Rivergum has returned to the top of the North Metro Cricket Association, with their fourth Jika Shield premiership in five years.
After losing last year’s decider to North Brunswick Rosebank, the Kookas were keen to come out on top this time round.
It was the same two sides doing battle, as they had the previous five grand finals, and it again lived up to expectations.
Despite the Kookas looking on top for most of the game, the result was no way an easy one.
Kookas captain-coach Gary Bell said they hadn’t expected anything less from their long-time rivals.
“Some of the other teams we play in the competition don’t fight as hard as we do.
“They roll over and especially when we’re 1-70, they’ll think it’s too hard and throw the ball around.
“They [the Eagles] backed their best bowlers and they got that first wicket with what was an absolute screamer of a catch and got themselves back into it.”
Rain halted things for a while on day one, with play not getting under way until just before 4pm.
The Eagles elected to bat and the Kookas soon had them on the back foot, with Matthew Perri taking three quick wickets, to have them in trouble at 3-25.
The Eagles were still three down at stumps and were on the hunt for quick runs on day two.
They declared at 9-120, leaving the Kookas 80 overs to make the runs.
Perri finished with 5-52 and set up a run-out.
Bell said Perri was a big time performer, having previously claimed two grand final man of the match awards.
“He’s a quality bowler and he probably had a disappointing grand final last year.
“He knew … you didn’t have to tell him … he knew that he had to perform.”
The Kookas lost James Bonnici early, but looked to be cruising at 1-70. Then the Eagles fought back, and it was game-on as the Kookas were 6-96. Bell said while there were a few nerves, they knew they could get the job done. They finished on 7-124 to seal the win.
“Full credit to our guys and believing in ourselves,’ he said.
“We’ve got full confidence in all our guys and Kasey May is coming in at number nine.
“It wasn’t the greatest shot towards the end, but we got the win.”
The premiership is the Kookas fourth in six years, all against the Eagles, handing the side the title of the best team in the competition over that period.
“Full credit to them last year,” Bell said. “We thought we were the best team throughout the season last year and they played a great grand final.
“I didn’t want that to happen again this year.
“Even though they finished on top of the ladder, they got a couple of outrights, I thought we were the better team.”
