Not that long ago, Gladstone Park Cricket Club was on its knees and on the brink of folding.
Seven of the first XI players had walked out and it took a lot of hard work for the club to ensure it survived.
Now the Burras are on the verge on a fairytale premiership after an upset semi-final win against Buckley Park in the North West Metro Cricket Association’s George Luscombe Shield.
Burras president Glenn Smerdon said it was a testament to the character of those involved in the club that had got them back to being one of the top sides.
“We were on our knees,” he said. “We’re really grateful for the work Andrew Shanahan has done and the way he has led us.
“There’s a mix of juniors and senior players and club culture is really big for us. No.1 priority was getting the club culture right.”
On the weekend, the Burras had to use all their fighting spirit to knock off the previously undefeated Buckley Park side.
At one point, it appeared none of the Burras sides would play at the weekend after a tragic event at the club last week.
All the sides played, with Smerdon saying he was proud of how the club rallied together.
The Burras’ first XI won the toss, with batsman Matthew Nyhus revelling in the decision.
Nyhus did the damage early on, smashing eight fours and three sixes on his way to 70.
Jaydan Moore and the lower order took up the challenge later on, pushing the score past 200.
The Burras were bowled out for 209, with Moore finishing on 93 not out.
Smerdon said having put a decent score on the board, it was the coaching decisions of Shanahan that proved to be the difference.
“He did his homework and really studied them quite well,” Smerdon said.
“He decided to put a spinner from one end and Jaydan from the other end to open the innings. It paid off and they were 6-40 at the end of day one.
“John Markham made a nice 60 not out and the game could have gone either way.
“We managed to hang in there and get the win.”
Moore finished with 5-65 to go with his 93, while Shanahan took three wickets.
In the decider, the Burras will face Kealba Green-Gully, a regular in the George Luscombe Shield grand final.
“It’s always going to be tough against a champion side which has a very dominant, tight-knit group which we respect,” Smerdon said. “You never know what will happen in big games.”
The Burras’ thirds and one-day sides also made grand finals.
