By Tara Murray
Rivergum couldn’t have asked for a better weekend in the North Metro Cricket Association.
The Kookas had three senior teams playing in semi-finals, and all three won through to grand finals.
Their under-14 division 2 Coulson Shield side was also in grand final action on Friday and Sunday morning and claimed the premiership in exciting fashion.
Senior captain-coach Gary Bell, who also coaches the under-14 team, said it had given everyone motivation heading into day two of their matches.
“We ended up winning by two runs,” he said of the under-14s.
“I brought on a little kid [Tyson Gresham] who is playing above his age and he took three wickets in the last over to get the win and he finished with 5-5.
“It set up a good mood coming into the seniors. A lot of the seniors came down and watched.”
With one win on the board for the weekend, the Kookas’ three senior sides still in action followed suit.
For the top side, they are through to their eighth straight grand final and are going for a fifth premiership in six seasons.
Bell said they had produced another strong all-round performance against arch rival Rosebank.
The Kookas made 4-293.
“We were 62 off 44 overs and had a crucial partnership of James Bonnici and Matt Kiely,” Bell said.
“They went quite slow up until tea before they lifted the run rate with some really good cricket shots.
“James made 91 and Matt made 46. Then there was some hard running from Jarrod Bannister and Matthew Perri.
“In the last five overs they scored 53 runs and it was through hard running.
“They came off the ground blowing and it showed everyone else to put everything on line for the team.”
With runs on the board, the Kookas got the job done with the ball, bowling Rosebank out for 195.
Bell said it wasn’t without the usual resistance they’ve become used to when facing Rosebank.
“The guys took some good catches and there was a run out,” he said. “Everyone contributed and played really well.
“Rosebank are a quality side and we’ve played them so many times and they never give up.
“There was moments in the game we thought ‘if this doesn’t go our way they will be right in it’, but there’s the belief in the group.”
Bannister continued his good game and added four wickets to his 45 not out.
Scott Morley and Perri took two wickets each.
The first XI has the weekend off and will play the winner of the Rosebank and Holy Trinity.
The second and fourth XIs will be in action.
Bell said they would train as normal and he expected more of the first XI boys would watch either of the two teams in action.
“This is the best time of year,” he said.
“Hopefully it’ll be a joyous occasion in a few weekends time.”
