THE wheel has turned full circle for Werribee Centrals in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
The Centurions went from the paupers of north A1 to princes of west B1 in 12 months.
Two summers of misery were put behind them, a fresh approach taken under new player-coach Phil Crea and a minor premiership followed on Saturday when they sewed up top spot with a resounding win over Kingsville Baptists at Galvin Park on Saturday.
Centurions top-order batsman Chris Duffin said the hardest experienced over the previous 24 months made his team appreciate the success it was having now.
“We won one game in two seasons and to come out and win 10 straight is a phenomenal turnaround. To secure top of the ladder is a fantastic achievement from where we’ve been in the last two seasons.
“Being on the end of all those losses, when you’re out there winning, you definitely appreciate it more and you never take it for granted.”
The Centurions underlined the gap that exists between the top and bottom sides in west B1.
They hardly gave Kingy a look in.
After posting 5-224 declared on the back of half centuries to Blair Hemmingson (56), Luke Simpson (51) and Dean Cachia (56), they set about pile-driving Kingy into the ground.
At one stage, Kingsville was 8-36, as Centurions opening bowler Aaron Edrich (5-29) caused havoc with five wickets.
Kingy managed to reach 101, courtesy of 53 not out to Rhamatullah Khwaja.
With top spot secured, the Centurions opted for batting practice over an outright result, making 9-216 in their second dig.
Hemmingson reached 50 for the second time in the match and Mark Nankervis (50) also raised his bat.
The Centurions will meet Point Cook in the final round, a potential grand final preview.
VTCA
Senior division: Hoppers Crossing 228 (W Gardner 58 L Goegan 51 TD Darshanapriya 35no M Tubb 26 R Rutley 3-26 Z Racovolis 2-40 L Macumber 2-41) and 6-94dec (A Jan 27no L Macumber 2-17 A Emmanuel 2-23) d Airport West St Christophers 152 (R Rutley 87no D Brown 5-43 TD Darshanapriya 2-58) and 5-107 (I Blanchett 43 T Van Den Berg 26 B Apps 2-21 D Brown 2-47)
West B1: Seabrook 168 (S Morgan 48 J Collins 44 R Sandhu 4-15 D Hicks 2-22 T Semmens 2-46) lt Point Cook 235 (J Farmer 71no P Pullar 27 T Semmens 26 T Bean 25 A Dorricott 3-27 D Sarkhell 2-29 D Kilfoy 2-53); Werribee Centrals 5-224dec (D Cachia 56 B Hemmingson 56 L Simpson 51 C Duffin 36 D Shanahan 2-18) and 9-216 (MW Nankervis 50 B Hemmingson 50 L Simpson 32 G Semerzidis 3-14 S Levic 3-34) d Kingsville Baptists 101 (RN Khwaja 53no AK Edrich 5-29 P Crea 2-8 S Crea 2-30).
