Place led the Bulls to their first flag in 10 years after Pomborneit defeated Mortlake by five wickets at Camperdown Lakes Recreation Reserve, with his older brother, Clinton, earning best-on-ground honours after taking 5-35 with the ball. 

And while the 29-year-old dairy farmer played in the Bulls' back-to-back flags in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, he said this year's premiership felt extra special. 

"I was just a teenager then and didn't have the same impact," Place told The Standard.

"So it was really pleasing this year to be more involved through captaincy and with the bat.

"We keep our emotions in check and maybe didn't show it too much on the day, but the jubilation was definitely there, especially given we almost faltered in the semi-final.

"It would have been disappointing to not come away with the flag after such an enjoyable and strong season."

Place said the hardest part of the job stemmed from the fact Pomborneit boasted such strong depth.

"It can be difficult seeing some blokes not getting as good a go as you'd like," he said. 

"But I didn't get too stressed out on the field, because there were lots of other guys with experience and I just fed off them."

Looking ahead, the Bulls skipper said his side would focus on list retention first and foremost. 

Place said the local players would all pad up again, but that the club would have discussions with Geelong-based Clinton Place and Steve O'Neill, as well as Sri Lankan imports Tharaka Sendanayake and Lahiru Fernando.

Gerard Auld has officially retired from umpiring in Warrnambool District Cricket Association after standing at the crease during Russells Creek's triumph over Brierly-Christ Church on Sunday. 

And while the grand final was won and lost by eight runs in a low-scoring but nail-biting affair, the 69-year-old signed off after the game just how he wanted - quietly and without fanfare. 

"It was a fairly tense match because the Creekers didn't make many runs and the Bulls nearly got there," Auld said. 

"The pressure was there at the end for me as an umpire.

"But that's just business as usual - you want to make sure every decision is a good one. 

"You have to be totally unbiased, irrespective of who is batting or bowling.

"It doesn't matter if they're a captain or your mate, you've just got to call it as you see it."

Auld played cricket regularly for Koroit up until the 2004-05 season, when he was 55 years old.

He then turned his focus to umpiring some years later and would go on to win the WDCA's umpire of the year award in 2016, 2017 and 2018. 

But Auld said one particular incident stood out as his fondest memory from his years of adjudicating cricket games. 

"About four years ago one batter missed the ball three or four times in an over," he said.

"The opposition players were going 'ooh' and 'aah' every time.

"He turned around and did the same thing back to them, but was bowled the very next ball.

"So they gave him one hell of a send-off.

"And it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen."

Russells Creek was in all sorts against West Warrnambool in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association division two grand final.

The Creekers had battled to 9-79 at Walter Oval on Sunday, well short of the Panthers' 226.

It was a matter of when not if and it appeared the game would be over in a few balls.

But Russells Creek tail-enders Lachie Boyle (10 not out) and Glenn Moore (seven) had other ideas.

The duo was patient and made the Panthers endure a frustrating wait celebrate their premiership win.

They put on 19 runs for the final wicket before Stuart Poyner took the winning catch off the bowling of Damon Harrison, who finished with 4-22.

Russells Creek's total of 102 was the second-lowest first innings score to win a WDCA grand final in at least 17 years. 

The league's online records, which date back to 2002, show only Allansford has won the division one flag with fewer runs. 

The Gators were bowled for 76 runs against the Panthers in the 2009-10 decider after just 39 overs, but won by default after a wash-out.  

West Warrnambool's 131 against Nestles in the 2011-12 grand final was the third-lowest winning total. 

Wesley-CBC breathed a sigh of relief on Sunday, knowing its record as the only WDCA team to win all three premierships - divisions one, two and three - in a single season remained in tact.

Russells Creek was aiming to match the Beavers' 1998 heroics.

But the Creekers fell short, winning division one but losing divisions two and three.

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