Tara Murray
Werribee has gone back-to-back in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
After winning the north-west premiership last season, the Tigers have added the south-west title to the campaign after beating Ormond on Saturday in the grand final.
The Tigers did the damage early with the bat, to set up the match and ultimately claim the premiership.
Tigers captain Tim O’Brien said it was nice to get some reward for what had been a successful season for the club. The first XI lost just one game in the back half of the season, as they hit form at the right time.
“We won the club premiership and were strong throughout the grades,” he said.
“We didn’t win any other [men’s] premierships, with the fourth XI going down and the seconds losing last week.
“It was another successful season, but we would have been disappointed had we not won a premiership.
“To win one, especially a first XI one, is pretty good.”
It was the Dean show early on for the Tigers on Saturday, doing what they have done so many times before.
Shaun and brother Matthew put on 162 for the first wicket to put the Tigers in a good position.
Shaun would finish with 103 while Matt made 76, with few chances between them.
O’Brien said the both were on song pretty early.
“They were brilliant,” he said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better start.
“They’ve done it plenty of times before. They just run and don’t even call. They’ve both played for so long, they knew what they had to do in the grand final.”
The Tigers ended up making 6-227.
O’Brien said while they could have made as much as 240, they were more than happy with 227.
“You definitely take over 200 in a grand final every day of the week.”
The Tigers struck early, removing the dangerous Adam Bull. With runs hard to come by early on the pressure was put back on Ormond.
O’Brien said like they had all season, the bowling group had really stood up strong.
“They made 20 off the first 10 overs and the run rate was over six an over early on.
“The bowlers put in a tremendous effort and we took some really good catches.”
Ormond were bowled out for 160. Michael Kelly took 3-41.
It was no surprise when Shaun Dean was named player of the match for his century which set up the win.
O’Brien said Shaun had been so focused during the week, they knew he was going to be on come game day.
Having tasted success last season, O’Brien said they had been keen to get the new guys a premiership as well.
While they’ll celebrate this one, the Tigers aren’t planning on stopping.
“We’ll go again,” he said. “There are three different groups, the north, south and east. We want to have a good crack at the east next year.
“We’ll celebrate this one and then look at next season next year.”
