An incredible spell with the ball has helped deliver Mooroopna back-to-back B-grade premierships as the Cats earned a five-wicket win over Waaia in the Clyde Young Shield grand final on Saturday.
Minor premier Waaia looked to be cruising at 0-59 at Vibert Reserve in Shepparton, but an incredible bowling spell had Mooroopna take a mind-blowing 6-1 to derail the Bombers’ innings.
Waaia eventually reached 115, but it was far from enough as Mooroopna batted its way to 5-116 with more than 11 overs to spare.
Aaron Di Fede was one of the standouts for Mooroopna, taking 3-35 with the ball before top scoring with 39 during the Cats’ successful run chase.
Cats captain Josh Preston, who himself took 1-21, said a premiership was the perfect way to cap an incredible and difficult season.
“It has been a big year for the club. We were training at Tat up until Christmas with the floods, we didn’t have access to our facilities and all that,” Preston said.
“It was a pretty stuttered start to the season and to push through that and get the reward like this at the end of the year, it is pretty awesome that we can take something back to the club to celebrate.”
After winning the toss and batting first, openers Damian Atkins (28) and David Gilmour (25) had Waaia in a strong position – but things soon unravelled.
The pair was out lbw, with a further four wickets falling with one run added over the next eight overs.
Di Fede (3-35) and Brad Boyle (3-13) did the damage for the Cats, taking three wickets apiece during that ultimate purple patch.
“We were up against it early, they started off on fire. They were 0-59 10 overs in and then the boys got rolling,” Preston said.
“Az Di Fede was massive, he stepped up with a few wickets and Brad Boyle as well fired up in the end.
“We took 6-1 at one point and that definitely wrestled the momentum back in our favour.
“They had a little partnership towards the back end of the innings that got them over 100, but our message from there was we have to bat our overs and if we can do that we will be thereabouts.”
Waaia battled back in the second innings and a trio of early wickets had Mooroopna in a tricky spot at 3-20.
But a vital 61-run partnership between Di Fede (39) and Riley Moon (20) helped steady the ship.
The Cats were at 4-81 when Moon was out caught, but Di Fede and Troy Brown (17) steered Mooroopna towards victory.
Di Fede was finally removed on 39, but at 5-111 at that stage, victory was all but assured.
Two balls later, Boyle brought up the winning runs with a boundary to complete Mooroopna’s premiership defence in style.
“Two in a row, it probably hasn’t sunk in,” Preston said.
“But I’m sure over the next couple of days as we reflect and enjoy a bit of time together it is going to start sinking in.”
THE GAME
Waaia 115 (Damian Atkins 28, David Gilmour 25, Brad Boyle 3-13, Aaron Di Fede 3-35) lt Mooroopna 5-116 (Aaron Di Fede 39, Riley Moon 20, Corey Walpole 2-23)
STAR PLAYER
Aaron Di Fede (Mooroopna): Di Fede played a key role in helping the Cats clinch back-to-back B-grade premierships, delivering with bat and ball. His three wickets came during Mooroopna’s unbelivable 6-1 spell, and his knock of 39 was one the pillars of his side’s run chase and the top score on the day.