Romsey annihilates Bacchus Marsh in GDCA semi final, ends 20-year drought
Unbelievable scenes on Saturday as Romsey embarrassed Bacchus Marsh to break a 20-year drought and earn a chance to end a 40-year wait.
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Romsey is back on the GDCA grand final stage after a near flawless display on Saturday.
The Redbacks will contest their first McIntyre Shield decider since 2002-03 after embarrassing red-hot favourite Bacchus Marsh by nine wickets.
The Bulls were routed for just 46 at Maddingley Park, one the club’s lowest scores in its history.
Romsey bowlers Jamie Taylor (3-7), Sean Day (2-5) and Jake East (2-3) ran riot and captain-coach Ben Way was in awe.
“It’s a bit ridiculous when you look at the figures,” he said.
“We kept changing it around and it kept working – we didn’t miss our spots, we bowled only a handful of bad balls on the day.
“We just wanted to keep the foot down.
“I can’t speak to the last 20 years but in the last 10 years, without a doubt it’s our most complete performance.
“Given the circumstances, it’s definitely one of the best wins on the big stage.”
Chris Burkett (28 not out) and Way (20 not out) then made light work of the chase, wrapping it up in just 11.4 overs.
Brenton Payne (14) and David Dickinson (10) were the only Bacchus Marsh bats to reach double figures on a dirty day for the club.
The match was over in just 41 of the allotted 80 overs.
“It doesn’t matter what you’re chasing, you don’t want to lose early wickets and make it tough,” Way said.
“It was very satisfying to win one wicket down, you don’t want to give anyone a sniff in a final.”
Romsey last tasted premiership success in 2006-07 when it won the second-tier Johnstone Shield title and promotion back to the top flight.
However, it hasn’t won a McIntyre Shield flag since 1982-83, a team that included 15-year-old future Australia Test spinner Peter McIntyre.
The Redbacks will face Gisborne in the decider after the Dragons produced a stunning nine-wicket upset of their own, knocking off minor premier Sunbury United.
The two teams met way back in Round 5 with Gisborne claiming a six-wicket win at Gardiner Park.
However, Way is confident his team is hitting top form when it matters most.
“We believed we had the team to win and have had for a couple of years, it’s just about getting everyone performing and firing,” he said.
“Our bowling has gotten better and better over the last three years and it was just a matter of getting our batting firing at the right time of year.
“(Gisborne) has got a good team, a very strong batting team and they’re bowling is solid.
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“We didn’t bat very well (last time), I think we got about 150, so we know what we’ve got to do and it’s just about doing it.”
Way could have a decision to make on batsman Matt Milne who is racing the clock after breaking his hand at training two weeks ago.
The club hopes Milne can train this week in a bid to make himself available and would then have to consider if there will be grand final heartbreak for one unlucky player.
It was disappointment for Romsey’s Second XI, losing the Johnstone Shield semi-final to Bacchus Marsh, who will meet Macedon in the grand final.
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