Tara Murray
The records continue to be broken by the Western Crusaders who on Saturday won a sixth straight Gridiron Victoria Vic Pro Bowl.
The dominant force in gridiron in Victoria, the Crusaders best was again on show on Saturday against the Predators in the final.
The Predators tried to dictate play early, but the Crusaders offensive strength shone through when they had the chance.
With a lead at the break, the Crusaders put their foot down in the second half to come away with a 50-16 and another Vic Bowl.
The Vic Bowl was the club’s ninth since 1999.
Crusaders Tyson Garnham said every single Vic Bowl is special and everyone is different. This season the Crusaders went through undefeated.
“It’s good and in our eyes it’s on to the next one,” he said. “It’s number seven for me, I was part of 2007 as well.
“There’s three or four of us who have been involved in all six in the run.”
Garnham said the match was challenging at the start with the Predators trying to control the play and take time off the clock.
It meant the Crusaders offensive spent plenty of time on the side lines unable to get on. But when they did they made an impact.
“When they did, the offence played really well and scored on pretty much every chance in the first half,” Garnham said.
“We had about 10 plays for three touchdowns. Let us get a lead heading into half time and they weren’t able to come back from there and the score became what it did.”
Garnham said they rotated the bench in the second half to try and get as many players on as they could in the championship game.
The Crusaders, who ran with two sides during the regular season, were limited to just 40 players on the game squad for Saturday, meaning some players missed out.
Garnham said every player that took to the field was able to play their part and it was disappointing that the others who missed out didn’t get that opportunity.
Rowan Huggins was named the most valuable player of the match, with his performance including two touchdown catches.
The win was extra special with the club claiming its first Vic Bowl at home, hosting the game for the first time.
Garnham said they’re hoping it’s not the last time either having had the club rooms recently upgraded, meaning they are now up to standard.
“To have it on our home ground was really good,” he said. “The founder of the club was there and there were a lot of spectators and a lot of guys that came to watch, it was good.
“Hopefully we can have it here again next year, we all enjoyed it.”
The senior premiership was one of two for the Crusaders, with their under-14s also finishing the season undefeated.
It was a disappointing ending to the under-14s season, with their grand final opponent forfeiting, meaning they didn’t play in a grand final.
Garnham said it was disappointing for the boys season to finish like that and had they known it was going to happen, some of the players could have played in the under-17s preliminary final last week, which they lost.
Garnham said the club would look to go back to the drawing board for next season, as it tries to come home with three premierships with plenty of talent throughout the ranks.
“Every year we reset and get new people in and we have some retire,” he said. “We try to continue to build and get as many people in as we can.
“A lot will look to play state competition in between. Every year is different and we’re not sure what next year will look like.
“Hopefully we go again next year.”
