Wyndhamvale’s desire to prove it belongs in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s west B1 has driven it to a finals berth at its first attempt.
The Falcons started the final round outside the top four, but it all fell into place come 6pm on Saturday.
Taking care of their own business, they overcame Newport-Digman in a tense finish at the Bryan Martyn Oval. Then assistance came from Point Cook, which beat Seabrook, sending the Brookers tumbling from the four.
“It was probably relief more than anything,” Falcons opening bowler Ryan Radford said. “Coming across to a new competition, you want to try and show that you’re good enough for it. It was good to get ourselves into the four.”
The Falcons have displayed much inconsistency in their first season in west B1.
The hot and cold streaks were brought about by player unavailability and getting to know their surroundings in a new competition. But they have peaked at the right time, going into the finals on the back of two consecutive wins.
Radford is adamant his side is not in the finals merely to make up the numbers.
“Making the four is the first part of the plan,” he said.
“If you make it, you want to try and go as far as you can. We think our best cricket is good enough to win it.”
The Falcons’ final-round clash with Newport-Digman summed up their summer to date.
They cruised to the first-innings points but had to fight tooth and nail to preserve the win and avoid a reversal of the result.
They held on just with two wickets to spare.
“It was getting a little bit nervous, but we were able to hold on,” Radford said.
The stand-out for the Falcons was fast bowler Jake Styles, who took six first-innings wickets.
After taking 50 wickets last summer, including 11 in the Williamstown and District Cricket Association A-turf grand final win over Williamstown Imperials, Styles has added 40 already this season to shape as a barometer for the Falcons heading into the finals.
“He’s certainly standing up for us,” Radford said.
The west B1 semi-finals will see the Falcons travel to Sunshine Heights, while Point Cook will host Sunshine United, with the winners to play in the grand final.
