Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club has forever etched their name into the history of the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association with four senior premierships.
The YMCC contested every Grand Final across the four grades and were victorious in all four. The four premierships are a new page in the WDCA history, as Yarrawonga Mulwala became the first club in history to win all four senior premierships in the one season.
The Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club across all grades wore two black arm bands as a mark of respect for the passing of A Grade player Matt Casey’s grandmother and club stalwart from the YDCA Martin Casey’s mother and for Jim Drake, whose son Michael has been part of the cricket landscape in YDCA and more recently at the YMCC, both passed away before the Grand Final.
Saturday saw the C Grade record an emotional premiership with a 1 run victory; while B Grade scored an impressive victory to win by 65 runs.
Then in Saturday/Sunday two day grand finals, A Grade scored a 2-wicket win; winning on the third last ball of the day and A Reserve won by 31 runs taking the final wicket in the sixth last over of the day.
In A Grade, B Grade and C Grade, Yarrawonga Mulwala defeated Delatite, while in A Reserve it was Rovers United Bruck whom Yarrawonga Mulwala defeated.
A Grade claim epic premiership
A thrilling 2 wicket win is how season 2020/2021 A Grade was decided.
Playing for the Geoff Welch Cup, Yarrawonga Mulwala defeated Delatite in a Grand Final at the Norm Minns Oval in Wangaratta for the history books. The season decider came down to the final over before a winner emerged and it was Yarrawonga Mulwala who were the A Grade Premiers for season 2020/2021.
Day One started with Delatite winning the toss and electing to bat on a good wicket.
James Irvine and Angus McMillan opened the bowling for the YMCC and after 16 overs with 6 maidens, McMillan claimed the opening wicket of Earl Ree Gooding who was the batsman of the year in average and aggregate with the score at 1 for 24.
More tight bowling saw Matt McCabe replace Irvine and in his sixth over, McCabe had Nic Scales caught and Delatite were 2 for 36 and then 3 for 40 when Corey McIntosh had Delatite Captain Chris Anderson out for 4.
Delatite batsman Joel Sanford and Joe Cousins joined at the crease and in a rear-guard action steered the team past fifty and then after the tea break past 100.
With the score at 3 for 103 from 51 overs, rain caused a cessation in play. After a short 16-minute break, the YMCC returned to the bowling crease and with the score on 121, James Irvine removed Sanford for 31.
With a shift in momentum, a 24-run partnership ended when Cousins who made a great 73 was dismissed, again LBW to Irvine.
Irvine was at a full head of steam and took a brilliant caught and bowled to have Purcell out for 2 and then Mahoney was caught by Brock McCabe off the bowling of McIntosh and the Delatite team were 7 for 153 with 6 overs remaining in the innings.
McIntosh claimed his third wicket with Thomson out for 0; and after a 13-run partnership between Lach Scales and Matt Stevenson the Delatite team were 172, when Irvine claimed his fourth wicket, that of Scales for 0.
After their allotted 75 overs, Delatite finished 9 for 176.
Bowling figures for YMCC were Irvine 4 for 66 off 23 overs; McIntosh 3 for 11 off 8 overs; Angus McMillan a marathon 1 for 47 off 23 overs; Matt McCabe 1 for 20 off 11 overs; Brock McCabe 0 for 18 off 6 overs; Caleb Mitchell 0 for 11 off 4 overs and Harry Wheeler 0 for 3 off 1 over.
Day two saw the YMCC take to the batting crease and needing 177 for victory from 75 overs.
The run chase got off to a shaky start when opener Ben Welsh was bowled in the second over and the YMCC were 1 for 2. Fellow opener Reid Clarke was joined by Matt Casey and they righted the ship in a 29 run, 10 over partnership.
Clarke was the next wicket to fall caught behind for 11. Harry Wheeler came and was stiff to be dismissed LBW with the score at 3 for 34.
Corey McIntosh came to the wicket and joined Casey in a vital 106 run partnership, that yielded 9 boundaries and five threes along with 10 twos.
In the 61st over McIntosh was dismissed for 60 with his half century coming from 122 balls, while Casey also passed fifty off 143 balls in a great partnership.
McIntosh fell with the score on 140 and Casey fell 7 overs later for a team high score of 71 and the YMCC were 5 for 158 and soon 6 for 159 when Caleb Mitchell fell for 1.
With 6 overs left to play in the 2020/2021 A Grade season, the Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club required 14 runs for victory.
