West Gambier sealed back to back Zema Estate Barber Shields with a dominant display at Frew Park on Saturday – ending Penola’s hopes after only one day of play.


The Roos claimed the shield earlier than expected on Saturday after an impressive day in the field, before backing it up with the bat in the grand final.


The Eagles started the day at the crease after winning the toss as they looked to make a big lead.


However that was not the case as Penola struggled with the willow as Lewis March fell in the eighth over for only six while Jack Mullan was dismissed in the 12th after making 13.


Following the two early wickets Penola’s Bredon Smart was able to grind through the innings and go on to post a respectable 41 off 108.


Despite Smart’s efforts Penola could not get anything going at the crease as they struggled against the bowling attack of Sam Willis.


Willis was a dominant force in the first half of the innings, taking the first six wickets of the match – including a hattrick, dismissing Drew Clayfield, Michael Waters and Nathan Fulton in the 18th over.


The Roos applied the pressure as the Penola batsmen crumbled, with the Eagles all out for 80 runs in only 46 overs.


Sam Willis finished with seven wickets in the innings while Bray Stephenson, Justin de Jong and Trent Badman took the other three.


The Roos’ dominance translated from the ball to the bat as they wasted no time in chasing down Penola’s total.


Justin de Jong and Jayden Prior set the tone for their side as de Jong made a quickfire 27 off 24.


Prior had one of his best performances of the season, finishing not out and making 95.


West’s other batsmen also did their part as Nuwan Gunawardana made 32 off 34 with Jake Blackwell helping Prior close out the win, finishing the day 33 not out.


After 31 overs West had scored 194, which was enough to seal the victory on day one.


After his seven wicket haul, West Gambier’s Sam Willis was named player of the match.


West Gambier captain Bray Stephenson said the premiership win was great, especially after the events from last season.


“It’s awesome with what happened last year, but we knew we were not getting beaten anyway,” he said.


“But it just makes this one even sweeter and the reward and hard work we have put in over the past few years, we have fallen short a few times now so it’s good to get the job done.”


Stephenson believed Sam Willis’ performance with the ball was one of the highlights in the side’s success.


“Obviously Sam Willis bowling an unbelievable spell, taking seven and a hattrick,” he said.


“It’s sort of unheard of in a grand final so that clearly set us up for the win.”


Stephenson thought there were many players who stepped up for the side in the win on Saturday.


“I think all the bowlers bowled well, they tied up the other end well while Sam was rolling through them,” he said.


“Obviously Justin de Jong, it was not a massive score but just at the start to get the runs ticking over and take some pressure off.


“And obviously Jayden Prior getting close to 100 and also Nuwan Gunawardana was handy with the bat as well.”


The A Grade side made the most of the early finish to their match, taking to the sidelines in the Crouch Shield grand final to cheer their B Grade side to victory.


B Grade Crouch Shield


West Gambier came away with a thrilling grand final victory on Sunday as they took on Gambier Centrals at Marist Park, sealing premierships in both A and B Grade.


Centrals started the day at the crease which had mixed results as Jarryd Burston and Josh Thompson fell for five while Hayden Sanders made four.


Tobbei Kennett got some much needed runs on the board for Centrals as he got to the half century mark, making 55.


Centrals struggled in the middle of the order, as Isaac Czaban and Naite Fox both only made two while Brent Collins went for a duck.


In the back end of the innings Centrals had a much needed boost as Matthew Fox put 39 on the board to help get Centrals to a total of 133.


West’s Niall Easterbrook was exceptional with the ball, taking four wickets.


The Roos started strong at the crease as Nick Bone made 11 while Shane de Jong put 21 on the board.


West had a slight hiccup with Chris Biddle going for a duck, however Joel Bull stepped up to the occasion, chipping in with 19 off 72.


The bulk of West’s runs came from Richard Crute in the middle of the innings as he hit 46 off 64 to edge his side closer to victory.


The match went down to the wire as Centrals made the Roos work hard at the crease as they took wicket number nine in the 41st over, with West needing less than 10 runs for the win.


It was Christopher Crute who got his side over the line, hitting a six in the 43rd over to score the winning runs.


West Gambier’s Richard Crute was named player of the match.


C Grade Cox Bros Shield


Yahl Cricket Club was named premiers of the C Grade Cox Bros Shield after they took down Tarpeena on their home deck in Yahl.


Yahl’s premiership charge began at the crease as they started with the bat on Saturday after winning the toss.


Yahl’s openers Travis Clarke and Tyler Ambrose-Pearce got the side off to a good start as Clarke made 19 while Ambrose-Pearce scored 23.


They continued to put runs on the board as Adam Mulraney made 21 with Jordan Hatt having a solid innings with 37.


Tarpeena struggled to contain the Yahl batsmen, who were determined during their time in the middle, with Jacob Langdon scoring 11 while Isaac Little contributed nine.


Yahl had a big run push late in the innings as Nick Herring got to the half century mark, making 52 off 53.


After 56 overs Yahl declared on a massive score of 204.


Tarpeena struggled early on at the crease as Connor Richards only made five from 42, while brother Luke Richards could only contribute two from 12.


They got some much needed runs in the middle of the order as Brodie Williams put 15 on the board while Alex Carters made a quickfire 22 off only nine balls.


Nathan Humphries had a great innings as he dug in to grind out 44 runs off 42 balls.


Despite Humphries’ efforts, Tarpeena could not chase down Yahl’s solid total as they fell short, only making 114 in 35 overs.


Yahl’s Jacob Langdon had an impressive day with the ball, taking seven wickets while Nick Herring took three, with Herring named player of the match.