Greenvale Kangaroos finish 2021 on a high with three consecutive wins
Three straight wins to finish 2021, a stunning upset over Carlton, Josh Trembearth’s century and a born-again attack, things are looking up for Greenvale Kangaroos.
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After losing it’s opening six matches, Greenvale Kangaroos goes to the Christmas break as arguably the form club in Premier Cricket.
The Kangaroos won three games in seven days to completely turn their season around.
A stunning upset win over the previously-undefeated Carlton on Saturday was sandwiched between two thrilling T20 Super Slam wins over Geelong and Melbourne University.
Greenvale coach Damian Shanahan was rapt to see hard work paying off.
“It’s been brilliant, the boys have been working hard and to have three wins in seven days, it’s great to see everyone smiling at the club,” he said.
“Last week against Geelong, there was an accident on the highway so everyone was running late, then to jump out of our cars and get the win was really important – our first win of the season.
“That momentum carried into playing the top team in Carlton, an outstanding team and club, and to be able to get the points against them on Saturday was an amazing result – on the back of belief created on the Tuesday.
“As Matt Harrison said last night, we’ve had three wins against three really strong clubs and it’s a real tick for us on the hard work that’s been put in by the players.”
Josh Trembearth inspired the shock 26-run win over the Blues with a brilliant century.
The opener’s 119 came against a vaunted Carlton attack featuring Cam Stevenson, Xavier Crone, Evan Gulbis and competition leading wicket-taker Tom Smyth.
With three half centuries also under his belt, Treambearth sits third in the Premier Cricket run-scorers charts with 344 runs at an average of 68.
“Josh has been outstanding, his figures speak for themselves, and to get the big 120 is a credit to himself,” Shanahan said.
“We’ve got a young guy there that’s doing the work, he showed some good signs last season – he got a hundred – and now it’s about going the next step.
“I love his work ethic, he’s a talented boy but we needed some polish and a solid gameplan, and he’s executing that plan week in and week out.
“Any club would love to have a batter doing what Josh is doing, we’ve definitely got a future player in the making.
“I’ve got no doubt if he keeps going that way then I’ll be making phone calls to Cricket Victoria and getting him into some Second XI cricket.
Tom Cullen helped set the platform with 22 before Bernard Kelly returned to the First XI with a critical 50 not out and Harry Singh added 23.
Sean McNicholl produced his best performance of the season, bowling Blues openers Gulbis and Connor Rutland and removing dangerman Harrison Smyth to finish with 4-45.
Singh (3-45), Darcy Bell (2-37) and Jacob Pawlowicz (1-33) then held the powerful Blues batting line-up to deliver the win.
The Kangaroos stayed hot on Tuesday night, pipping University by six runs.
UK import Cullen exploded at the top of the order, smashing 59 off 54 balls, and combining with Jack Potticary (40 off 32) and Trembearth (39 off 27) to set an imposing 4-158.
The Students needed 12 off the last over to snatch victory but debutant Niv Manoharan held his nerve to seal victory.
“Niv, playing his first (First XI) game bowling the last over, a lad who was playing Third XI cricket two weeks ago,” Shanahan said.
“To come in in a pressure situation and bowl the way he did, he took 1-32, which was great.
“It was a great opportunity and he came through with flying colours. He’s a talented young boy.”
McNicholl continued his excellent form with 3-39 while Bell finished with elite figures of 2-19 from his four overs.
Shanahan said Bell’s return to the attack in the T20 win over Geelong had helped turn the team around.
“Belly had an injury and we dropped him back to the twos after his first game,” he said.
“It was a blessing in disguise, in his own words it wasn’t his greatest performance but it we were able to get some bowling load into him.
“To do what he’s done in the last week, his second over against Geelong you could see it click into place and he hasn’t looked back.
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“He was outstanding on the weekend and again last night, he bowled in some really crucial periods to help us get over the line.”
Greenvale remains last on the Premier Cricket ladder locked on one win along with Kingston Hawthorn, Frankston Peninsula, Essendon and Camberwell.
However, the Kangaroos have their eyes set on the next phase of the Super Slam competition, sitting third in the West Division.
Premier Cricket returns on January 8 with Greenvale hosting Fitzroy Doncaster before a home Super Slam clash against Essendon on January 11.
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