Seddon has sprung one of the surprises of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association finals to reach the north A1 big dance from fourth position.
The boys from Harris Street toppled minor premiers Altona Roosters by 94 runs in a one-sided semi-final at Langshaw Reserve at the weekend.
They have been automatically promoted to the north division and have set up a four-day grand final showdown with Sunshine Druids to decide the premiership.
Seddon secretary Rolf Tamburro said his side had the grand prize in its sights.
“They were obviously rapt, but it was subdued joy,” he said. “These boys played and won a grand final about three years ago.
“The semi-final win was good … if they hadn’t made a semi before, they would probably be whooping it up. But they know the bigger picture involved. There’s a lot of experienced blokes in that team who know the job is only half done.”
Seddon set up Saturday’s win with 268 from 79.2 overs.
The batsmen struggled early, slumping to 3-44, but a middle-order revival took the game away from the Roosters.
Captain Dellon Udugamasooriya sparked the fightback with a close-to- run-a-ball 47.
“He played that cliched captain’s knock,” Tamburro said. “He played some great attacking shots and really took the pressure off.”
Udugamasooriya’s knock paved the way for game breakers Tharindu Weerasinghe (69) and Malith Cooray (62).
On Sunday, Seddon’s defence of the total started as good as it could with the Roosters slumping to 4-15.
Weerasinghe and Brendan Major snared three wickets apiece, including two each of the Roosters’ top four.
Irrespective of the grand final outcome, Seddon will be elevated to the second tier of the VTCA next summer as a result of its semi-final victory.
But promotion will feel a tad empty if it is achieved without the flag.
“It’s nice to be promoted but the grand final is what they’ll remember,” Tamburro said.
