SECA: East Sandringham champion Luke Dallas figures in 11th Longmuir Shield premiership
East Sandringham veteran Luke Dallas has played in 11 Longmuir Shield premierships but he says he’s got a way to go to catch the legendary Kim Pitt.
Inner South
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Luke Dallas is the Mr Medals of suburban cricket.
When East Sandringham defeated Brighton Union in last weekend’s South East Cricket Association grand final, it was the 11th Longmuir Shield premiership for the 38-year-old off-spinner.
And he played a decisive part in the victory, capturing 5-49 off 24.2 overs.
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“It was just as much fun as the first one I played in, I can tell ya,’’ Dallas said.
“They’ve all been good. It was a great night on Sunday night back at the club. I had the family there and we took it in for a little bit. We got a bit rowdy later on … then we had lunch at the Sandringham Hotel on Monday. Good fun. Always is.’’
Dallas’s first “Longy’’ flag came in 2001-02, the start of a golden run when East Sandy won five premierships on the hop.
They missed out in 2006-07, then lifted the next three shields.
Others titles came in 2011-12 and 2016-17, and now they’ve picked up another, making for an XI of premiership medals for Dallas, who started with the club at the age of nine.
“The best thing about our success is we’ve done it with a lot of homegrown talent, kids who came through the juniors,’’ he said.
“There was myself and Brendan Bennett and Anton Duddy quite a few years ago, then another wave came through in Danny Corp and Mark Deveraux and Guy Martyn, and now there’s a new young crop, Patrick Inglis, Nick Knight, Matty Blunden, Ben Pryor and Tom Yorgey.’’
Dallas, a carpet layer with his own business, Simon Carpets in Moorabbin, said East Sandringham had a “wonderful winning culture’’.
“I obviously love the place — that’s why I’ve been there so long — but it’s bred into the boys pretty early, from the club legends like Kim Pitt and ‘Doggie’ Cafarella, that we can win from any situation,’’ he said.
“When our backs are against the wall we’ll always back ourselves to get the job done.
“We train pretty hard and we take it pretty seriously when we’re out there but we also have a bit of fun after the game as well.’’
Dallas was more of a middle-order batsman early in his career, with Pitt and Glenn Phelan bowling most of East Sandy’s spin.
But one year he got a chance in a grand final, took a few wickets and his offies became his strong suit.
Pitt, East Sandy’s president, hit the winning runs in the club’s I grade premiership win over CHAG last week, coming in 60 not out and featuring in another flag.
“Don’t worry, we’ve been talking about this. We were having a few drinks at the Sandringham Hotel on Monday … I think ‘Kimbo’ has got 14 (top-grade premierships),’’ Dallas said.
“I’ve got a bit to do to catch him.’’
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