Northcote ends decade-long wait with emotional win over St Kilda at Junction Oval

In his 101st Premier Cricket match Jack Lalor scored his maiden century, brother Archie debuted and Northcote ended a decade-long wait for victory over St Kilda.

Jack Lalor in action for Northcote. Picture: Andy Brownbill

What a day for the Lalor family and Northcote Cricket Club on Saturday.

The Dragons knocked off St Kilda at the Junction Oval, claiming a 85-run victory, for the first time since 2013-14.

In his 101st First XI match, Jack Lalor scored his maiden Premier Cricket century, inspiring his team to victory with 115 from 128 balls before snaring 2-33 with the ball.

To cap off the day, youngest brother Archie made his senior debut and picked up a wicket, finishing with 1-35.

Lalor said it was a relief to finally bring up three figures on an emotional day for the family.

Jack Lalor rolls the arm over for Northcote. Picture: Steve Tanner

“I’ve made two 94s and three or four 80s, so it was good to finally get there and there’s no better way than at the Junction against the Saints,” Lalor said.

“When I made 94 against Melbourne last year I was pretty edgy in the 90s but I wasn’t too bad this time, the way the game was going I knew I was going to get singles here and there and didn’t have to force the issue.

“It’s good to bat with Jaga (Koduru), he plays 360 and when I was facing a few dot balls in the 80s and 90s he was able to get on strike and take the pressure right off.

“Archie playing his first game too, which was an awesome moment, and we had all the family there.

“My old man presented Archie with his hat and was tearing up and I reckon he would have had a tear in his eye when I scored the hundred as well. It was a great day for the family.”

After 12 wickets in the Second XI, Archie stepped up to the Firsts after confirmation paceman Mickey Edwards suffered an ACL tear last week.

After being sent in, Northcote made a strong start with openers Jonty Rushton (30) and Sam Harbinson (43) – fresh off his maiden century last week – scoring freely.

Lalor then combined with Koduru in a 118-run fourth-wicket partnership before falling to St Kilda’s leading bowler Will Lovell (2-52).

Jaga Koduru in action for Northcote. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Koduru finished unbeaten on 74 as the Dragons posted an imposing 5-302.

In response, St Kilda struggled to keep up with the required run-rate.

The Dragons’ aces Brody Couch (3-23) and Joe Medew-Ewen (3-45) ripped through the Saints line-up, taking the key wickets of Tom Russ and Ed Newman (51) and Nic Maddinson (32) and Peter Handscomb respectively.

St Kilda was all out 217 in 46.4 overs.

“We were chatting after the game and I’ve played eight years at Northcote and this is the first time I’ve ever beaten St Kilda,” Lalor said.

“Everything went right with the bat, to score 300 two weeks in a row shows we’re batting pretty well, and I think we created 16 chances in the field, so we had a good day.

“You see some of those names, Maddinson and Handscomb have both played Test cricket, so it can be intimidating but it didn’t worry the boys at all.”

Northcote has won one T20 and both one-dayers since the Christmas break to jump back into finals contention.

The Dragons sit six points behind eighth-placed Melbourne and now just seven points back of Richmond and St Kilda in sixth and seventh.

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With three two-day matches remaining, the club faces high-flying Casey-South Melbourne, Camberwell Magpies and Melbourne.

“We’re planning on doing the opposite of what we’ve done the past two or three seasons, come home hard,” Lalor said.

“It definitely feels like we’re playing our best cricket at the minute, blokes like me, Jaga and even Sammy Harbinson haven’t quite fired and now hitting our straps.”

In his first season at Bill Lawry Oval, Couch is sixth overall among Premier Cricket wicket-takers with 24 scalps.