MATCH-defining bowling performances from Hank Schlaghecke and Anthony Jackson helped rampant Woodford secure the Sungold Cup.
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The Eels are today $15,000 richer after they defeated Grampians in the final of the inter-association Twenty20 tournament at Allansford yesterday.
Woodford, the Warrnambool and District representative in the tournament, posted 110 from 19.4 overs batting first.
Adam Wines top scored with 22 and Luke Wines made 20 while Sam Kerber took 4-11.
Grampians, the Hamilton and District representative, started their run chase patiently.
But save for some lusty hitting from Ty Gilmore, they never really threatened and were all out for 80.
Gilmore made 14 and Heinrich Joyce reached 17, while Schlaghecke, 4-8, and Jackson, 4-16, were devastating with the ball.
Schlaghecke took the final wicket, removing James Povey lbw for 1, to spark jubilant scenes mid-pitch.
Woodford playing coach John Houston said the $15,000 was “huge” and would “really set the club up for the next few years”.
Houston lauded the efforts of Schlaghecke and Jackson, who were the key reasons a modest total proved defendable. “He (Schlaghecke) is a lion-hearted bloke. He was one of the reasons why I came to the club, he works so hard,” he said.
“He’s really trying to do well for himself to get into the Country Week side. He’s getting rewards for his hard work, he’s a tireless worker.
“In all honestly, Jacko is a division one cricketer but with the young blokes we’ve got we needed a good leader in division two.”
Houston said Grampians were a worthy grand finalist, although his words were scant consolation to a side which had its chances.
Pumas all-rounder Will Collins said the $5000 runner-up prize would be valuable for the Dunkeld-based club.
“It’s absolutely fantastic, especially for our club, we’ve just started renovations on our new clubrooms, they’re almost done,” he said.
Collins said a lack of partnerships proved the Pumas’ downfall after a “fantastic” bowling and fielding effort.
“I think our top score was 17, no one really got going with the batting and we kept losing wickets,” he said.
“There was no five or 10-over stage where we had two people there together that got 30 or 40 and helped us out there.” Earlier in the day, Woodford made 7-167 and routed Portland Colts for 122 to win its semi-final.
Grampians defeated Killarney in the other semi-final, chasing down the Crabs’ 6-140 to win by five wickets.
Semi-finalists Portland Colts and Killarney won $2500 while quarter -Finalists Noorat, North Gambier, Aradale and Irrewarra pocketed $500.
West Warrnambool also finished the day smiling after defeating Nestles in the WDCA under 17 Twenty20 grand final.
Will Mills made 41 not out and Ben Threlfall made 35 in the Panthers 111, while Nestles opener Matt Price took 4-19.
But Panthers Tom Smith, 3-11, and Jye Turland, 3-17, helped dismiss the Factory for 61 to secure the 50-run win.
afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au