By Tara Murray
There were a few nervous moments but Tullamarine did enough to get its first win on the board in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Steve McNamara Shield.
While the Demons had been awarded points from its match with Maribyrnong Park St Marys despite losing, the Demons were yet to taste that winning feeling.
That changed on Saturday in a season defining match with the Greenvale Kangaroos.
The bottom two sides in the division are well and truly in a relegation battle.
Demons captain-coach Peter Labbad said it was a big relief to finally get that win.
“We nearly lost it,” he said. “We’re pretty happy.
“We are playing to avoid relegation and we don’t want to get relegated. I was really pumped to see that performance and I said to them after the game that they are playing for a club that is struggling and this year was about surviving.
“This group will be remembered for what they have done. There’s no money, it’s just about heart and soul.”
There were a few nerves on Saturday for the Demons.
The Kangaroos had been bowled out for 109 on day one of the match.
Labbad said they should have been only chasing about 65 to 70 but had let them off the hook after tea.
After a good performance with the bat late on day one, they resumed at 2-57.
It was tough going on Saturday.
“They bowled spin all day,” Labbad said. “The wicket was hard to score on.
“We were at 8-99 for six overs before we got the 12 runs and they came quick. We got them just before tea.”
Dave Manktelow top scored with 39 for the Demons. Leon Yogaraj and Ben Jenkin put on a crucial partnership at the end to get the job done.
The win moves the Demons above the Kangaroos on the ladder.
With two rounds remaining the Demons are on 18 points and the Kangaroos on 15 points. Williamstown CYMS is a point ahead of the Demons, making it a three team race to avoid relegation.
Labbad said staying up was important for the long term future of the club.
“Our under-14s are on top and they are covering in our ones, twos and threes,” he said.
“In another year or so they will be ready to play senior cricket, so we have to stay up.
“We have two tough games left and Greenvale has two tough games left. If we lose both, we need them to lose both.
“We are aiming to win one of them.”
