VSDCA 2018-19: Brunswick’s first outright win in 20 years over Endeavour Hills secures finals berth
An outright win 20 years in the making clinched Brunswick’s VSDCA finals berth with a round to spare.
North West
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An outright win 20 years in the making clinched Brunswick’s VSDCA finals berth with a round to spare.
The Wicks’ First XI clinched maximum points for the first time in two decades against Endeavour Hills on Saturday as seamer James Pearson snared match figures of 10-61.
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The result launched Brunswick four points clear in second on the North-East group ladder and within reach of a home semi-final ahead of its one-day fixture against Mt Waverley.
“The last three games, we have really put it all together,” Pearson said.
“Before Christmas we had a fair few games where one of our batting or our bowling fired and the other one had let us down.
“To have three really strong games in a row where both our batting and our bowling really ticked all the boxes is what we have been building towards.”
Considered one of the pre-season premiership fancies, Brunswick was in danger of missing finals when it lost to Noble Park, Croydon and Plenty Valley in successive matches between rounds 3 and 5.
An away win over ladder leader Bayswater turned the club’s season around and the Wicks have secured 40 of their 52 points from Round 5 onwards.
“We had a bit of a rough trot early but we have got some really strong performances on the back of it,” Pearson said.
Experienced quick Pearson was the leading wicket-taker in the North-East group with 38 after his heroics against Endeavour Hills, while fellow paceman Leigh Brennan had 30 scalps.
In a further boost to Brunswick’s bowling stocks, former skipper David McKay is mounting a strong case to return from a knee injury for finals.
“He’s been doing more and more work at training,” Pearson said.
“When he did get injured, he went down pretty hard and we thought it could have been worse than it ended up being.
“That was a massive result for us. He’s a guy that seeds our effort and intensity with both bat and ball with his skills.”
Endeavour Hills was routed for 87 and 96 in Round 12 as Brunswick (3-151dec and 0-35) sealed a comprehensive triumph.
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