RSL have gone from last to fourth on the final day of the home and away season to qualify for this year’s Swan Hill District Cricket Association A Grade semi finals, after the Blues routed Woorinen by 10 wickets on Saturday.
In one of the most extraordinary finishes to a season in recent memory, RSL not only needed a percentage boosting win over the Tigers to be any hope of climbing into the top four, but also needed St.Mary’s-Tyntynder to fall to Nyah District.
But while the Demons beating the Bulldogs was always a possibility, it was the manner in which the Blues accounted for Woorinen that blew the competition away, with the Blues chasing down the Tigers total without loss.
The result sets up a semi-final showdown against Nyah District at Nyah this weekend, while Woorinen, having been entrenched in the top four since round three, will miss out on playing finals.
The match won’t only be remembered for turning this year finals series on it’s head, but also for the continued late season form of veteran all-rounder Brenton Caldwell, who took 6-19 in a match-winning performance with the ball.
It takes Caldwell’s season tally to 26 wickets, including 20 from his past three matches, with RSL captain Oscar Hier praising the performance of his opening bowler post-match.
“As a captain, it’s so good to be able to throw a bloke like Brenno the new pill and trust that he’s not going to bowl anything short,” Hier said.
“He rarely gives the batters anything to score off and he’s rarely loose, everything’s pitched up and on a good length and is always testing the batters.
“He’s just so consistent, he might not be as quick as he used to be but his consistency is one of his strengths and he uses it to his advantage regularly.
“We probably a little bit lucky, we lost the toss but wanted to bowl first so that went our way, and then Brenno bowled beautifully.
“Everything went perfect for us, it was one of those days that you get every now and then where everything just went our way.”
After dismissing Woorinen for just 67 in the 39th over, the Blues knew they could ill-afford too many missteps in their run chase, with the home side needing to pass the Tigers total for the loss of no more than one wicket to overtake them on percentage.
In the end, it mattered little, with Ryan Hinton (79 not out) and Paul Munro (42 not out) getting RSL home without loss, with the innings and match called to a close with the Blues on 0-133.
As remarkable as their victory was, the job is not done for the Blues just yet, with Hier now setting his sights on bringing down the reigning premiers in this Saturday’s semi-final.
“To make the finals is a great effort by our group, especially when I think there’s a bit of a feeling around the league that we have a few too many old blokes in our side this year,” Hier said.
“But these guys have also played plenty of finals, which will hold us in great stead this week.
“We have a couple of young kids that maybe don’t have that experience in an A grade final that will need to step up, but we’ll just focus on enjoying our cricket and whatever happens, happens.”
