck reeling and in serious trouble at 5/21.
Irvine wrenching the game back in the Lakers favour.
Jeremy Wilson then came to the crease for Rovers United Bruck.
A few LBW shouts were turned down by the umpires and then in the 17th over Angus Heslin bowled a straighter delivery to McNamara.
McNamara clipped the ball down the leg side - caught by the keeper Clarke for four. Rovers United Bruck 6/21.
With the Lakers well on top and the wickets falling, they knew they must maintain the pressure and continue to bowl with discipline.
The next batsman in was Lakpriya or ‘Lucky’.
Wilson and ‘Lucky’ hung around and absorbed the Lakers pressure.
However, ‘Lucky’ was next to be dismissed from a straighter delivery flicked off his pads caught by Heslin at square leg, bowled Matt McCabe.
Rovers United Bruck 7/35. Schonafinger the next batsman.
Brock McCabe toiled away with his leg spinners from the other end. Soon enough Brock had his first wicket caught by his brother going back with the flight at mid off.
Wilson gone for 7. Rovers United Bruck 8/35.
Just a few overs later Matt McCabe had his second wicket - Schonafinger bowled for two from 20 deliveries. Rovers United Bruck 9/43.
Brock McCabe continued on and took the final wicket of Nixon caught and bowled for 2.
Rovers United Bruck all out for 50.
Yarrawonga Mulwala Lakers premiers of the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association.
A massive effort from the team to dig deep after being disappointed on day one and their batting performance.
However, Irvine’s four key wickets early set the match up for the team. Heslin, Matt and Brock McCabe also applying pressure to take two wickets each.
Fielding and catching was relentless and a big focus for Archibald all season.
A big thank you to the City Colts Cricket Club for hosting the finals, the umpires and the association for their efforts.
To the Rovers United Bruck Cricket Club and our great rivals we would like to thank you for the match and also acknowledge your great season.
To Stephen Hicks, all of this couldn’t happen without you. Thank you for all of your efforts.
To our supporters, wives, girlfriends, partners, parents, family members and everyone else who supported us - we would like to thank you for your contributions and support.
Six of our Lakers premiers on Sunday also played together in the 2013/14 Under 16s premiership side a decade ago. A great reflection on our team, junior program and club.
A Reserve
Yarrawonga Mulwala 10/103 defeated by Rovers United Bruck 1/107
Yarrawonga Mulwala were defeated in the grand final on Saturday, after advancing to the decider from fourth spot on the ladder.
The Lakers knocked off minor premier Wangaratta in the semi-final but couldn’t repeat the dose on Saturday, with Rovers United Bruck’s batsmen easily reeling in a small total.
Yarrawonga No.4 Fraser Smart gave his bowlers something to defend with a top score of 49 while Justin O’Brien (16) and Van Kreeck (10) made handy contributions.
But Rovers United Bruck cruised to the total in the 32nd over for the loss of just one wicket, Aneeque Azam (1/27) claiming the sole breakthrough.
Yarrawonga Chronicle