Relief.
That was how Katandra star Jedd Wright summed up his emotions following his side’s thrilling and pulsating 22-run win over Central Park-St Brendan’s in Saturday’s Haisman Shield decider.
Wright was once again the hero for the Eagles with 25 runs and 3-18 off 6.3 overs in a performance that delivered the champion talent the Greg Luscombe Medal only days after he claimed the Lightfoot Medal.
“It’s probably nearly relief more than anything,” Wright said.
“As you said it’s been a huge build-up and our finals series as been probably three of the tightest games of the year against quality opposition really.
“Just relief that it’s done now and it’s finished and we’re on top to be honest.
“Deep down we knew we were in a lot of trouble, but I think that spell of Hadleigh’s, when he knocked over Tyler (Larkin), where he got a couple of wickets really turned the game.
“Then obviously Billy through the middle and then once ‘Vids’ (Dwain Vidler) went out I knew we’d be pretty close with some of the younger boys to come.”
The former Eagles captain was pivotal in the dying stages of the match with his reliable leg-spin bamboozling his opponents.
A touch of mastery had him collect the prized scalp of Dwain Vidler caught at backward square, before the pressure got to youngsters Keiran Hogeboom and Max Hooper and he dismissed the pair with back-to-back deliveries to end the match.
Wright said he asked Katandra skipper Ben Clurey to throw him the ball in the pressure-cooker moment even after a poor outing in the previous week’s match.
“Last week I bowled seven overs for 60 runs,” he said with a laugh.
“I did want the ball and I always back myself to get wickets in those sort of situations. Especially when young bats are still finding their way and the pressure builds.”