Bowling all-rounder Blake Evans happy to play his role for team success

The bowling all-rounder, a dedicated clubman, played a crucial role in the Jetty Flat-based club's premiership triumph over Woodford on Sunday.

Evans and skipper Matthew Petherick bowled from the town end of Avery's Paddock - the non-preferred end - and helped Creek grind out victory.

The 21-year-old, already a three-time premiership player, said the feeling was euphoric.

"It feels amazing, I can't believe it's actually happened," Evans told The Standard.

"You put all your energy into the club and you get that reward at the end of the year... It's a pretty good effort.

"It was a hard slog coming in but I was happy to take on the challenge (of bowling from the town end) for the team. It's tough coming in after Pepsi (Petherick) who has taken 50-odd wickets for the year.

"It was just a hard slog for the team, that's all it was."

Evans said he was content to be known as a role player in the premiership side.

Aside from his bowling, the son of club legend Ed is renowned for his fielding ability and pinch-hit batting in Creek's tail-order.

"I don't want to be known as like a superstar or anything," he said.

"A role player is good enough for me. As long as the team gets the success, I'm happy to play my role.

"All season, everyone has chipped in with their role. They know it off by heart, which is good."

Evans said the run-out of Matt Wines, which left Woodford 6-134 chasing Creek's 199, was a turning point in the match.

He said the players felt the momentum shift.

"It was a bit of a steer to our way when that happened," Evans said.

"That put the momentum in our favour a little bit.

"But we knew we had to keep going and grinding away and just keep the pressure on them.

"That was it in the end."

Freshening the leadership ranks kept Creek motivated and focused, Evans said.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Cam Williams relinquished the captaincy to Petherick in the winter, while Darren Loft also joined Andrew Thomson as a co-coach in the off-season.

"It's kept things fresh and it's been important," he said.

"We've had new players, like Tyler Schafer, just doing their jobs. Training each week, we're getting 30 plus people.

"We've been able to blood those fresh faces into division one. Jacob Lacy is another who has come in.

"It's just freshened up everyone."

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