A month ago, Footscray United was striving to avoid relegation from the VTCA west A1.
Now the Bulldogs are just one win away from a premiership, following a stunning transformation over the past three games.
“No one can believe we’re here,” Bulldogs batsman Stuart Ainge told Star Weekly. “We were bottom with three rounds to go and were playing Royal Park-Brunswick in what we thought was going to be a relegation decider.
“Then we went outright and outright and the other results fell our way, so we ended up second after the season.”
United carried that form into the finals, cruising to a 76-run win over Werribee Centrals in the semi final at Scovell Reserve on Sunday.
The Bulldogs had too much firepower with the bat, making 9-262 on day one to set up the win.
Steve McKay produced a captain’s knock for the Dogs.
He formed an innings-changing 56-run fourth wicket partnership with Robert Lasslett (27) to take the wind out of the sails of the highly-rated
Centrals bowlers early, then proceeded to dispatch them to all sections of the ground.
“It was quite wet early, so the wicket was doing a bit and the new ball was hard work, we were 3-30, but McKay and another former junior of ours, Robert Lasslett, put on a vital partnership,” Ainge said.
“Steve’s innings was excellent, he did the hard work early and went on with it.”
That partnership meant the aggressive Geeth Silva got to the crease by the time the wicket had flattened out.
Silva, who would stake a claim for man of the match for his all-round performance, entertained with a fast 67.
“The way he plays is very aggressive,” Ainge said. “To get through to the point where the wicket had dried out before he had to came in was crucial and he cashed in.”
Werribee Centrals had a similarly constructed innings.
The Centurions had a shake start before they were rescued by Brad Broughton (78) and Shaun Jennings (36).
The pair put on 69 for the third wicket to give the visitors a fighting chance.
Unlike United with Silva, the Centurions did not have a finisher and were bowled out well short for 186.
Silva hammered the final nail in the Centurions coffin for this season with 4-39 off 19.3 overs.
“We were behind the eight ball at one point,” Ainge said. “They needed about 100 off the last 20 overs with four or five wickets left and Broughton was still in.
“He was obviously the big wicket to get and once we did, we were in the box seat from then on and managed to get the last couple of wickets really quickly.”
Footscray United will meet minor premiers Altona Roosters in a four-day grand final at Hanmer Reserve starting on Saturday.
The Roosters charged into the big dance with a 171-run annihilation of Williamstown CYMS at Langshaw Reserve.
Leigh Lewis was the composer of the show for the Roosters with 8-16 off 14.1 overs to have CYs all out for 66.
The Roosters powered to 4-237, led by Hamon Uppal (78) and Chris Dine (64), before CYs conceded defeat.
In senior division, Yarraville Club’s bid for a premiership three-peat is over after a 41-run loss to South Caulfield.
The Clubbers were bowled out for 160 in search of South Caulfield’s 201.
It was a bit of revenge for South, who had lost the past two grand finals to the Clubbers.
In the north west division, Druids obliterated Airport West-St Christophers by 70 runs, setting up a grand final clash with Keilor.
In west B1, West Newport shocked previously unbeaten Deer Park to move through to season decider, where it will meet Footscray ANA.
Meanwhile, Williamstown Congs will become a new member of the VTCA, making the move across from the WDCA.
The VTCA is looking to further expand its competition through the west and north-west in the coming seasons.
Check out Star Weekly’s photo gallery from the VTCA west A1 HERE
