READ MORE - Last weekend's EVCA semi-final wrap
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
READ MORE - EVCA award winners
READ MORE - Final EVCA MVP top 50 rankings
SPRING Gully stands in the way of Sedgwick and a fairytale first premiership in its centenary season in this weekend's Emu Valley Cricket Association grand final at Marong.
It's the second-consecutive grand final meeting between the two clubs after the Crows won last year's decider by 81 runs.
The two sides have met twice this season, with the Rams comfortably winning both encounters by 60 runs and five wickets.
And the ledger is 3-0 in favour of the Rams if you include their Twenty20 win over Spring Gully.
Both the Crows and Rams head into the grand final off the back of solid semi-final victories last week.
Spring Gully belted United by 102 runs and Sedgwick defeated Emu Creek by three wickets.
The two sides are stacked with top-line talent with bat and ball and that was evident on Wednesday night when both the Crows and Rams had 11 players poll votes in the EVCA Player of the Year award.
The award was won by Spring Gully all-rounder Rhys Webb on 15 votes - five clear of a cluster of seven players who tied for second.
No.4 batsman Webb heads into the grand final with 810 runs for the season and coming off a semi-final 81 last week.
Webb (three), Brannon Stanford (one) and captain Alex Sutton (one) have all made centuries throughout the season for the Crows, who have been the EVCA's best performed side with the bat, while their bowling was strengthened by the mid-season return of Saheed Akolade (15 wickets).
For the Rams, this weekend presents yet another opportunity to finally breakthrough for the elusive flag that Sedgwick has been striving for since it was established in 1919.
The Rams have lost four grand finals in the previous 10 years and will be hoping for some luck at the toss this weekend.
In all four grand final defeats over the past decade the Rams have lost the toss and been forced to chase.
Should the Rams win at the weekend there will be no greater grand final story than that of 50-year-old stalwart Scott McKenzie, who has been striving since 1994 to win a premiership with the club.
And if the Rams - captained by Rick Ladson - do win, Brendan Dreschler can finally deliver on a promise he made as the first president of the re-formed Sedgwick in 1976-77.
Dreschler's promise made more than 40 years ago was to shout "18 gallons of beer" when the club wins its first flag.
Opener Greg Thomas (546) has been the Rams' best with the bat this season, while the bowling department has been spearheaded by recruit Peter Moore (21 wickets).
Play begins at 1.30pm Saturday and Sunday.
THE TEAMS
SPRING GULLY
ALEX SUTTON (c)
Runs: 303 Wickets: 13
Fielding: 7 dismissals
MVP points: 633
.......................................
SAHEED AKOLADE
Runs: 54 Wickets: 15
Fielding: 2 dismissals
MVP points: 374
.......................................
JOEL BISH
Runs: 175 Wickets: 0
Fielding: 2 dismissals
MVP points: 195
.......................................
LACHLAN BROOK
Runs: 319 Wickets: 0
Fielding: 4 dismissals
MVP points: 359
.......................................
JAMES FOX
Runs: 135 Wickets: 15
Fielding: 2 dismissals
MVP points: 455
.......................................
SHAUN MAKEPEACE
Runs: 100 Wickets: 0
Fielding: 2 dismissals
MVP points: 120
.......................................
BYRON PERRIN
Runs: 166 Wickets: 18
Fielding: 6 dismissals
MVP points: 586
.......................................
LIAM PILCHER
Runs: 25 Wickets: 4
Fielding: 1 dismissal
MVP points: 120
.......................................
NICK SKEEN
Runs: 52 Wickets: 26
Fielding: 4 dismissals
MVP points: 612
.......................................
BRANNON STANFORD
Runs: 371 Wickets: 0
Fielding: 20 dismissals
MVP points: 581
.......................................
RHYS WEBB
Runs: 810 Wickets: 14
Fielding: 13 dismissals
MVP points: 1220
.......................................
SEDGWICK
RICK LADSON (c)
Runs: 244 Wickets: 0
Fielding: 5 dismissals
MVP points: 294
.......................................
QUINTON BENTLEY
Runs: 7 Wickets: 13
Fielding: 1 dismissal
MVP points: 277
.......................................
DANIEL CHAMBERLAIN
Runs: 222 Wickets: 12
Fielding: 3 dismissals
MVP points: 492
.......................................
JUSTIN HANCOCK
Runs: 47 Wickets: 19
Fielding: 2 dismissals
MVP points: 447
.......................................
BAILEY ILSLEY
Runs: 58 Wickets: 0
Fielding: 4 dismissals
MVP points: 98
.......................................
JORDAN ILSLEY
Runs: 81 Wickets: 14
Fielding: 1 dismissal
MVP points: 371
.......................................
SIMON MARWOOD
Runs: 390 Wickets: 10
Fielding: 4 dismissals
MVP points: 630
.......................................
SCOTT MCKENZIE
Runs: 212 Wickets: 19
Fielding: 4 dismissals
MVP points: 632
.......................................
PETER MOORE
Runs: 112 Wickets: 21
Fielding: 3 dismissals
MVP points: 562
.......................................
ANDREW SHEEHAN
Runs: 338 Wickets: 6
Fielding: 5 dismissals
MVP points: 508
.......................................
GREG THOMAS
Runs: 546 Wickets: 1
Fielding: 7 dismissals
MVP points: 641
.......................................
SEASON MEETINGS:
Round 3 - Sedgwick 8-240 d Spring Gully 180
Round 7 - Sedgwick 5-129 d Spring Gully 9-127
.......................................
IN A NUTSHELL:
SPRING GULLY:
Won: 11 Lost: 2
Runs per wicket:
For - 31.89 Agst - 18.86
Batting first: 8-1
Batting second: 3-1
SEDGWICK:
Won: 11 Lost: 2ā
Runs per wicket:
For - 27.87 Agst - 19.13
Batting first: 6-1
Batting second: 5-1
.......................................
Selection:
Sedgwick in year 100 to finally break its drought.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.