DVCA 2018-19: Robert Wise leads Macleod to grand final win over Diamond Creek
Macleod capped an emotional week by hammering previously undefeated Diamond Creek in the DVCA Barclay Shield decider as Robert Wise claimed the Mark Minney Medal.
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Champion all-rounder Robert Wise inspired Macleod to an emotion-charged DVCA Barclay Shield grand final triumph on Saturday.
After making 93 on the opening day, Wise grabbed 5-31 from 20 overs in a heroic effort with the ball as the Eagles toppled previously undefeated Diamond Creek by 147 runs at Plenty Park.
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The success came after 2007-08 premiership player Ben Vincent died earlier this month, with Macleod’s players attending his funeral on Friday.
“It’s just been a really sapping week, where your mind might be on the game, but it’s never been (completely) on the game,” captain-coach Tim Wise said.
“You have sleepless nights. It’s been an extremely long week and a hard week to deal with.
“For the boys, and particularly Rob, who was really close to (Ben), it’s just a phenomenal effort.”
The Eagles posted an imposing 7-275 on the opening day on the back of half-centuries from Robert Wise (93), Tim Wise (56) and Richard Johnson (50 not out).
After a 39-run opening stand, the Creekers were never in the hunt, with Glen Rigg (2-28), Daniel O’Leary (1-10) and Tim Wise (1-27) backing up the starring performance of Robert Wise, who collected the Mark Minney Medal for the best player in the grand final for the second time.
He finished another superb season with 556 runs and 26 wickets.
“They had a little bit of momentum at the start and he came on and took wickets and stifled their momentum,” Tim Wise said.
“Obviously what he did (on day one) was quite unbelievable as well.
“He can just do things that other guys in the competition can’t do.”
It was Macleod’s second premiership in three years and the club’s fourth consecutive appearance in the decider.
Tim Wise credited the Eagles’ strong junior program and said his side produced close to a perfect performance when it mattered most.
“We’ve had a really tough year as far as results went,” he said.
“To get a win has been a lot of hard work all year. The way it panned out the last couple of weeks, while it seems it was quite favourable towards us, it certainly hasn’t felt the case.
“It always felt hard and Diamond Creek’s had the year they’ve had. Scoreboard will say we had a bit of a demolition, but certainly not the case mentally.
“We had some plans that really came off, which was pleasing.
“We had a plan to take it to the Diamond Creek bowlers and put it on them.”
Diamond Creek finished the home-and-away rounds three wins clear of third-ranked Macleod.
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