Barwon Heads won a pulsating and high-standard Geelong Cricket Association A Grade grand final at South Barwon Reserve on Sunday March 9 to claim its maiden women’s title.
The Seagulls were switched on from the first ball against a gallant Geelong City and won by 22 runs in temperatures around the mid-30s.
Skipper Steph Theodore had no hesitation in having first use of the Lawn Addicts Oval wicket with Alana Sproule and Jane Burch ensuring early wickets didn’t fall.
However, two wickets to rising star Erin Moloney soon had the game back in City’s favour.
Mikaela Monahan and Theodore then steadied the innings with a 68-run stand.
Monahan was Moloney’s third scalp, but not before making a superb 42 from 59 balls while Theodore was superbly caught by Moloney at deep square leg for 42 from 52.
The Seagulls finished with 6/148 with Jessica Johnson playing her role with an unbeaten 15 from 13 deliveries while Bianca Summers took 2/19 from five tidy overs.
City kept on pace with the run chase with good contributions from Lily Foster (20), Roseanne Cox (30 from 34) and young gun Poppy Agg (15).
But it was Australian Test cap number 128 Theodore who wrestled the game back for the Gulls with her seamers. She took 2/14 from six immaculate overs while Sproule grabbed 2/17 from six.
It was the Heads’ fielding that shone through with four run outs.
Sproule conceded just two runs from the penultimate over and City needed an almost impossible 27 from the final over to tie the game, which would have given it victory due to a higher ladder position.
But Theodore gave away only five runs and the Heads were celebrating their maiden title while the Sharks could hold their heads high for a magnificent season as minor premiers.
BELL PARK triumphed in B Grade, making 112 and bowling out Newtown & Chilwell for 103. It was a bowlers’ game with Taliesin Platt taking 4/12 for the Two Blues and Bianca Duff making 43 not out. But it was the Dragons’ Louise Darbyshire, Emily Bradley (three wickets each) and Jordy Taylor (two) who steered the team home after good knocks from Kristen Long (29) and Jackii Hutchison (27).
A PAIR of 48s from Janet Lister and Noelle Taylor allowed Anglesea to chase down Drysdale’s 6/116 with the loss of just one wicket in the C Grade decider. Rachel McCue took three wickets while Laura Sheehan was superb for the Hawks with 50 retired.
EAST BELMONT took the honours in D Grade with Michelle Marcola (30 retired) and Chris Walker (27 retired) the stars while Carrie Anderson (30 retired) did all she could for Thomson.
ST JOSEPH’S won the E Grade Central flag, defeating Murgheboluc. Mallory Keane (32 retired) had a good game while Olive Cruden conceded just 12 runs from her four overs, Anna Withers took 1/14 from four and Clio Cameron took 1/16 from four.
ARMSTRONG CREEK proved too good in E Grade East with a win against Barwon Heads. The two Caitlins – Lamont and Burnett – set the scene with miserly spells and Alyce Lockwood and Erin Lang each retired with 30 and 32 respectively. Mia Perry (2/15) and Sharon Briggs (30 retired) were terrific for the Seagulls.
NORTH GEELONG claimed the E Grade North premiership against Little River. Haylee Wray (29 and 1/12 from four overs) and Layne Harvey (25 not out and 1/9 from four overs) were the stars of the show.
