Tigers outclass Combine
Grampians Cricket Association senior premierships were decided at the weekend and surprisingly resulted in rather one-sided matches.
Pomonal Tigers are the new A Grade association champions after outclassing Swifts-great Western at Central Park, Stawell, on Sunday.
Playing nearly the perfect game of cricket, the Tigers chose to bat first and posted a formidable score of 4-206, based mainly around a century from opener Clinton Mackley, 106, supported by Corey Taylor, 32, and Lynden Brewis, 29 not out.
The only Combine bowler to make an impression was Matt Heffer with 2-32.
Any hope of a Combine win was snuffed out by a devastating spell from opener Lachy Dalkin when he trapped Sam Cocks in front for just three runs, quickly followed by Jack Cann, 0, and Ricky Peters, nine runs, to finish with eight overs, four maidens, 3-9.
Scoreboard pressure then contributed to a series of rash strokes and the Combine was dismissed for 94 – the second time they were dismissed for less than 100 for the season. The only batters to show anything was Aiden Graverson, 38, and Tom Fitzgerald, 16.
This was the Tigers’ first McDonald Shield win and with the way they played the last two matches, it will not be the last.
Umpires Phil Rodger and Andrew Wood awarded the Steve ‘Wombat’ Smith medal to Clinton Mackley for his 100, but it must have been close with Lachy Dalkin’s spell getting my vote.
B Grade
Saturday’s B Grade final saw Swifts-great Western take home the chocolates against Halls Gap 1 in a match that was very similar to their semi-final win.
The Gappers decided to bat and were routed for just 19 runs – an association record-low score in a final – leaving the Combine to score 20 runs, which was achieved in four overs for no loss.
Wreckers for the Combine were Harvey Evans with 4-15 from eight overs, including two maidens, and evergreen Marc Brilliant with 3-1.
Umpires Andy Farish and Geoff Miller awarded the most-valuable player medal to Combine’s Harvey Evans.
The premiership is the Combine’s ninth A. and H. Hunt Shield win, and fitting reward for captain Leon Molony, who has been a big contributor to the association’s junior programs, and with the girls’ ‘Stawell Strikers’ in particular.
Premier award
The association hosted its presentation night at which votes for the Greg Goldsmith Memorial Medal were counted.
Umpires vote for the ‘Goldie’ on 3-2-1 basis for the best player of the season.
The award is named in honour of Greg Goldsmith, a popular umpire who officiated in the Grampians for many years. It is widely acknowledged as the association’s premier award.
Swifts-great Western’s Sam Cocks won this year’s medal with 20 votes, from Saint Adam Haslett with 14 votes and Combine teammate Travis Nicholson was third.
Reece Kettle, with 252 points, won the ‘future stars’ under-21 award from Ethan Mckinnis, 223.
Both play with Chalambar, which bodes well for their club’s future.