Moama reaches GMC promised land

Archie Teasdale and Rhys Drennan came together in the first innings with their side in a deep hole at 7-94, and would go on to add 51 runs as a pair.

Teasdale batted on and remained the not out batter on 49 in a man of the match performance as the Mowers finished the innings all out for 190.

Moama captain Joel Murphy was full of praise for the young pair who pulled Moama out of the fire on the biggest stage.

“Two young boys, both 18, both local boys who played all their juniors with the club, (for them) to come through in an A-grade grand final and bat like that together was unreal,” he said.

“For Archie to go on and get pretty well 50 and bat us to 190, a really competitive score, was just amazing and he's done so well.”

The match kicked off with Moama winning the toss on its home ground and opting to bat first.

BLU struck early through Jeremy Felmingham, removing the dangerous Russell Stockdale for just six runs, but Moama would go on to build a strong platform.

Fraser Buchanan added 21, Murphy 18, and Kobyn James 22, as the Mowers advanced to 2-72.

However, the loss of Buchanan triggered a batting slump, Braydee Hutchins claiming three consecutive scalps, including the threatening Anthony McMahon and Jack Russell, both for ducks in consecutive deliveries.

When James and Matt Saunders went to Kade Pearse, Moama was running desperately short on batting at 7-94.

In the game defining moment, Drennan and Teasdale saved the innings, putting on a 51-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Drennan made 23, while Teasdale stuck around with the tail to the bitter end, running out of partners one ball short of the allotted 50 overs, and one run short of his half century.

Moama would be bowled out for 190, a remarkable turnaround from its 7-94 start.

“(190 is) probably lower than what we were hoping for at the start of the day but from where we were at 7-90 to get to 190 we felt like we had all the momentum, and it was back our way after those last 15 overs,” Murphy said.

“We knew if we got a couple of quick wickets early that we’d put the pressure right on them.”

Aside from Hutchins’ and Pearse’s great spells, BLU got good production from Jeremy Felmingham (2-30) and Prateer Mehta (2-34), Liam Hamilton also grabbing a wicket.

BLU struggled to get a lot going throughout the chase, a wicket falling around every ten runs almost like clockwork over the first 25 overs.

The likes of captain Regis Chakabva (16) and Joel Felmingham (13) made starts but a constant assault from Anthony McMahon and Matt Saunders kept the Lions off balance, the pair combining for five of the first six wickets.

Similarly to the Moama innings, BLU started to find some resiliency with its back against the wall.

Liam Hamilton and Noah Turner were going well at seven down, before a miscommunication on a second run saw Hamilton run out for 11.

Jeremy Felmingham (14) tried to get the scoreboard moving along with Turner, but he holed out on the boundary, putting the Mowers a wicket from victory with BLU still needing 90 runs.

Turner marshalled the strike well, but eventually stopped protecting number 11 Braydee Hutchins in his quest for runs, Hutchins proving himself more than capable with a solid 12 not out.

Turner moved on to a team high 32 in a commendable 29-run last wicket stand, before fielding again proved the difference, coach Matt Saunders throwing down the stumps on a questionable single to send the Mowers to the promised land.

“Saunders had it swinging around corners, and he was bowling really well but then once it got to 25, 30 overs we lost a bit of a swing, and it got a bit flat out there, it was pretty good for batting so we had to work hard,” Murphy said.

“We worked hard on our fielding all year, and we haven't had many run-outs and this final series we had a couple of great run-outs and some really good catches so it feels like it's all paid off.”

McMahon topped the charts for Moama with 3-25, Saunders close behind with 2-14.

Clay McGregor, Jack Russell and Russell Stockdale also came away with wickets.

This is Moama’s first McMahon Shield since Goulburn Murray Cricket was formed for the 2012-13 season, with Rochester, Kyabram Fire Brigade and Echuca dominating the winners list until now.

Murphy and Moama were on the other side of things two years ago, the Moama captain giving the runner-up speech at the third of Echuca’s four straight premierships.

“This year everyone fully committed, everyone was all in from the very start,” Murphy said.

“We had a full team at training every Tuesday, every Thursday, and we just built so much belief throughout the year and even to be 7 for 90 in the grand final and to fight back is just amazing.

“I think we've learnt from that grand final a couple of years ago, we've been all in the whole season and I really feel like we've deserved this one.”