By Tara Murray
Macedon has ended a first XI premiership drought with a big win in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association Jensen Shield Sub-District Firsts grand final.
It had been 11 years since their first XI last tasted success in the 2007-08 season. But at the weekend, the Cats’ current group made their own history as they beat Sunbury United.
For Cats captain Craig Pender it was a pretty special moment for him and club.
“We managed to bring the flag home,” he said.
“Macedon is a pretty small club and everyone has stuck together.
“We finally settled on the first team 12 and the players stuck together.
“It’s pretty special to win the flag together.
“There was good turnout at the club and great support.”
The Cats, who claimed the minor premiership, entered the grand final against Sunbury United as favourites.
The Cats won the toss and elected to bat, going on to make 199.
Pender said he wasn’t 100 per cent happy with that score with the side losing wickets at the wrong time.
“We set 200 as the minimum to make to be honest,” he said.
“We thought it was enough to put pressure on United.
“I didn’t think it was enough, it was a bit unnerving.”
Photo Gallery: Macedon vs Sunbury United
Gareth De Rosayro top scored with 80, with Brett McKay the next best with 28.
While Pender was slightly worried, he had no need to be.
Like they had all season, the Cats bowlers did the job that was asked of them.
The Cats managed to bowl United out for 163.
Pender said he was thrilled with how the bowlers had responded. United never got going after being in trouble at 2-5.
“Nick Aikman bowled into the wind all day and took five wickets bowling fantastically.”
Aikman finished with figures of 5-42, while Dan Trotta took two wickets.
De Rosayro was named man of the match for his batting. Pender said De Rosayro was brilliant all weekend.
“He made 80 and then he stood at the stumps all day and did a fantastic stumping.
“He’s probably still the captain of the side on the ground and directs everyone around as he’s the wicketkeeper.
“I’m more than happy to let him do that. The only reason he stood down and I’m the captain is that he has a young family.”
Pender said one of the nicer moments of the grand final was playing with Patrick and Darcy Doyle.
Pender, along with a couple of others, played with their father in the last first XI premiership.
“It’s all pretty special for all of us.”
The premiership capped off a top season for the Cats. Their second XI side also claimed the minor premiership before being knocked out in the semi-final.
Pender said it was a really good effort from that side.
“For them to make finals is really special for us,” he said. “It was disappointing for them not to make the grand final, but they were all down to watch us.”
Pender said he hoped the premiership would help attract new and old players back to the club.
He said he was unsure whether the top side would return to the Johnstone Shield next season, after requesting to drop down this season. “Hopefully we’ll get back to the way it was when I was first here, when we had four teams up and going.
“A lot of things can happen. We have a lot play football and were affected by injuries.
“We’ll know more come August-September.”
MORE GDCA NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/st-anthonys-holds-on-for-a-win-in-nail-biting-grand-final-match/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/gisborne-runs-out-of-fire/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/bacchus-marsh-win-back-to-back-flags/
