Barkly Street Uniting’s incredible turnaround has continued with the club through to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield grand final.
Not that long ago the club was struggling to field any teams and could have easily folded. The Dragons also had their club rooms damaged by flooding.
That meant little come Sunday after as they won through to the grand final.
Dragons secretary Jeffrey Law said it had been a long time coming.
“It’s the first time our first XI have been in a grand final in 20 years,” he said. “It’s fantastic for the boys.
“This is a fairly new bunch of boys who have been at the club, most of them two years. They have gelled so well.
“Lou Raffaele has done so well in helping them work together and it’s resulted in a grand final.”
Law said there had been a lot of perseverance to keep the club going and it is now celebrating its 100th year.
After improving last season, Law said they had been hoping to play finals this season.
He said making a grand final was taking it a step further.
The Dragons were sent in on day one of its semi final against Donnybrook on Saturday.
They made 205 as they were bowled out in the 72nd over.
Shehan Hirudhika top scored with 62.
Law said everyone contributed in the innings.
“It was good,” he said. “No one other than Shehan batted extremely well. He and Damien Yze had a good partnership.
“There were a lot of starts as no one went on with it.”
Law said they thought they had enough runs on the board if past experience was to go by.
They had played Donnybrook twice in the regular season and won, including bowling them out for 95 in the final game of the regular season.
Law was exactly right as Donnybrook was bowled out for just 105 having lost a couple of wickets late on day one.
Jack Cook took six wickets for the Dragons.
The Dragons will face top side Pascoe Vale Central in the grand final, after Pascoe Vale beat Burnside Springs United in the other semi final.
Law said anything can happen in a grand final.
He said they would stick to what works at training this week.
In another positive for the Dragons, their under-13s claimed a premiership while their under-15s just fell short in their grand final.
“Hopefully we can top if off with a flag next week.”
