Caroline Springs shocks Gellibrand to win VTCA Division 4 premiership

Caroline Springs’ motto was “climb the mountain” and that’s exactly what the Falcons did to claim the club’s first VTCA premiership.

Caroline Springs planted its flag at the top of VTCA Division 4 on Sunday, claiming the club’s maiden premiership.

The Falcons’ finals motto had been “climb the mountain” and they did it in style, knocking off raging favourite Gellibrand in straight sets.

A four-wicket win on Saturday gave Caroline Springs the advantage in the three-game grand final series and a thrilling two-wicket victory on Sunday secured the breakthrough title.

It’s the club’s maiden VTCA premiership having shifted from the Williamstown District in 2016-17 and first senior flag since 2013-14.

Gavin McCallum’s heroics across the two games earned him the grand final medal after 39 not out and 4-42 in Game 1 followed by 45 and 2-29 in Game 2.

Falcons coach Gary Turner said it was a remarkable achievement.

“Our backs were to the wall, our theme for the finals was “climb the mountain”,” he said.

“We did it in the semi (against Williamstown Colts), we got over the top, and this one was a bigger mountain to climb.

“Obviously they’d finished way ahead of everyone else and only lost the one game.

“The plan for the week was to win the first one and put a bit of pressure on them.

“To knock them over in two days, we thought if we could take them to a third game it would be good, but to beat them in two when they’d only lost one game – full credit to the boys.”

Together with McCallum, Caroline Springs captain and former West Indies cricketer Darrel Brown (38 not out) and Chris Vulic (32 and 2-36) ensured the Falcons chased down Gellibrand’s 8-192 with seven balls remaining on Saturday.

Brown’s fellow West Indian, 48-Test great Daren Ganga made 27 on Saturday but was unavailable for Game 2.

Caroline Springs captain Darrel Brown. Picture: Kris Reichl

David Hannett took 3-22 as Gellibrand reached 9-182 on Sunday before McCallum, Roshan Laksiri (29), Jack Taylor (29), Vulic (27) and Reece Blackman (27) combined to reel it in with just three balls to spare.

“We put them into bat both days because we thought we were better off chasing on that small ground,” Turner said.

“We knew we wouldn’t have Daren (on Sunday) so it was really important to get that first one.

“Gavin’s had a ripping finals series, his last month has been outstanding actually.”

The 2-0 series win also sees Caroline Springs earn promotion to Division 3.

The club has one of the best junior talent pools in the region and improving its senior cricket offering will be key to further developing its young talent.

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“It’s a young club … we’ve got a lot of young kids and we’ve got one at Carlton, one at Essendon and a couple at Footscray,” Turner said.

“That was the catalyst for the club to start trying to move up the divisions.”

Brown finishes the season as the club’s top run-scorer after knocking up 433 runs at an average of 39.36, pipping Blackman (384 at 29.54).

Meanwhile, McCallum is the Falcons’ leading bowler after taking 27 scalps at 12.67 with Brown showcasing his all-round talents with 20 wickets.