Brighton punches ticket to Subbies grand final after belief was reinstalled

After losing to its grand final opponent, Brighton reinstalled its belief to go on a mighty run all the way to the VSDCA grand final.

BrightonÕs Jack T Rutter during the Victorian Sub District Oakleigh v Brighton cricket match in Oakleigh, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Picture: Andy Brownbill

It’s fitting for Brighton to meet Caulfield in the Subbies North-South grand final, as it was a loss to the Fielders that spun the Tonners’ season around.

After losing to Caulfield in the first match of the calendar year, the Tonners spoke some hard truths about the club’s recent lack of belief.

The exchange flipped the Tonners’ confidence and has gone a long way to them booking a place in this weekend’s decider.

“It wasn’t about playing Caulfield as such, more about how we were playing as a side and the lack of belief we had as a team for the last couple of years,” Brighton captain Peter Cassidy said.

“We actually can beat good sides and after that game, we have only had a couple of hiccups along the way, but we have really started to play some good cricket.

“The boys are in good form, we are a good group of lads, it’s a really enjoyable place to be at the moment.”

Brighton batter Brenton Murphy on the attack. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Tonners defeated ladder-leaders Kew at Victoria Park, posting 7-268 before dismissing the home side for just 202.

After being given a lifeline for being the highest-ranked loser, Cassidy says his side never wavered when approaching Kew.

“Nothing went our way that day (against St Bernard’s), there was a lot of plays and misses, a lot of half chances – nothing really clicked,” he said.

“Then when we batted everything went wrong, we nicked everything and never gave ourselves a chance to win.

“I said to the boys ‘we have got a double chance for a reason, we have worked our arses off to get it, let’s use it’.

“So, we went into the Kew game with a bit of freedom.”

Jack Rutter sends one down. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The weekend’s brilliant win was set-up by all-rounder Jack Rutter crunching a better than run-a-ball 48 not out before capturing 4-32 from 18 overs.

Cassidy praised Rutter’s performance, explaining how the he balances the side out perfectly.

“He’s pretty special, Rutts,” he said.

“At times he gets ahead of himself and you have to bring him down to level, but he hits the ball as clean as anyone I have ever seen.

“If we can get him and Charlie Dowling in after tea and get him away from the new ball, we give them the best chance to smash some attacks around late.

“They give us a second wind and it closes out games really well, the balance of our side is working well, let’s see how it goes this weekend.”

Despite the Tonners’ form, Caulfield will still head into the grand final as favourites after two commanding post-season wins.

Following on from their dismantling of Ormond last weekend, the Fielders managed to run through St. Bernard’s for just 161, winning by 29 runs.