Dragons Claim 3rd XI Premiership
by
Stephen Prowse
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Sunday, 20 March 2011
Sandhurst Cricket Club 3rd XI claimed the clubs first senior premiership since 2001/02 with a hard fought 27 run win over Golden Square at Strauch Reserve Huntly on the weekend.
Skipper Turnbull won the toss and elected to bat despite their being plenty of grass on the track. After the early loss of Clokey in the 3rd over, Levi Walker struck a brisk 21, before the key partnership of the teams semi final win, Bodee Scullie and Tippa again joined forces in trying conditions to push the scoreboard along.
The pair added 39 for the 3rd wicket before Bodee was lbw for 31 leading into the drinks break. Simon Turnbull was tremendous in his application and saw the side through to 112 before he was bowled for 23 sparking a Dragon middle order collapse. Matt Felini's timely return to form with the bat ended with a top score of 39 and when Craig Burn fell in the same over Sandhurst was in danger of not batting out their overs with 4 wickets in hand and 12 overs remaining. The remainder of the innings was a grind, with all of the batsmen digging in, playing their part and inching the scoreboard up to 9 for 147 from 50 overs.
The Dragons bowling had been it's strength all year, and would again need to get the job done to deliver Sandhurst premiership glory in perfect batting conditions with a quick outfield.
Golden Square got off to a solid start adding 56 for the first wicket before 10 minutes of Matt Felini magic, got the Dragons up and about. Firstly he completed a direct hit run out to dismiss Nihill for 20, then took wickets in consecutive balls to dismiss Holahan and Newton caught sharply by Courtney Cornell and Craig Burn respectively to have Golden Square 3 for 60 at the drinks break.
The work of Dave Hunter at the other end can not be discounted with 9 overs of on the spot bowling without luck to finish with 0/21. "Fingers" Felini picked up his 4th dismissal of the innings in bowling Paul Scullie to have Square 4 for 72 off 30 overs.
Ex-Dragon Ryan Bowland then joined captain Ben Rodda at the crease and the pair took the score beyond 100 before Keith Cloke was introduced into the attack and claimed the wicket of Rodda caught by Dave Lowther at square leg for 14. The wicket was a direct result of the pressure that had built up over the past 15 overs with Levi Walker bowling a particularly disciplined spell of bowling.
With their captain back in the pavillion, the runs totally dried up and the wickets begun to tumble regularly, as Golden Square couild only muster 9 for 120 from their 50 overs. Keith Cloke 2/7 off 5 overs was fantastic at the death, Craiig Burn 1/24 off his overs was also excellent in his spell of bowling.
Sandhurst securing the premiership by 27 runs, with Matt Felini or Matt Fecini as he has now been christened claimed Man of the Match with 39, 3 for 17 off 10 and a run out across the weekend.
A big thank-you to the players, who dug in all year, fought out every match and proved themselves a very difficult side to beat even when times were tough. Also it was fantastic to see so many players, officials and supporters flying the Dragon flag across the course of the 2 days supporting the boys in their grand final triumph.
Congratulations to the boys on capping off a great season for the club, with the 1sts making the finals for the first time since 1987, the seconds just falling short of a finals appearance and our under 11a and under 13a also appearing in finals.
We'll see everybody at the Senior Presentation night at the Lake View Hotel from 6.30pm on Thursday 31st March to bring the season to a close.