Sydney Grade Final: Bankstown Bulldogs take Belvidere Cup

Despite frequent rain interruptions and a determined St. George fightback, the Bankstown Sports Club-sponsored Bulldogs clinched the Belvidere Cup in a thriller at Bankstown Oval last weekend.

Failing light and an interminable last wicket stand appeared set to deprive the locals of a well deserved victory in the final. However the advent of the new ball and a gem of a delivery from fired up paceman Wayne Holdsworth got the 'Doggies home in the nick of time.

The stunning victory has capped a magnificent season for Bankstown cricket which will live long in the memory of the district's cricket enthusiasts. Local legend Steve Waugh and his majestic brother Mark have been instrumental in Australia's World Cup success and a record-breaking string of Test match victories. Bankstown's Martin Shield, Foster and Creak under ten and eleven sides were successful, whilst the A.W. Green Shield side clinched back to back victories under the expert guidance of Ian Gill and Noel Trevena.

The under-sixteen champions have now won twenty games in succession and will be looking to complete an unprecedented treble of premierships next season. To add to this the opening of the new pavilion and grandstand has given Bankstown ground facilities second to none.

For Kevin Roberts' first grade side to win the premiership so convincingly despite the loss of Scott Thompson to Saints and the now accustomed absence of the Waugh twins was indeed a mighty Bulldog effort. Bankstown finished third on the competition ladder so needed to beat the Dragons to win the title.

They got off to a great start when play commenced on Friday morning after Kevin Roberts won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat on a very good pitch in hot conditions. Former Bankstownian Scott Thompson bowled with plenty of fire and beat the bat several times early on. However just when the Bulldog openers appeared to have weathered the storm prolific rungetter Vaughan Williams was out to a juggling catch behind off the bowling of Thompson for 13.

Corey Richards joined Anthony Smith at the crease and the pair appeared to be getting the upper hand when Thompson struck again trapping Richards lbw for 21. Allrounder Matt Betsey worked the ball around effectively on both sides of the wicket to wrest the initiative from the Dragons. Unfortunately he played all over a yorker and was bowled for 44 but the 'Dogs appeared very much in control at 3-162 especially with Smith slipping into top gear. Betsey pounded seven sweetly timed boundaries in his entertaining knock and once again showed what a wonderful acquisition he has been for the 'Dogs this season.

Anthony Smith repeatedly punished the Dragons with his trademark square cuts together with some powerful cover drives but a superb offcutter from Thompson with the second new ball saw him chop the ball onto his stumps after reaching 90. Smith pounded no less than thirteen delightful boundaries to notch his highest first grade score and his timely innings was full of typical Bulldog grit and determination . However the crowd was most disappointed that the hard hitting opener was dismissed just ten short of his maiden top grade century but his knock proved to be a vital one.

Wicketkeeper Shane Duff got his favorite glide through the gully working well but eventually succumbed to a slips catch off the same shot for 23 runs in just 47 minutes aggressive batting. Kevin Roberts decided to take the initiative and launched a savage onslaught on the Dragons attack in company with the reliable allrounder Greg Trevena and at stumps the 'Dogs were really barking at 5-258.

When play resumed on Saturday Roberts once again led by example with some typically stylish off and straight drives. He cruised to 72 with nine spectacular boundaries and looked set for another triple figure score when he snicked a catch to wicketkeeper Pilon.

Trevena powered on relentlessly with his signature off drives but lost Nathan Bracken and David Freedman before finding a most unlikely ally in the form of number 11 Wayne Holdsworth. Trevena has been in sensational form with the bat in recent weeks plundering a century against Petes and guiding the 'Dogs to a crucial draw against the Tigers in the semi. He put on 31 runs for the last wicket with the irrepressible 'Cracker' and it was only the return of Scott Thompson which brought about his demise for a valuable 47.

Holdsworth remained not out 13 and brought a roar from the crowd with a sensational straight drive for six which thundered past the sightboard and the Bulldogs were delighted to finish with an imposing 361 runs.

