Pascoe Vale Central back on top with NWMCA Luscombe Shield premiership
For the fifth time in six seasons and 10th in 21 years, Pascoe Vale Central is the NWMCA Luscombe Shield premier.
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For the fifth time in six seasons and 10th in 21 years, Pascoe Vale Central is NWMCA Luscombe Shield premier.
After missing finals last season, the club reclaimed its throne with a five-wicket win over minor premier Gladstone Park at Ginifer Reserve on Sunday.
Mark Sayers (70) and Paul Tripp (3-78 & 71 not out) starred in the win as Centrals chased down the Burras’ 230.
Sayers was awarded the grand final medal for his fighting half-century, seeing off the new ball before stumps on day one before accelerating on day two.
Captain Cameron Hare said it was one of the club’s most satisfying wins.
“We had a really disjointed year last season and missed finals by three points so this year everyone was keen to atone,” Hare said.
“To get another win was really satisfying and five in six years is amazing.”
Gladstone Park won the toss and elected to bat and reached 1-51 before a middle order collapse saw it lose 5-30 as Tripp, Daniel Barassi (3-38) and Nathaniel Biggs (2-17) ripped in.
Late runs from Aaron Amos (46) and Arshdeep Sidhu (50) then lifted the Burras to a defendable total.
Sidhu (2-57) then made immediate inroads with the new ball, snaring early wickets to have Centrals 2-30.
However, Sayers and Hare (38) steadied the ship, reaching stumps at 2-79, before a strong start on Sunday saw the pair combine for a 103-run partnership.
Sayers and Tripp made a 59-run stand before Sayers fell 34 runs short of victory.
Tripp then steered his club home with James Ford (one not out) in support.
“I said to someone after the game, you look at the scoresheet and it looks like a comfortable victory, but it certainly wasn’t,” Hare said.
“Gladstone Park bowled really well, particularly on Saturday night, we were 2-30 with 16 overs to go and Aaron and Arshdeep bowling really well.
“It was a tricky time but thankfully Mark and myself got through that.
“Paul’s a star and regularly an excellent grand final performer, and he could very well have won the medal but didn’t – Mark won it.
“That gives you an insight into how hard it was to bat the night before, the umpires having seen Paul get three-for and 71 not out felt Mark was the most important player.
“Paul’s won two medals before so we’ve been calling him Mr March.”
Tripp, along with Brett Barron have been a part of all 10 premierships in the past 21 years, while Hare has won nine.
Meanwhile, it was Brenton O’Dwyer’s first flag showcasing the club’s spread of experience.
Hare revealed Sayers and Scott Gick returned to the senior side this season, 10 years after their last premiership in 2013-14.
“We had two guys come back into the team who have played down the grades, Mark is one, he’s predominantly played in our Seconds but had won premierships many years ago.
“Scott Gick is the other, he’s over 50 but had an incredible year in our Stringer (Shield) team, and I said to him you’re dominating where you are but he was up for it.
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“And Brenton O’Dwyer, it was his first, he’s a young fella that’s worked really hard and well-loved by everyone at the club and got a really important wicket for us.”
Centrals and Gladstone Park will be joined by Tarneit Central next season after the club won the Kyte Shield with an eight-wicket win over Buckley Park.
Pawanjot Saini was the hero, scoring a magnificent 123 from just 57 balls – hitting 16 boundaries and eight sixes – to power his team to victory.
In Stringer Shield, there was further pain for Gladstone Park as Darebin Chargers claimed a nail-biting four-run win.
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