Tara Murray
The move to the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association has proved to be a good one for Altona Sports.
The club’s first and second XIs moved to the NWMCA this season and will play in grand finals this weekend.
President Liam Brennan said it was an amazing achievement.
“It’s the first time we’ve had two-day teams in five or six years,” he said.
“It was a learning curve. Half the guys in both teams haven’t played in a two-dayer ever, for the rest it has been five or six years.
“It was a real unknown for the first XI. Pretty strong group from year before with a couple of recruits coming in.
“The second XI only had three or four core guys, we didn’t know what to make of it.”
The first XI which plays in the Graham Muir Shield defeated RMIT to make it through to the grand final.
Altona Sports made 8-302 from their over before bowling RMIT out for 118.
The second XI who play in the Barrie Clissold Shield.
They defeated Pascoe Vale United in what Brennan said was one of the best wins in the club’s history.
Pascoe Vale made 3-317 from its overs.
Sports was in trouble at 4-88 when Mitchell Ellis and Lucas Meiers came together.
The two put on 170 for the fifth wicket with Sports eventually finishing 8-321.
Ellis made 117.
Brennan said both sides entered their respective grand finals confident.
“We need to put a bit score on the board and let the bowlers do the job,’ he said.
The club already has one premiership this season, with their fifth XI winning the premiership on the weekend.
The side had more than 3000 games experience and beat a previously undefeated Grand United side.
