Tatura has won the Cricket Shepparton under-16 grand final after defeating Old Students-Nagambie in a run-frugal final.
After being skittled for 65 in the first innings Tatura was on the back foot from the get-go.
But the young Bulldogs held their resolve as they were able to unbelievably bowl Old Students-Nagambie out for 47 runs to take home the under-16 flag.
Tatura bowlers Baxter Plunkett (2-9 from nine overs) and Hartjeat Singh (2-6 from four) were electric as the wickets were shared evenly across the board.
Tatura co-captain Darcy Brewer was the top-scorer for the match with 11 runs off 33 balls, while for Old Students-Nagambie, the wickets were also evenly spread with captain Hayden Kruse (2-6 from four) and vice-captain Ben O’Brien (2-12) the best with ball in hand.
Tatura president Rohan Forster said the whole club was proud of this premiership, especially because the club was unable to field an under-16 side two years ago.
“We have to thank Nagambie Cricket Club for that too because we merged with them last year in under-16s so that we could both have kids playing because we only had four under-16s last season,” he said.
“Going from not having an under-16 side to winning the flag in a couple of years is excellent.
“The whole club is very proud of them and, apart from being good cricketers, they are actually a lovely group of young men that are well-regarded around the place.”
Having batted first last weekend (with a score of only 65 on the board), Forster said club members were quick to remind the under-16 boys that anything is possible in a grand final.
“I have been around a long time, so yes, I have seen a few low scores win,” he said.
“In a grand final, probably not, but as quite a few of the older club members were reminding the boys during the week, the old saying of ‘runs on the board’ even applies to 65 runs.
“Especially in a grand final, so we were certainly encouraging them that we thought they still had a chance and they proved that well and truly.
“I think that comes down to being a real team as such. While we have a couple of good players, they don’t rely on them, and if you look at the scores during the year, they all chipped in somewhere and even the bowling figures this week, no one kid took six or seven.”
In another junior grade, the second day’s play in the under-14A grand final will be on Wednesday, with Northerners chasing Notre Dame-St Brendan’s target of 212 for victory.