Essendon claims the Paul Hibbert Trophy for the first time since 2008
Essendon has produced a stunning Round 1 performance to thrash reigning Premier Cricket premier Carlton and claim the Paul Hibbert Trophy for the first time in 12 years.
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Essendon made a dream start to the Premier Cricket season on Saturday, routing premier Carlton at Princes Park.
The dominant eight-wicket victory also snapped the Blues’ 12-year stranglehold on the Paul Hibbert Trophy, the Bombers last win over Carlton coming in 2008.
“What a start. It’s been pretty well documented Carlton has had the wood over us for a long time,” Essendon captain Michael Hill said.
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“It’s always nice to get a win first up, but a really big win like that with a bonus point can really set up your season.
“We take great confidence out of that, they’ve been a benchmark club and have been for a number of years, not just in Victoria but in the country.”
On a perfect spring day, the wicket offered a bit to both bat and ball, with Hill deciding to bowl first.
It paid immediate dividends as Tom O’Donnell (1-13) snared the big wicket of Blues captain-coach Evan Gulbis for a four-ball duck in just the second over.
Carlton looked to have recovered at 1-50 before Liam Bowe (3-12), Nishal Perera (2-3) and Connor Rutland (2-24) sparked a dramatic collapse of 9-25.
Brayden Stepien (32) and Mackenzie Harvey (14) were the only Blues to reach triple figures, while the final three wickets fell without troubling the scorers.
“It didn’t go perfectly to plan. They got off to a bit of a flyer, but then Nishal Perera and Liam Bowe bowled 10 overs between them for about 5-15,” Hill said.
“It was something else. He’s gone to another level this year, Connor … he got first crack at it and has repaid the faith.”
Essendon’s seemingly simple chase got off to a horror start with Aaron Ayre (0) and Hill (1) out cheaply but James Seymour anchored the innings superbly.
The attacking opening batsman finished with 44 off 33 balls with half-a-dozen fours and a pair of sixes to end any hopes of a miracle Carlton comeback. Rutland finished 13 not out.
“James has continued on from last year and showed the same class,” Hill said.
Essendon will look to continue its strong start to the season when it hosts Greenvale Kangaroos on Saturday.
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