Grand United chasing VTCA Division 2 and T20 premiership glory

Despite playing for no points for two rounds due to a club sanction Grand United remains a huge chance to claim a VTCA premiership double.

Sam Crea in action for Grand United. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Rising VTCA power Grand United has a premiership double within reach.

The Gorillas are Division 2 premiership favourites, losing just one game this season, and have booked their place in next week’s T20 grand final against St Albans.

Upset T20 wins against Senior Division powers Yarraville Club and Sydenham-Hillside has the club confident it can win everything.

Despite a league penalty forcing the club to play for no points in the past two rounds a top-four finish is all-but secured.

Grand was sanctioned after breaching a suspended club sentence but still defeated top-four rival West Newport and Keilor Park.

It is chasing a live win this weekend over Royal Park Brunswick after declaring at 8-251 and having the Parkers 2-44.

Gorillas skipper Jayden White-Powell said there was a hunger in the team to overcome hurdles and win back-to-back titles.

“It put a dampener on things, not getting any points,” White-Powell said.

“We still had the hunger to win even though we weren’t going to get the points, we were still playing for something.

“All the boys were happy to get the job done and keep the opposition catching us on the ladder.

“I’m pretty happy with the performances, we were confident coming into the season especially after winning the flag last year.

“A couple of inclusions like Oliver Davidson and Leniko Boucher really bumped the team’s spirits up.”

Barbadian Boucher sits on top of the competition run-scorers charts, breaking through the 500-run barrier on Saturday with 43, taking him to 540 for the season.

Meanwhile, Sam Crea is the McNamara Shield’s No.1 bowler with 26 scalps at an elite average of 9.65.

White-Powell said the pair were a captain’s dream.

“Lenny is leading from the front, the boys love what he does,” he said.

“We feel he’s the best batter in the comp based on his recent performances.

“Sammy, just carrying on from last season, is dominant with the ball.

“He just takes wickets when it looks like we’re under pressure, he finds a way to get a wicket and get us back into the game.”

Hashan James (284 runs and 16 wickets) is top-10 with both bat and ball, while Davidson (23 wickets) and Ben Doll (16 wickets) are also among the leading wicket-takers.

The Gorillas will host St Albans in the T20 grand final at Parsons Reserve on Tuesday, February 27.

Knockout wins over Sunbury, Yarraville Club and Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s secured the club’s first shot at the mid-week crown.

It’s also helped lift the players on a Saturday.

“A lot of the boys got a bump of confidence from the T20s,” White-Powell said.

“A couple of big wins against Yarraville Club and Sydenham-Hillside gave us a lot of confidence.

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“Coming into the next few games we’re going to be really confident knowing we can do that and especially the T20 grand final against St Albans.

“The boys are up and about and ready to take the whole thing out.”

St Albans won through to the decider with wins over Roxburgh Park, Deer Park and Altona North.

Altona Roosters sits on top of the Division 2 ladder, three points ahead of Grand United, with West Newport and Greenvale Kangaroos a further three points back, while Tullamarine and Newport-Digman are also in the top-four race.