Brock McCabe was joined at the wicket by Angus McMillan and partnered to move the score to 170 before McMillan was dismissed for 7 and then two runs later McCabe was dismissed for 13 and the YMCC were 8 for 172.
With 5 runs needed, the YMCC had just 7 balls to score the required runs; Matt McCabe was able to score a 2 off the final ball of the 74th over and with 1 over remaining the YMCC need 3 runs to win a memorable Grand Final.
A near run out was the result from two dot balls to start the final over before James Irvine caressed a ball between fielder and level the score with 2 runs before Irvine hit the winning run and secured the greatest victory of them all with just 2 balls remaining in the game.
Captain Reid Clarke spoke of the unity in the team and the YMCC as a club in his acceptance speech when receiving the Geoff Welch A Grade Premiership Cup.
Corey McIntosh with 60 runs and 3 for 11 off 8 overs was awarded Man of the Match.
The premiership team was as follows: Reid Clarke (c), Ben Welsh, Matt Casey, Harry Wheeler, Corey McIntosh, Brock McCabe, Caleb Mitchell, Angus McMillan, James Irvine, Matt McCabe, Kyle Archibald and Team Manager Stephen Hicks.
A Reserve continue dominant era
Yarrawonga Mulwala have continued a dominance of the A Reserve in Wangaratta and District Cricket. After winning the last two premierships, the 2020/2021 team etched themselves in history with a 31-run victory against Rovers United Bruck.
Playing at the WJ Findlay Oval, the home ground of Rovers United Bruck, the YMCC batted first and compiled an impressive 180 runs. Brendan Hill and Zach Moore opened the batting; however Hill was out with the score on 5 and then Moore fell and the YMCC were 2 for 8. Mitch Collins Bye was able to add six before he was out with the score on 21.
A 50 run rescue innings partnership between Jacob and brother Rory Bartlett steadied the YMCC innings. Rory was out for 34 and the score was 4 for 71.
Jacob added 7 runs with Jack Kennedy before Kennedy was out and the score was 5 for 78. A 52-run partnership between Bartlett and Patrick Martin pushed the score past 130 before Bartlett was out for a great 50 from 141 balls in an anchoring innings.
Five runs later Martin was out for 30 and the score was 135. Young gun Lachlan Phillips batted brilliantly and along with Bailey Frauenfelder and Brady Bartlett were able to push the score to 180 with Phillips 30 not out.
With the ball, Yarrawonga Mulwala knew they needed to bowl well and were able to take wickets with 2 at 18 runs and then a third and at 3 for 23, Rovers United Bruck was on the back foot.
Rovers had a rear-guard action as Annett and Cobain pushed the score to 80; before Phillips removed Annett for 25 and then McCarthy for a second ball duck.
Four Rovers United Bruck wickets fell in the space of 11 runs and they were 8 for 91. Adam McNamara along with Haddrick settled and progressed to 133 before McNamara was out for a team high 36.
The final wicket fell with the score on 149 from 62 overs and the YMCC A Reserve were declared premiers by 31 runs.
Captain and YMCC Senior Coach Brendan Lewis heaped praise on every member of his team that played their role and guaranteed the YMCC a historic page in its and the WDCA echelons.
Man of the Match was Jacob “Pud” Bartlett who score 50 runs.
The Premiership Team was: Brendan Lewis (C), Zach Moore, Brendan Hill, Jacob Bartlett, Mitch Collins Bye, Rory Bartlett, Jack Kennedy, Patrick Martin, Lachlan Phillips, Brady Bartlett, Bailey Frauenfelder.
B Grade saviour sweet success
The B Grade team from Yarrawonga Mulwala have tasted the ultimate in success with a 65-run victory against Delatite at Bill O’Callaghan Oval in Wangaratta.
The YMCC batted first and were able to put together 7 for 169 from their 36 overs. An opening partnership between Justin O’Brien and Ben Irvine laid the foundation for a good score.
Irvine was electrifying with a half century from 43 balls in the partnership which netted 74 with O’Brien. Irvine was the first wicket to fall, on 74; Ben Kennedy joined O’Brien and his 11 runs were part of a 21-run partnership before Kennedy was dismissed when the score was 2 for 96.
O’Brien continued to play his shots and compiled 37 runs before he was dismissed and the team score was 3 for 125.
The middle order of the YMCC all contributed with Geoff Montgomery with 2, Jobe Fraser with a great knock of 24 from 30 balls, Cooper Bennett 10 and Lach Elliott 11 not out.
