Kyabram stamps its superiority with huge Haisman Shield grand final rematch victory over Mooroopna

Billy McLay, who will be wearing red and black year-round after committing to Kyabram’s 2025 Goulburn Valley League campaign, went on his merry way despite the early departure of opposite opener Paul Parsons.

It was steady as she goes for McLay, who survived long enough to partner the dynamic Kyle Mueller on what eventually became a century partnership.

Mueller, simply put, has no plans on slowing down his sporting achievements after becoming a goal-kicking centurion and Murray Football League premiership player a month ago.

His attachment to centuries would not end there, swashbuckling his way to two bat raises courtesy of 10 fours and three sixes in a free-flowing offensive display.

Mueller’s unbeaten 102 did more than its share to set the table as seven Mooroopna bowlers ultimately had few answers, left to chase 223 in hope of avoiding a 0-2 start.

A new-look opening Mooroopna duo Tasman Hall and Joel May provided a much better start than their top-order adversaries, the latter finding the rope four times and powerfully keeping the line moving en route to a well-crafted 52.

Once Louis Sabbagh-Holt knocked him over, though, things went south in a hell of a hurry for the home side.

Brodie McDonald met the same fate with the next delivery and the Cats were staring down an embarrassing hole in suddenly losing 3-0.

Import Ethan Baker steadied as best he could, but once Jack Donnell left him clean bowled with 101 runs left to find and three wickets in hand, it was essentially sorted.

With nothing left to lose Jack Gaskill came in and torched for a brief period with a four and a six in his nine-ball cameo, but Billy McLay happily closed matters out with the final two wickets in his only three balls of the day to secure a mighty 74-run win.

Coach Jackson McLay is keen to see a lift from his men despite the comprehensive result.

“For us, it was all about our top four and Kyle pushing on with a hundred took it away completely,” McLay said.

“He’s a fantastic player who takes responsibility and that allowed some of our batters a free swing at the back end.

“I thought 220 was only par on that wicket, but our bowling was really good at times and after drinks, we just changed the game.

“For us, we’re not playing anywhere near our best in my opinion. It’s just about doing the basics and being as consistent as possible and we know we’re a hard team to beat when that happens.”

McLay paid tribute to the day’s star man with the bat and looked ahead to a Shepparton Youth Club United side which had put up solid numbers across the Midland Hwy despite a last-gasp defeat to Numurkah.

“Kyle’s a pretty talented cricketer, but that only gets you so far,” McLay said.

“He puts ownership on himself in the middle not to be satisfied with 20 or 30 and that’s why he gets that output.

“We’re extremely lucky to have him because he’s just a freak, but he drives everyone else to be better and play with freedoms.

“United looks like it recruited pretty well in the off-season with some rounded players and I believe they’ll be thereabouts this year.”