Hoppers Crossing became the latest in a long line of Yarraville Club casualties at the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division finals.
In case we needed reminding, the defending champions, Clubbers, still rule the top flight with an iron fist, as the Cats can attest after their five-wicket loss in the semi-final at Hansen Reserve at the weekend.
Picture gallery: Hoppers Crossing v Yarraville Club
Cats player-coach Greg Kennedy said his side fought until the bitter end, but it was simply out-classed by a Clubbers side with finals-hardened players.
“Two very different teams went up against each other in this match,” Kennedy told Star Weekly.
“They’re full of experience, you can’t not know about their record with the amount of finals, grand finals and premierships they’ve won. We were a bit nervous. Our top six average age would be maybe 22; we had a 16 and a 17-year-old playing for us.”
Hoppers Crossing showed promise but fell short of what was required to bring down a powerhouse and force its way into the final.
The ‘if only’s’ will haunt the Cats. If only the middle-to-lower order didn’t have to recover the innings from 5-71 before posting 207. If only the Cats bowlers had put their foot on the throat of the Clubbers when they had them 4-36.
“We fought until the end but were just a little bit off,” Kennedy said.
“The enthusiasm and intent were there, it was just a slight lack of execution.”
Hoppers Crossing’s Duleeka Thisakuttige was the lone top-order batsman to fire with 35. Cameron Nicol (46) and Dinesh Daminda (39) fought back to ensure the Cats’ total passed 200.
Yarraville Club found early trouble to be 4-30. Daminda was in the zone, snaring two wickets, while veterans Kennedy and Trent Said took one each.
“We have them four down and they were still able to bring out a bloke that’s made a ton at Premier first XI before,” Kennedy said.
Aaron Mato was that man for the Clubbers and he was the key support act for Konrad Kurta with 40.
Kurta went on to make a match-winning 108 not out.
