The history between cross town rivals Sunbury and Sunbury United will add another chapter over the next two weekends, as the clubs again face off in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s McIntyre Cup grand final.
The teams finished the regular season in third and fourth, with both knocking off more highly fancied opponents in the semi-finals in Woodend and Riddell to make the grand final.
The last grand final match-up between two of the competition’s powerhouses was two seasons ago when United came out on top.
It was United’s third premiership since the 2009-10 season.
Sunbury is chasing its first A-grade/McIntyre Cup premiership since 1992-93 and has lost the last two grand finals.
Results between the two teams this season
Round 6
The lowest point of the season for Sunbury, as United inflicted a massive outright victory on its rivals.
Sunbury batting first could only muster 72, with Sunbury United captain-coach James Hughes taking 5-4.
United passed the total with ease, declaring at 3-119.
In its second innings, Sunbury was bowled out for 115, with Hughes taking another five wickets to make it 10 for the game.
United chased down the runs needed for the outright win to finish the day at 1-69.
Round 9
Sunbury got some revenge from its earlier season loss, knocking off United in the last game before the Christmas break.
Batting first, Sunbury made 8-184 with Jack Landt hitting 66 in the middle order.
Sunbury, on the back of 5-17 from Stephen Treweek, restricted United to just 133.
The season so far
Sunbury
For most of the year, Sunbury didn’t look like making the finals let alone the grand final.
Last season’s runners-up found itself with only one win from its opening six matches and near the bottom of the table.
After the fourth of those losses, captain-coach Ray Davis stood down citing work commitments.
From there it was a new Sunbury.
Jason McGann took on the captain’s role and former coach Jason Elliott, who returned to the club this season, stepped up again as coach.
The battle to make the top four went right down to the final round and fourth spot was secured by Sunbury with a win against Gisborne.
Having had a weather-affected result against Woodend in the second-last round of the season, Sunbury proved too good for them in their semi-final clash.
McGann, like so many times this season, was the main destroyer with the ball. He took 6-28 to skittle Woodend for 96.
Youngster Jack Landt then stood up with the bat making his highest score, 113, to lead his side to an easy victory. Sunbury finished the match at 5-212.
Sunbury United
Consistency has been the key for Sunbury United as they spent the whole season in the top four.
They started the season with three wins in a row, before a shock loss to Bacchus Marsh. It was the only time for the season that United would lose a match to a side which finished outside the top five.
If anything, United has slipped under the radar in recent weeks. Woodend started to attract attention on its way to top spot, while Riddell spent most of the season on top of the ladder.
The battle between Gisborne and Sunbury for fourth spot was what most people were focusing on and United slipped in the middle of the two battles.
United hung tough against Riddell in the semi-final and got over the line by 15 runs.
Dylan Wright was the star with the bat for United making 94, as his team hit 190.
Not surprisingly, United skipper James Hughes led from the front with the ball taking 6-71 as him side restricted Riddell to 175.
Key players
Sunbury
You can’t go past skipper Jason McGann (above). Last season’s GDCA Sullivan Medallist for the best player in the competition has again been a star. In 16 matches he has taken 48 wickets, only two short of his total last season. He has also made 420 runs with the bat. In the semi-final, it was McGann that set up the win with his tight bowling and he will be the danger man going into the final.
Sunbury United
Like Sunbury, it is the skipper that is the danger man. James Hughes (above) has been massive in all the big matches, most recently in the semi-final win. In the top five wicket takers for the competition, Hughes has taken 55 wickets from 17 matches. Hughes, who is back coaching the side this season, has a record any coach would be jealous of. Every season he has coached the side, it has resulted in a premiership. In two weekends’ time, he could quite easily have four premierships in four seasons as coach.
Prediction
With both teams knocking off more highly fancied opponents in the semi-finals, it makes for an interesting grand final.
Both teams have big game experience and players who like the big stage. The only difference is Sunbury United has taken the opportunity and won premierships; Sunbury has been found short.
The skippers of both sides are key men and if the batsmen can get either one of them away, it will go a big way to the game’s result.
While both teams will be hungry for victory, it could be Sunbury’s heartbreaking loss of last season and the poor start to this season that could see them go one step further and win the premiership.
