Sydney Grade: Bankstown through to final

Bankstown-Canterbury stormed into the Belvidere Cup final against arch rivals St. George after withstanding a determined Balmain fightback last weekend at Bankstown Oval. The Bankstown Sports Club sponsored Bulldogs held on grimly to save the match with 8-210 in reply to the Tigers' 5-250 and move a step closer to another title.

After winning the minor premiership by a huge margin Manly suffered a one run defeat at the hands of Balmain in the qualifying final to be relegated to fourth position for the semis. Consequently they had to win to progress to the final but were denied victory over Saint George by a mere three runs.

Similarly the Bulldogs need to beat Saints in the final as a draw would give the premiership to the Dragons. To compensate for this Bankstown will have the home ground advantage because Memorial Oval was once again named ground of the year and all local enthusiasts are urged to turn out and support the 'Dogs in what should be another thriller.

The final will start at 10 a.m. next Friday through to Sunday and ardent cricket fans are advised that full canteen facilities including drinks and the usual culinary delights will be available. Patrons are once again reminded that no charge is made for admission to the magnificent new Memorial Oval complex so come along and cheer the 'Doggies home.

Bankstown skipper Kevin Roberts won the toss last Saturday and invited Balmain to have first use of a pitch which was in excellent condition and a credit to groundsman Warwick Starr. Despite the persistent heavy rain during the week which had hindered the pitch preparation play got under way right on time which was in stark contrast to the other semi where play did not commence until late afternoon.

The Tigers got off to a slow but solid start with an opening stand off 43 before the ever reliable hands of Ken Hall snapped up a smart low down catch off Matt Betsey to break the partnership. Betsey struck again shortly after finding the edge of Hayne's bat with 'keeper Duff accepting the chance and Balmain had lost 2-56.

David Freedman snared a sharp slips catch off the bowling of Ken Hall to get rid of Mail but some lusty hitting from Sargeant and Robertson finally got the scoreboard ticking along. However Matt Betsey returned to dismiss both rungetters and the Balmain innings was declared closed at 5-250 from 90 overs in 332 minutes. Ken Hall was once again the epitome of accuracy with 1-81 from 32 overs but the bowling honours went to Matt Betsey who snared 4-53 from his 21 penetrative overs.

Makeshift opener David Freedman combined with Anthony Smith to guide the 'Dogs to 0-11 at stumps after seven awkward overs.

A bright, sunny Sunday morning saw the Tigers strike back with a vengeance as Smith was trapped L.B.W. and Freedman out to a juggling slips catch which left the 'Dogs whimpering at 2-17. Vaughan Williams and Corey Richards slowly but surely wrested the initiative away from the Balmain bowlers until just before lunch when Williams was well caught in close for a determined 40 from 84 balls. The diminutive opener has now amassed 931 runs for the season and will be looking to top the 1,000 run mark with a big score in the final.

The game was very much in the balance with the score at 3-86 but paceman Neil Maxwell struck a vital blow for the Tigers when he had Bankstown's star batsman Corey Richards caught in the slips for 53. The elegant Richards was his usual majestic self stroking four boundaries in his fighting three hour stay at the crease but his demise left the 'Dogs struggling at 4-129. Matt Betsey started off confidently with a resounding straight hit over the bowler's head to the fence but was just slipping into top gear when he miscued a drive and was easily caught at mid off for 30.

Kevin Roberts and Shane Duff looked to be gaining the ascendancy but the advent of the new ball saw the skipper well caught in slips for a dour 13 and with the score at 6-175 once again the game was very much in the balance. Duff continued to thwart the Tigers' efforts to remove him and looked to have settled in but when he was adjudged L.B.W. for 28 the Balmain boys were jubilant.

Many times this season Greg Trevena and Ken Hall have extricated the 'Dogs from difficult situations but with seventeen overs left to play this was their most difficult assignment to date. The partnership commenced at 4.14 and was not broken until Hall was caught in close from the bowling of Mail from the second last ball of the day but by then the 'Dogs were home.

The pair defied everything that the Tigers threw at them including plenty of chit chat, some probing offspin from former Test spinner Gavin Robertson and frequent bowling changes which saw even wicketkeeper Mail given a trundle. Hall's determination is legendary in Sydney grade cricket and although he only contributed 7 to the total his stubborn rearguard action proved invaluable.

Trevena's cool and authoritative batting under extreme pressure was a delight to behold and the fact that he helped hold the Tigers at bay for 26 defiant overs was a great credit to him. Nathan Bracken had the not so arduous task of holding on for just one delivery as the Bulldogs scraped home in a thriller. Trevena finished with a match saving 11 not out and thoroughly deserved the vociferous plaudits of his delighted team mates.

It was fitting that the Bulldogs should show such typical fighting spirit as across the Tasman Bankstown legend Steve Waugh was busy leading yet another Aussie fightback and creating history along the way. He has now notched 150s against every Test playing nation but this magnificent achievement was pushed into the background as he expressed his delight at his beloved Bulldogs making the Belvidere Cup final!!! He surely is a true Bulldog through and through.

The final against Saints should be a classic with extra bite added as ex Bankstownian Scott Thompson turns out for the Dragons against his old club. Bankstown boasts the excellent attack of Nathan Bracken, Wayne Holdsworth, Matt Betsey, Ken Hall, David Freedman and Greg Trevena and will be up against N.S.W. rep players Rummans, Van Diensen, Thompson and the evergreen Brad McNamara which should make for an absorbing clash.

The battles within battles should be most intriguing with Bracken versus Van Diensen, Holdsworth versus Rummans and Freedman versus Thompson not to mention McNamara and Thompson bowling to Vaughan Williams and Corey Richards. Don't miss it.

(Reproduced with the kind permission of Michael Stephenson.)