Rockets finish on a high

SAM Allen produced a captain’s knock for the ages as the Barwon Rockets ended the under-18 state championships on a high yesterday.

Allen, who endured a tough week as skipper of a Rockets side that lost third-straight matches, showed grit and determination to guide his side to an unlikely victory in the final match of the carnival.

In desperate trouble at 8-146 in pursuit of Metro Outer South’s total of 193 at Toorak Park, Allen partnered with No.10 Matt Tattersall for a matchwinning stand.

“He got us home,” Rockets coach Bryan Thomas proudly declared last night.

“He took to them ... he made 37 off 35 and Matt Tattersall got 20 off 20.

“He’s had a difficult week, Sammy, but he had a red-hot crack. He showed grit and determination and got us over the line.”

Thomas heaped praised on the Rockets’ middle order, who helped drag their team out of a tricky situation.

“Logan Taylor played a great innings again,” Thomas said.

“He made 34 off 31 and then Tom Courtney and Jackson Bye soaked up a lot of overs, but it was a good partnership in the middle.”

Winning with nine balls to spare, Thomas said it was the perfect way to finish a difficult tournament.

“The boys were ecstatic,” he said.

“Everything came together in the last two hours of the day, so we were all happy on the bus trip on the way home.

“We wanted to have a fun day and I said to them that some days good teams don’t click, but what’s happens, happens.”

Allen had a day out, grabbing 3-29 from nine overs. Taylor snared 3-17 from nine.