The grand final between the Magpies and reigning premiers Northerners at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve went deep into the second day, but Euroa’s first-innings total of 297 proved insurmountable for the Jets.
A gallant Northerners bowed out 99 runs short in the 75th over of day two, and Euroa co-captains Jye Bjorksten and Nicholas Hill, who was judged best-on-ground for his 82 runs off 229 deliveries, proudly lifted the Young Shield.
Club president Kirrily McCombe was on the edge of her seat across the two-day final, but said the belief in the side was unwavering after a difficult 2024-25 campaign that saw the club drop down from the Haisman Shield.
“Everyone is just rapt with what they’ve managed to do and the fact that there was a few people from Euroa,” McCombe said.
“The people who have been around the club for a long time knew that they could do it.
“They just had to believe in themselves, and they did.
“To go from last year to what happened yesterday was just amazing.
“It means a lot to the boys and also to our club with all the hard work we've put into it over the last couple of years.”
Batting first, Euroa openers Will Jackson and skipper Hill weathered the new ball for eight overs before Josh Sidebottom found the the edge of Jackson, seeing Lachie Hill stride to the middle of the ground.
The two Hills crafted a 58-run partnership before Lachie Hill lobbed a shot to cover off the bowling of Trent Sidebottom for 29.
The Pies’ skipper continued to anchor the innings and raised the bat for a pivotal half-century after 157 deliveries at the crease, his 96-run partnership with Josh Robertson frustrating the Jets bowlers for 38 overs.
Robertson holed out for a well-made 41 and an over later Hill followed him, Jake Davidson finding the edge and ending Hill’s stand at 82.
Cohen Paul played a pivotal hand himself with 75 runs – including six boundaries – while a 34-run cameo from Ryan Hill kept the runs ticking, but timely wickets from Josh Sidebottom and Jake Buckland saw the Magpies lose 4-15.
Still, the Magpies were able to post an imposing 298 for the Northerners to chase, and paceman Darby Wilson was hellbent on ensuring they didn’t jump out to a fast start.
Wilson snapped up the first three wickets in quick order to have the Jets in early trouble at 3-30 before Stuart Turner (30) and Jake Davidson (37) went to work getting back on track.
Their partnership was snapped Ryan Hill, and when Cohen Paul sent Davidson back to the sheds it looked as if Euroa had one hand on the cup.
Northerners’ Preston Hall ensured the Pies would need to earn their win, launching the fightback with 80 runs.
The only issue was the depleting partners at the other end.
Wilson picked up his fourth wicket, a profitable partnership with Simon Marshall ended at the hands of Cohen Paul, and B-grade league best-and-fairest Sham Dadallage chimed in with two wickets of his own to make it an impossible ask for the Jets.
Hill swooped in with the final wicket, bowling Hall to end the game and confirm the magpies status as 2025-26 premiers.
They had missed out on the T20 and One-Day titles - they weren’t missing out on the big one.
THE GAME
Euroa 297 (Nicholas Hill 82, Cohen Paul 75, Josh Sidebottom 4-68) def. Northerners 198 (Preston Hall 80, Jake Davidson 37, Darby Wilson 4-53)
STAR PLAYER:
Nicholas Hill (Euroa): The Magpies co-captain was best-on-ground for a reason. A marathon dig of 229 deliveries that yielded 82 runs and laid the platform for what was an imposing grand final total. Leading from the front.
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