West Warrnambool defeats Port Fairy in under 17 grand final thriller at Reid Oval

The Panthers overcame a rampaging Port Fairy outfit to notch their second-straight under 17 grand final victory on Sunday.

It didn't come easy.

West dismissed the Brian Medew-coached Pirates for just 79 but found itself 8-76 until Harris Elliott stood tall to hit the winning runs.

Elliott's efforts sent the crowd into raptures.

"They're absolutely rapt," co-coach Mark Bowles said.

"Our numbers were a bit short at the start of the season and we used half a dozen under 15 boys to get on the wicket each week.

"We did really well from that side of things. It's been a really good year for the club to be honest."

Bowles said the group kick-started West Warrnambool's junior program.

"When we first came in, there wasn't really a junior program," he said.

"This group of kids basically started it. They've been pretty successful on the way through.

"They've won an under 13 flag, lost two under 15 flags and won two under 17 grand finals. I think we're on the right track."

Bowles' fellow co-coach, Simon Dawson, said restricting Port Fairy's batting prowess was key to the flag triumph.

West removed star opener Max Green for a duck and the rest of the Pirates' top four posted just 54 combined.

Dawson also praised recruit Brodie Petty for his positive impact on team morale throughout the campaign.

"Their batting is their strength I think. They have some very, very good players," Dawson said.

"Getting Maxy Green early was huge for us. We were lucky - last year we managed to get Campbell Love early and getting Max Green here was probably a good omen for us.

"Definitely our bowling was key. I reckon our bowling was the best it had been for the year, in all honesty."

West's composure at the death also drew praise from the coaching duo.

"I was a little bit nervous myself - there was a fair bit of pacing going on," Dawson laughed.

"I can imagine what the kids out in the middle were like. That would have been for both sides, so that's a credit to both of them.

"They're a ripping team. We have a lot of respect for them as a team and a opposition and as the season has gone on, they've gotten better and better and better.

"We knew we were in for a fight."

Fletcher Cozens was awarded best-on-ground for his bowling heroics - 3-7 off eight - and 11 runs.

Joe Douglas, Noah Dawson, Sam Slattery, Dylan Carter, Taj Atchison and Will McConnell added to their under 15 premierships in the triumph.

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