By RUSSELL BENNETT
“THEY’VE proven how hard they are to score against but this is a time to show some courage, and to back our ability.”
Pakenham skipper Dom Paynter could hardly have predicted just how significant these words would be when he spoke to the Gazette in the lead-up to the weekend’s big game.
He knew that if his side was to cap off its unbeaten season with a premiership, then his men had to show the courage of their convictions – to take it right up to one of the greatest sides in the history of the competition.
Of course, plenty in Pakenham’s chase – including Paynter, himself, ultimately – would come undone trying to keep the innings moving forward. But it was the courage shown by two, albeit proven, newcomers to the side – Rob Elston and Ben Shipperd – that would take the Lions home.
“For those of us who’ve been d***ed by them every time in finals – most times we’ve beaten them throughout the year but then lost the final,” Paynter said of Kooweerup straight after the game, a picture sheer jubilation etched across his face.
“We had to get that done, because it just wouldn’t feel right otherwise.
“They’re just that good, and they’ve defended scores of less than 150 before.”
There are so many reasons to be impressed with Paynter as a cricketer and a leader, but the ones that stood out most on Sunday were his humility in victory and the respect he showed to the vanquished Demons.
“Going through an undefeated season means nothing,” he said.
“For us we hadn’t done anything until we’d beaten them in a final.
“There’s no hatred or animosity out there – we know that they just play good cricket and they’re so successful at it. For the best part of the past 10 years it’s been nothing but jealousy from us, and they’ve inspired us. They’ve raised local cricket to another level – they’ve been a local dynasty.”
Paynter said his men had to be ‘great’ on Sunday. ‘Good’ just wasn’t going to cut it.
The partnership for the eighth wicket between Shipperd and Elston couldn’t be described as anything but great, given how crucial it was to the end result.
“As soon as Shoppo (Shipperd) went out there he wasn’t thinking about facing balls and getting a start, he just did the maths straight away,” Paynter said.
“I just was just over the moon that they (Shipperd and Elston) got it done because they were the coolest customers around.
“They’re the kind of guys who sacrifice everything for their sport, their team mates and their club and they do it because they know that these moments are great.“
Paynter also paid special tribute to his great mate Russell Lehman, for his brilliant bowling performance in the face of incredible pressure on day one.
“When he got the ball in his hands you just knew that no one else was going to take it from him,” he said.
“He didn’t get the six or seven wickets that he probably deserved but to go 35 overs for 50 runs … as far as Pakenham’s legacy is concerned he’s our man of the match.
As for Paynter, himself, he finally admitted the worst kept secret in Premier – his body had been put through the ringer in the dying weeks of the season. He’s having surgery on his thumb today (Wednesday) and his heavily-strapped hamstring also caused him no end of grief.
“Look, it didn’t limit me that much,” he said, before admitting that, early in the week, he was touch and go to even play.
But yet again his leadership came to the fore.
“Tuesday night was a worry,” he said.
“I was trying to put it out of my mind but I knew there was a decision coming up.
“After speaking with the boys on Thursday night, we had a good honest chat and I explained to them where I was at.
“I just basically put it out there, saying that if the rest of us aren’t comfortable about taking in someone less in than fully fit, I was more than happy to do whatever was required. I’d rather have 11 happy blokes and one half sad bloke on the Sunday night.
“I said to them that I know at some stage I’ll probably let you down but I’d try to minimise it and if we were happy to go in with that risk then so be it.”
His men ultimately stood behind him as one – just as they did on Sunday, grouped around that premiership cup.
