Armstrong Creek and Barwon Heads will face off in the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 Grade final after both sides struggled at times in their respective semi-finals, but found ways to win as good teams do.
Armstrong Creek will contest its first ever decider while the Seagulls are laden with grand final experience.
“It’s been a couple of years in the making for us since coming up to A1 after we won the A2, and the president keeps reminding us that’s the only one the club hasn’t won,” Titans’ captain-coach Daniel Maclean said.
“It was really rewarding to at least get there now and we’re a 50/50 chance.”
Maclean said his club has a lot of respect for its nearest neighbour.
“There is a lot of respect for Barwon Heads with what they do as a team and a club,” he said.
“They’re a great cricket side and Dan Donaldson does a great job as captain and they’re a really good fielding side. They will bowl a fair bit of spin at us, which we’ll have to navigate our way through.”
Such has been the success of Armstrong Creek’s top order this season, the middle and lower orders haven’t had to do much.
Ben Norgrove (58) batted well, but at 5/84 against a Barrabool outfit with nothing to lose, things were looking unsteady.
Adam Trevean (20), keeper Aaron Morgan (20) and Maclean himself (50) got the total to 211.
Barrabool responded to be all out for 122 albeit with reduced overs due to the rain.
Maclean took 4/43 while brother Jack snared 5/36. New-ball pair Clay Mulgrew and Jason Robertson kept things tight at the start of the innings, which drew praise from their skipper.
“They both bowled really well,” Maclean said.
“We wanted to give myself and Jack a chance in case the ball got wet and a little bit stuffed up and we managed to keep it pretty dry and the ball was moving around a fair bit. It was quite good as a bowler that bowls about 70km/h like myself, so a little bit through the air is a good thing.”
Barwon Heads captain-coach Daniel Donaldson said Armstrong Creek deserved to be in the last game of the season.
“Armstrong Creek have been up there the last couple of seasons and I know that they lost last year’s semi-final, but they’ve been the best side all season,” he said.
“They deserve a crack in the final.”
The reigning premiers defeated last season’s runners-up Anglesea in the semi in an absorbing tussle.
The Seagulls made 211 batting first and Donaldson said he would have taken that at the start of play.
“We said at the start of the day that 180 was par given the outfield was a bit slow,” he said.
“(But) given where we were at three for 150 off around 40 overs, we were pretty hopeful that we would actually get a substantial amount more than what we ended on. But credit to Anglesea – they got themselves back in the game with some good fielding.”
At one stage the Heads were 3/145, but slumped to 7/163.
“That partnership between Harry Hyland (10) and Matteo (Surace, 27), and they did it the week before against Jan Juc, was really good,” Donaldson said.
With rain causing several interruptions on day two, Anglesea batted well and at one stage looked headed for victory.
But teenage sensation Angus Mackie stepped in to take six wickets with his leg-spinners to turn the game and have the Seas out for 172.
“He’s taken some clutch wickets at clutch times this season,” Donaldson said.
“With a wet ball in those circumstances where I think the match was probably skewed towards Anglesea, to come in and do that as a 15-year-old is just a testament to him.”
BPCA GRAND FINALS
Saturday March 22 and Sunday March 23, 1pm start. Reserve day March 29.
A1 Grade
Armstrong Creek vs Barwon Heads at Collendina Recreation Reserve.
A2 Grade
Wallington vs Inverleigh at RT Fuller Oval, Barwon Heads.
B1 Grade
Barwon Heads vs Jan Juc at Ceres Recreation Reserve.
C1 Grade
Inverleigh vs Collendina at Drysdale Recreation Reserve.
C2 Grade
Barwon Heads vs Armstrong Creek at Queenscliff Recreation Reserve.
Saturday March 22
D Grade
Wallington vs Winchelsea at Ray Menzies Oval, Ocean Grove.
