Only Inverleigh now stands in the way of Wallington winning the premiership and ascending to the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s A1 Grade competition next season.
Wallington defeated a gallant Portarlington in the semi-final while Inverleigh defeated Collendina.
Wallington made 9/230 batting first, but was 6/119 when the game could have swung either way after opener Henry McIntosh made 54.
James Sood made a lively 31 from 44 balls, Dan Wise-Graham was 58 not out at stumps and Billy Gravett dug in for his 33.
“There’s no way Dane and Billy are number seven and eight batters, but it’s just the way we have lined it up,” Wallington captain-coach Matt Sampson-Barnes said.
“On another day, the top order would have had a bit of a better run, but it was really pleasing. I think we were six for 100 or something at the break. So just to knuckle down and grind it out was really good.”
When rain intervened on day two, it eventually left Port with just 24 overs to make the 231 runs required to advance to the final.
The Demons gave a real crack, finishing all out for 178.
“I knew it was going to be a really tough game – every time we play those guys, it’s always really close,” Sampson-Barnes said.
“They are a really good side. We were actually in a situation where we couldn’t bowl three of our bowlers because it was that wet. Billy’s (Gravett) second ball and he completely slipped over. So he ended up coming off a short run for a couple of couple more overs, but he just couldn’t stand up.
“So we ended up having to put on our slower bowlers and protect the boundaries with them needing 10 and over, or whatever it was.”
Sampson-Barnes was one of those slower bowlers and he took 4/35 from six overs while Aaron Toole clubbed 63 from 44 for Port.
Wallington’s opponent this weekend is Inverleigh, which bowled Collendina out for 109 and then made the runs with seven wickets to spare. Only the week before, Collendina set a new association record, making 569 against St Leonards.
“They’re a really good team,” Sampson-Barnes said.
“I don’t really see them as having any weaknesses at all. I think it’s going to be a really tough game. Especially playing at a neutral ground as well. It’s always exciting and offers challenges, but I’m expecting a really tough game.”
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.
