There will be a few nervous St Anthonys players and supporters this week, as the club has not one but three sides through to the Gisborne and District Cricket Association grand finals.
In the matter of a few hours, the club’s top three sides all secured a spot in the final game of the season with semi-final wins on Sunday.
Club coach and senior player Cameron Clayton said there was a good feeling around the club, but they were keeping a lid on it.
The Saints’ top side made it through to the B-grade decider with a strong win against Ashfield.
In windy conditions, the Saints, who entered the game as favourites, looked the better of the two teams for most of the weekend.
Ashfield won the toss and elected to bat making 165. It could have been worse if not for a late 50-run partnership.
Clayton said on form they were confident of getting the runs, but he knew finals were a different ball game.
“It was really windy and it was hard to bat and hard to bowl so you really had to concentrate,” he said.
“The way we have been batting they were short, but saying that, it’s finals cricket and there’s a lot more pressure.”
The Saints started well with the bat and were 0-38 at stumps on day one.
Day two didn’t start as well and the Eagles slipped from 0-44 to 4-54.
There was no panic and Justin Siedlecki and Paul Scott set about getting back on track.
The two stayed at the crease for the rest of the game, as the Saints finished 4-169 to seal victory. Siedlecki finished 76 not out and Scott 35 not out.
Siedlecki’s knock was his highest score of the season.
The win sets up a grand final showdown with Wallan, which defeated Eynesbury. The Magpies and Saints have been the best two teams all season, with the Magpies snatching top spot from the Saints in the final round.
The final will be played at Greenhill Reserve this weekend.
“Wallan is a really good side,” Clayton said.
“It’s one game and the best team on the day will get the win. Finals is a different ball game.
“Experience will go a long way and if we keep doing what we have been doing, hopefully we’ll come out on top.”
The Saints second XI won through to the D-grade grand final, defeating Wallan.
The Magpies made 7-270, with the Saints finishing 6-271 with three and a half overs to spare.
The Saints will play Malmsbury in the grand final.
In E-grade, the Saints defeated Gisborne to seal a grand final spot against Ashfield.
Gisborne made 146, before the Saints finished 4-157 from its overs.
