Echuca’s back-to-back flag bid thwarted

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Got him: Echuca’s Zac Hegarty celebrates a wicket. Photo: Josh Huntly

Echuca’s dreams of back-to-back flags were thwarted by Girgarre in Saturday’s C-grade grand final.

The minor premier was clinical at Northern Oval, claiming a nine-wicket victory to rectify last season’s semi-final exit.

Girgarre opted to bowl first and the gamble paid off, with Echuca rolled for 73 runs in the 32nd over.

Simon Doolan’s 2-2 off five overs was pivotal, but all of Girgarre’s bowlers were involved with a wicket in a dominant showing.

At 3-10 after six overs, Echuca’s Easton Carlile provided the resistance with a team-high 22 runs, the only batsman to progress into double figures.

But 73 runs would fail to be enough to defend, and despite the loss of Lee Kempinski early to the bowling of Echuca’s Zac Hegarty, Girgarre’s McCready (32 runs) and Mackenzie Cowley (26) were untroubled in the run chase to track down the required runs within 14 overs.

Despite the loss, Echuca skipper Rick Nathan was pleased with his young side’s progress throughout the season.

“Obviously playing a younger team for most of the season, it was a great achievement to get to the grand final,” Nathan said.

“It was good to see young players like Delaney Laffy, Gus Haswell and the Hensen boys (Ky and Ben) come through.”

C-grade grand final

Girgarre 1-74(cc) (M. McCready 32*, M.W. Cowley 26*) d Echuca 73 (S. Doolan 2-2)