Tara Murray
Sunbury finally has a Victorian Turf Cricket Association premiership.
After a heartbreak last season, the Roar dominated the division 4 best of three grand final series against Footscray United, winning 2-0
Roar coach Scott Yardley said the club was thrilled to finally get that premiership.
The Roar was just two wickets away from a premiership in division 5 last season, when the second half of the grand final was called off due to COVID-19.
The higher ranked Moonee Valley was awarded the premiership.
“The monkey is off the back,” he said.
“We’re finally got one. I think there was more sense of relief for the boys. They were determined to get it done.
“The joy showed through in the celebrations.”
The Roar, who were minor premiers, won the first game of the series. It was enough to guarantee a win if rain played havoc with the rest of the matches.
Yardley said they were focused on getting the job done on the field, especially after last season.
While game two was postponed due to rain, the Roar were still able to get out on the park the following weekend to get the job done.
In game two, the Roar made 8-152 from their overs, with veteran Jason McGann stepping up with the bat, top scoring with 63.
The bowlers didn’t waste any time, needing just 20.2 overs to bowl Footscray United out for 43.
McGann took 4-12, while Jason McGowan and Jay King took three wickets each.
Yardley said the bowlers had been the key all season and they stood up when they needed them.
McGann was named player of the grand final series. He was also player of the match in last year’s grand final against Moonee Valley.
Yardley said the win was pretty special for McGann.
“He’s been at the club for 10 years and played in a number of grand finals, and this is his first premiership.
“Stephen Treweek, our captain, has played in four losing grand finals. It’s good for these blokes.”
The premiership is the Roar’s first since the 2011-12 season when they won the Gisborne and District Cricket Association B-grade flag.
Yardley was coach of that premiership team. This season was their sixth grand final since winning that flag.
The Roar’s day was made even better with their second XI claiming a second straight premiership, beating Aberfeldie Park.
Yardley, who was part of that side, said game one ebbed and flowed with the Roar getting the win, before they dominated the second game to seal the premiership.
The Roar is expected to move into division 3 next season, a third division in three seasons in the competition.
Yardley said they would continue to go down the track they have been doing down in recent years.
“We’re getting growth out of the juniors and there’s a good batch coming through,” he said.
“There’s some in the twos and there’s a couple who have broken through into the firsts.
“We won’t be looking elsewhere for players, we want to reward the kids in the town and do the right thing by them.”
