SATURDAY’S Swan Hill District Cricket Association grand final between Nyah District and St Mary’s Tyntynder is set to provide the perfect end to the 2023-24 season.
The two sides have met previously in two finals this season, for the Kookaburra Cup and the T20 Final, taking one win each.
Now, in the ultimate decider, the sides will vie for the premiership at Swan Hill Showgrounds.
Nyah topped the association ladder after their 18 games, losing just one game on their way to the finals. The Bulldogs were just two games behind in second place.
Both captains were full of respect for their opposition, and said they were looking forward to closing out the season with one final match-up.
St Mary’s skipper Nathaniel Holmes-Brown said Nyah had been the team to beat throughout the season.
“There’s only been a single blowout game in the four matches between us,” he said.
“They’ve beaten us in all but one of those meetings, but we go into this game excited and full of confidence that we have the ability to win.
“Nyah have a very good team when it comes to batting and bowling, and most of their blokes who can score runs are also able to pitch in with a few wickets as well.
“Walshy (Joel Walsh) is pretty much unstoppable at the moment, he’s a fantastic cricketer to watch and we’ll be trying to make sure we dismiss him early.
“Although all the other grand finals here are great, this is the one you want to win, this is the one that means the most.”
The recent reintroduction of Robin Sebastian has reinvigorated the Bulldog bowling attack, freeing up bowlers around him.
“Robin is the key inclusion for us,” Holmes-Brown said.
“His experience and what he can do is invaluable, he’s a massive addition to our squad.
“Last time we played Nyah, Jack (Shannahan) was opening the bowling with me, but with Robin back it really allows Jack to come in and do his thing later in the innings.”
Chasing a second premiership in two years, Holmes-Brown said consecutive victories would mean everything to the cricket club.
“It’s been a long time since St Mary’s have gone back-to-back,” he said.
“It’ll be a pretty special achievement if we’re to do it.
“We’ve always had the confidence that we are one of the best sides in this competition and that we can really match it with anyone.”
On the other hand, Nyah have their eyes on a premiership after the disappointment of last season’s semi-final exit.
Demons captain Ben Shadbolt said his players weren’t content with just going one better than the previous season.
“We feel we missed out last year, which was pretty disappointing,” he said.
“We thought we had a pretty good crop last year to get the job done and fell down at the second-last hurdle.
“It’s good to get through, and we’re ready to have another crack at it.
“We’re full of confidence, but we also know that we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves.
“Finals are a funny game, you really don’t know what’s going to happen until it does.”
Nyah’s well-rounded squad have been on fire with the ball lately, but Shadbolt was looking for a whole-squad performance to stop St Mary’s.
“The way St Mary’s bat, they’re a very aggressive side,” he said.
“They’re the type of side that doesn’t let you settle, they’ll walk out and want to shake us off our line anyway.
“St Mary’s are always thereabouts, and them getting the likes of Robin (Sebastian) back in the side is huge.”
Runs on the board was the key for Shadbolt, who said his side had a range of dangerous bats.
“Any one of our top six have the ability to bat well,” he said.
“The likes of Charlie (Boulton) and Joel (Walsh) have both had really good years, Justin Toomey has been outstanding this year.
“Even the young guys like Tristan Dalbon and Mitch Grinham, these blokes are 18 and 19 years old and have really shown that they can bat.
“The likes of Walshy, he can win a game for us with both bat and ball, and he’s great in the field.
“We’ve just got a really great crop of players, which gives us a good, well-rounded side.”
Shadbolt said the friendly rivalry with his opposition was an added bonus of the fierce competition.
“We get along with their blokes really well off the ground, and the battles between the two sides are always really good,” he said.
