THE Phillip Island Sharks are building a formidable dynasty for themselves in the top grade of the Leongatha and District Cricket Association competition going back-to-back-to-back in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
On Sunday, March 24 they completed an impressive final series when they comprehensively outplayed Wonthaggi Club in the grand final at Scorpion Park in Leongatha.
The Sharks did all of the heavy lifting on Saturday when they bowled Club out for an undefendable score of 150 with young swing bowler George McCausland enjoying the conditions to produce a string of three wickets at the top of Club’s batting order; Emmet Dempsey 11 off 19 balls, Ben Walsh 4 off 4 deliveries and ultimately the important wicket of Mitch Thomas 15 off 40 balls.
And they never really recovered their composure from there with regular wickets falling around Club captain Joel Brann who nonetheless made 61 off 97 balls in an attempt to give his bowlers something to aim at.
But with the likes of Lachie Cleeland 41 and Daniel Mock 53 in winning form, there were to be no hiccups from the Island, nothing like what they produced against Leongatha Imperials only a few weeks ago anyway and they went on to polish off the winning runs, 3/153 off 52.5 overs for an early finish to the feature match of the weekend.
It was only the second time in LDCA history that a club has snared three A Grade Division 1 premierships in-a-row but Phillip Island will have to go one better next year if they are to match the record-settiing feat of Wonthaggi Club winning four in-a-row between 2016 and 2019.
Phillip Island Cricket Club Secretary Daniel Stevenson was delighted with the resuilt and also the fact that the club played off in four of the weekend's five grand finals.
"It's a great achievement for the club to win the A Grade Division One premiership again, and to play off in a number of the others, but despite the fact results didn't go our way, it's sill been a very good year for the club."
Phillip Island also played off in the Under 17 and Under 15 junior finals with the Under 17s narowly bowing out to the eventual winners Inverloch in the semis and the Under 15s winning the premiership against Glen Alvie.
"We've got lots of good, young players on our list and plenty of support at the junior level and young players pushing up into the seniors as well. There's a good blend of youth and experience," he said of the success of Phillip Island cricket at the moment.
Other games
* A Grade Div 2: Koonwarra LRSL 3/174(39.2) def Glen Alvie 10/172
* B Grade Div 1: OMK 10/130 (68.3 Overs) def Phillip Island 10/92 (53.1 Overs)
* B Grade Div 2: Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak 5/254 (70) def Phillip Island 10/141 (44.3)
* C Grade: Phillip Island 10/161 (54) lost to Kilcunda Bass 5/317(60).
