Armstrong Creek beat Barwon Heads by 13 runs in thrilling A1 grand final
An emerging BPCA outfit has recorded its maiden A1 flag as a second tier club bounces back from a winless season to taste ultimate success under new management.
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A Mulgrew has stepped up to deliver the knockout blow in a tense A1 grand final, but this time it wasn’t run machine Clay but medium pacer Lachlan issuing the last rites.
Barwon Heads’ quest for three straight first grade BPCA titles fell at the final hurdle, downed by the Titans by just 13 runs on Sunday.
It capped off a brilliant campaign by Armstrong Creek, going through undefeated from their last 11 games.
When number eleven, 15-year-old spinner Angus Mackie joined his captain Daniel Donaldson at the crease at Collendina Recreation Reserve, there were still 21 runs to find.
However, seven runs later, young Mackie would guide a wide delivery from Mulgrew into the hands of a Titans fielder, leaving Donaldson stranded on a brave and undefeated 50 and the Seagulls all out for 189.
It would clinch Armstrong Creek’s maiden A1 flag after being promoted to the top tier for the 2022-23 season.
Earlier, Titans top order gun Clay Mulgrew had thrown down the gauntlet to fellow opener and the man who came second in the A1 batting aggregate, Max Melzer, to match his 135 off 231 balls on day one.
Melzer got nearly halfway there before being trapped leg before by Lachlan Mulgrew for 51 with the score at 90.
From there things went a little awry for the Seagulls, with the Titans striking again as Mulgrew bowled Brent McMinn for one.
Later, Matthew High and Angus Ford would come and go for one run between them leaving the Seagulls precariously placed at 5-128.
Jacko Mallett (12) and Donaldson would add 25 for the sixth wicket before the former was caught by Chris Marsiglio off the bowling of Adam Trevean (1-22).
Jack Maclean (5-64) would step up again to remove both Harry Melzer (three) and Matteo Surace (two) before Harry Hyland was run out for six – a sensational throw hit the stumps direct – bringing Mackie to the crease.
Earlier, a stunning lone hand from dual Ray Menzies medallist Mulgrew ensured his Armstrong Creek side has something to bowl at.
Mulgrew, who made more than 700 runs during the regular season for the second year running, hit 135 off 231 balls with 13 boundaries as the Titans posted 8-202 off 75 overs at Collendina Recreation Reserve.
The crucial knock – his fourth ton of the A1 season – took Mulgrew to 869 runs for the season at an average of 72.4.
Underlining Mulgrew’s complete domination of the Seagulls bowlers, the next best for the Titans was Adam Trevean’s 21.
He and Mulgrew stabilised the innings for a 52-run stand for the fourth wicket after coming together 3-62.
Mulgrew won the Ray Menzies medal on Wednesday night for the best performing player in A1 for the second year running.
Meanwhile, Barwon Heads spinner Daniel Donaldson was at his miserly best with 4-70 off 32 overs to be the only multiple wicket taker.
The Seagulls went into the game without Darcy Hewitt who reportedly had a back issue.
Kookaburras taste ultimate success after winless season
Inverleigh has put a winless 2023-24 season in the rearview mirror in the best possible fashion with a thumping six-wicket victory over Wallington in the A2 decider on Sunday.
The Kookaburras had been demoted to the BPCA’s second tier after a 0-14 campaign in A1, but scored an off-season coup by luring Will and Henry Collins back to coach and Anglesea’s Daniel Midolo to complement the bowling attack.
But it was David Peel who will be remembered as the man of the hour, and the man of the match, with a crucial, unbeaten 36 to guide his side to victory.
The door opened when the Wallabies’ Mitchell Sleeman had semi-final hero Lachlan Platt caught by Sven Burluraux for 37, leaving the Kookaburras 3-65 chasing 142 for victory.
Then Colin Smith trapped Will Stoney leg before for 11 after an extremely watchful 113-ball vigil, with the score at 4-110.
However, Peel would find an ally in Kieran McNally who provided the impetus the Kookaburras craved with a 24-ball 25 with two boundaries and a six.
Earlier, Wallington had stumbled to 8-93 when Colin Smith was trapped leg before first ball by Matthew Spiller (2-23) at RT Fuller Oval after being sent in by Inverleigh.
But Dane Wise-Graham (31) and Mitchell Sleeman (33) added a handy 31 runs for the ninth wicket to put some respectability on the scoreboard.
It was Wise-Graham’s second crucial knock in as many innings after hitting an unbeaten 48 in the Wallabies’ 9-230 last Saturday against Portarlington.
Meanwhile, it was Sleeman’s best batting effort since hitting 39 in early November, and came after producing 21 runs from his previous six innings.
With the ball, Daniel Midolo (2-37) continued his fine form while Henry Collins (2-18) chipped in.
Originally published as Armstrong Creek beat Barwon Heads by 13 runs in thrilling A1 grand final
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