Werribee achieved a rare feat against Sunshine in Sub-District cricket on Saturday with all four grades claiming outright victories.
With one round of the regular season to go the Tigers rocketed to the top of the club championship leader board, which takes into account the points accumulated across all four grades in the home-and-away rounds.
With 120 points, the Tigers have a slender lead over Plenty Valley (116.2), Yarraville (115.2), Malvern (112.8), Oakleigh (112.6) and Bayswater (111.8), so the club championship will go down to the last weekend.
“I don’t know how many times in subbies history all four teams from a club have had outright wins in a weekend, but it’s not a regular occurrence,” Tigers first XI captain and club coach Mitch Johnstone told Star Weekly.
“That’s got us to the top of the club championship, and that’s really pleasing as coach because you obviously invest in all four grades, not just the First XI.
“Ultimately, you’re judged on premierships, not club championships, but it’s an indicator of how well you’re going across the grades.”
The Tigers have a home final in their grasp if they can bring down Ormond in the final round one-day game at Chirnside Park on Saturday.
But Johnstone is certainly not counting his chickens.
“Ormond won the premiership in their group last year and were probably favourites heading into this year,” he said.
“They’re a formidable opponent with some really good players, particularly in the short format.
“It’s almost an early start to finals and [sixth-placed] Ormond are playing for their season. If they lose, they’re every chance of missing the finals, so it’s going to be a pretty tense contest.”
The win over Sunshine not only boosted the Tigers’ points tally, but it was a chance for Johnstone to shake up the batting line-up and provide middle-order batsmen Adam Alifraco, Mason Frenkel, Jack Budd and James Freeman valuable time at the crease in the second innings.
“I’m big on giving guys an opportunity on the eve of finals to have some time in the middle, whether it be bat or ball,” Johnstone said. “There’s going to be a time in a final when we need those guys to contribute.”
The victory over Sunshine was designed by the Tigers’ bowling attack.
They rolled Sunshine for 139 in the first innings and just 93 in the second, when Freeman (5-31) and Jonathon Burton (4-15) produced devastating performances.
Across town, it was a historic day for Hoppers Crossing, who secured a finals berth in their first season of Sub-District cricket since crossing from the VTCA.
Chasing 195 for victory, the Cats reached the target six down, thanks mainly to a half century from Duleeka Thisakuttige.
The Cats will carry a four-match unbeaten run into a final-round one-dayer against Elsternwick at Hogans Road Reserve on Saturday.