The Dragons started off confidently enough but when the score had reached 27 Nathan Bracken pulled off a sensational piece of fielding to run out Catalano. Bracks dived full length to intercept the ball and in the blink of an eye had fired in a bullet like return which caught the astonished opener well short of his ground. The fired up Bulldogs had further cause for celebration when Wayne Holdsworth produced a gem of a delivery to get the vital wicket of Rummans who was well caught behind by Duff for a first ball duck.

An enthralling period of play ensued with Wayne Holdsworth hurtling down short pitched deliveries in an attempt to get NSW opener Van Diensen caught on the fence from his favorite hook shot. In a sensational over he plundered 20 from just five deliveries including successive hook shots for six the second of which soared over the groundsman's shed and onto Chapel Road. Much to his credit and despite the ferocity of the onslaught Holdsworth persevered and was rewarded when the final ball of the over was sent spiralling into the safe hands of Corey Richards and the Bulldogs were back on top.

Matt Betsey was thrown into the fray and quickly struck when Brad McNamara snicked a delivery into the reliable hands of Ken Hall and Saints had slumped to be 4-95. Worse was to follow for the Dragons when Nathan Bracken produced an absolute snorter of a delivery which crashed into Scott Thompson's leg stump. Betsey then topped off a great day for the 'Doggies when he trapped Pilon in front of his stumps as Saints slumped to 6-130 when play was called off due to bad light.

It appeared a mere formality for Bankstown to wrap up the innings and win the Belvidere Cup on Sunday but in a cruel twist of fate Mother Nature intervened and as the rain bucketed down the 'Dogs spirits sank whilst the Dragons got chirpier with every cloudburst. However the weather eventually cleared and two quick wickets got the 'Dogs barking straight away.

Bracken shattered the stumps of the troublesome Saints skipper Ryan and Betsey had Hill brilliantly caught in the gully by Kevin Roberts. When Greg Trevena sprawled full length to snap up a spectacular catch the Bulldogs barking had reached a crescendo and the champagne was chilling nicely for the imminent celebrations.

However much to their credit the Dragons last pair of Wooden and Wark held the Bulldogs at bay for 98 frustrating minutes. They batted with great determination and, with the light deteriorating rapidly, looked every chance of pulling off a miraculous premiership winning fightback. However the advent of the second new ball saw Holdsworth and Bracken regain the initiative and threaten danger.

Holdsworth had a confident lbw shout turned down by umpire Taufel in his first over with the new cherry but much to his jubilation saw the finger raised in his second over when he trapped Wooden plumb in front of the sticks and the celebrations began.

Matt Betsey won the prestigious Benaud Medal in a tight contest from Anthony Smith and the Bulldog pacemen. Betsey finished with 3-22 whilst Bracken snared 3-48 and Holdsworth 3-70. The tall left arm speedster Nathan Bracken has outstanding potential and the NSW selectors will be looking to him to spearhead the Blues attack next season. The old war-horse Wayne Holdsworth has now taken a record 407 wickets in first grade for the Bulldogs with plenty more to come as he enters the twilight of his career.

Kevin Roberts thanked the Dragons for their wholehearted effort and made special mention of Brian Freedman, Marty Klumpp and Eris Dignam the most capable administrators in Sydney Grade cricket. He was lavish in his praise for the Bulldogs especially the fact that every team member made a contribution in the final. The affable skipper thanked Bankstown Sports Club for their support and groundsman Warwick Starr for his hard work and dedication and was full of praise for the two best umpires in the land Darrell Hair and Simon Taufel.

The dressing room reverberated to the sounds of the Bulldogs theme song including a special rendition which was sung to Mark Waugh on his mobile phone in New Zealand.

Very popular allrounder Brad McNamara announced his retirement after a long and distinguished career with the Dragons and NSW, whilst the late night frolicking around Bankstown Oval caused much merriment and amusement. The Bankstown-Canterbury Cricket Club has a long and proud tradition and to have won the premiership for the third time in seven years is a mighty effort especially with twenty teams in the competition and the perennial absence of the wonderful Waugh twins.

All grade cricketers dream of getting their hands on the Belvidere Cup but amazingly Kevin Roberts and Ken Hall have each been in five Belvidere Cup winning teams. Hopefully they will make it six apiece next season.