Jett Peters contributed 5 and Captain Courageous Gary Browning finished 4 not out in the total of 7 for 169.
At the bowling crease, Yarrawonga Mulwala took control early with wickets at 12, 20 and 33 giving the YMCC the upper hand, Cooper Bennett with 2 and Harry Barker with 11 wickets.
A 21-run partnership saw Delatite move to 54 before Mahoney was out for 12 off the bowling of Browning.
With the score moved along to 70, dangerman O’Loughlan was the fifth wicket out for 26 from 70 balls; thanks to a clever team run out. A 20-run partnership followed before Delatite lost 4 for 12 to be 9 for 104 from their 36 overs.
Reece Norman claimed crucial middle order wickets including second top scorer Smith for 21.
The bowling figures were: Reece Norman 3 for 25 off 8 overs, Cooper Bennett 2 for 19 off 8 overs, Harry Barker 2 for 21 off 8 overs, Browning 1 for 10 off 8 overs and Tom Lovell 0 for 23 off 4 overs. Captain Gary (Gus) Browning spoke about the number of players who had played B Grade during the season and the progression of players throughout the year which culminated in premiership success.
Player of the Match was Ben Irvine for his blistering 52 from 43 balls.
The Premiership team was: Gus Browning (C), Justin O’Brien, Ben Irvine, Ben Kennedy, Jobe Fraser, Geoff Montgomery, Cooper Bennett, Lach Elliott, Jett Peters, Tom Lovell, Reece Norman and Harry Barker.
Historic first premiership for C Grade
A first WDCA Premiership was reward for the C Grade at Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club.
The win was built on previous years’ experience and a commitment from players to strive for the ultimate success.
The win was sweeter with Captain Ben Pickering dedicating the Premiership to Ged Martin who was a long time Yarrawonga Mulwala and WDCA executive member who passed away two seasons ago and current playing member Sean Mclarty who has battled ill health.
Folklore will tell the tale of the 2020/2021 C Grade Premiership team and their clash with Delatite at Wareena Park in Wangaratta; and their 1 run victory.
Yarrawonga Mulwala batted first and were dismissed for just 88 in 29.4 overs.
Number 8 batsman Dennis Phibbs top scored with 29 from 26 balls while Peter Brear compiled 13 from 37 opening the innings.
Captain Ben Pickering hit 11 from 23 balls and Sean “Harry” Mclarty scoring 11 from 18 balls.
Phibbs and Pickering scored the highest partnership with 42 for the 7th wicket. The final four wicket fell for just 3 runs to finish all out for 88.
In response with the ball, the onlookers thought the YMCC chances were slim with Delatite required 89 from 36 overs for victory.
The YMCC started well with 2 wickets for just 9 runs with Bozzola claiming 2 wickets to eventually have figures of 2 for 16 off 8 overs.
A 31-run partnership guided the Delatite team to 40 before they lost wickets at 40, 47 and 48 to be 5 for 64.
With just 25 runs needed for victory, the YMCC needed 5 wickets and perhaps divine interventions.
Jyda House removed top scorer and opener Bennett for a game high 30 runs and when Craig Frauenfelder claimed a wicket, Delatite were 7 for 72.
15 runs were scored and took Delatite close to the finish line and at 7 for 85; champagne corks were heard to be popping from Mansfield. Enter GLT Ted Graham who in his final over of his 8 over quoter wrote a new page into the YMCC and WDCA history books.
His final over went like this: first ball was 2 runs taking the score to 7 for 87. Second ball wicket, third ball no run, fourth ball wicket, fifth ball no runs and at 9 for 87 needing just 2 runs for victory, the final ball of the over was a wicket!
Graham’s final over reads like this 3 for 2 from 6 balls and with the final wicket; Yarrawonga Mulwala had won their first ever C Grade premiership in the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association and by just 1 run.
Man of the Match was Ted Graham who took 5 for 34 off 8 overs; other bowling figures were, Bozzola 2 for 16 off 7 overs, Jyda House 1 for 12 off 8 overs, Rod Peters 1 for 13 off 8 overs and Craig Frauenfelder 1 for 6 from 1 over.
The Premiership Team was: Ben Pickering (C), Peter Brear, Josh Bozzola, Steve Lappin, Rocky Leith, Ted Graham, Sean Mclarty, Dennis Phibbs, Jyda House, Rod Peters, Austin Willett, and Craig Frauenfelder.