SAINT Stanislaus’ College’s 2nd XI signed off on a brilliant ISA division three season by winning Saturday’s final over Blue Mountains Grammar with ease.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The hosts thumped their opponents by eight wickets at Keady Oval on the back of a strong bowling performance across the team and an unbeaten innings of 57 from Hugh Croker.
Stannies chased down the Blue Mountains total of 133 in just 27 overs.
"They had a really good year. They only lost the one game,” winning coach Mark Elliott said.
“They're a great bunch of kids who never take themselves too seriously, get on well together and get the job done.”
Blue Mountains Grammar won the toss in Saturday’s final and elected to bat.
Stannies had to go through a barrage of early Blue Mountains aggression, but for every big stroke the visitors struck the wickets would pile up in return.
Opening bowlers Croker and Myles Russell each picked up a wicket to have Blue Mountains at 2-31.
Every time Blue Mountains threatened to make a significant partnership a Stannies bowler would step up and put a stop to it. The largest Blue Mountains stand was 26 runs.
Blue Mountains were all out in 31 overs and all six Stannies bowlers had picked up at least one wicket.
Tom Lynch finished with 3-16, Ben Statham had 2-20 and Joseph Hanley ended with 2-24.
Jacob Pepper found the remaining wicket.
"We didn't expect Blue Mountains to score as quickly as they did. They came out swinging and playing their shots. Judging by their last couple of games they were a lot more aggressive than the previous weeks,” Elliott said.
"The scoreboard kept ticking over but we kept taking wickets at regular intervals.
"Tom hasn't had a bowl for a while but he got thrown the ball and cleaned up the tail.
"Joe Hanley removed the two danger men. Ben Statham finished as the leading wicket taker in third division ISA and he picked up another two."
Stannies had little drama in their run chase.
By the time opener Sam Blatch (10) was caught the hosts had already taken their total to 52.
Fellow opener Lachlan Mannell had his strong innings brought to an end when he was trapped LBW, but he finished with his season high score of 37.
Croker and Fergus Finn (15 not out) combined to score the remaining 64 runs.
The big innings from Croker was his second highest tally of the season, only behind his 71 against Saint Spyridon College.
"There was a tough 40 minute interval before lunch that the openers negotiated well, and that seemed to take the impetus out of Blue Mountains,” Elliott said.
“Then the next two boys coasted home."
