By David Nagel
Officer will look to break back into the top flight of West Gippsland cricket for the first time in a decade when the Bullants take on Upper Beaconsfield in the District Division decider at Officer on Saturday.
The Bullants haven’t been seen in the elite Premier Division since 2011/12, when a winless season saw them relegated back to District Division.
The Bullants took a while to rebuild from that savage blow, but have been knocking on the door in recent years and are now primed to take the next step.
Officer has been so consistent in recent seasons, losing a grand final in 2015, semi-finals in 2017 and ’19 and were knocked out at the preliminary final stage by Devon Meadows last year.
Throw in a Covid-impacted 2020 final series – where the Bullants won their semi-final against Carlisle Park…but were then beaten by Upper Beaconsfield without a ball being bowled in the big dance…due to a lower ladder position – and you can imagine the hunger that exists within the club to finally take the climb.
The Bullants finished on top with a 10 win three loss and one draw record, and progressed straight through to the big dance after a heart-stopping major semi-final win over Devon Meadows.
Jonty Bennie, Cooper Pursell and Leigh Boyle contained the Panthers to a modest 9/87…but the Bullants crawled their way to victory with just one-wicket in hand.
This week’s grand final opponent, Upper Beaconsfield, finished fourth on the ladder and has progressed to the biggest day of the season after strong wins over Pakenham Upper/Toomuc and Devon Meadows.
The Bullants have been super-consistent with both bat and ball this season, with Ash Smith (330), Jack James (275), Nick McLennan (267), Brett Monagle (214) and Aiden Pipicelli (174) scoring over 150 runs, while Bennie (26 wickets), Pursell (23), Boyle (16), Pipicelli (13) and Smith (12) have been the mainstays with the ball.
But the Bullants will need to be at the top of their game – because the Maroons have some dangerous weapons of their own.
Will Haines (418) and Taylor Joyce (411) have cracked the 400-run barrier, while Daniel Brennan (253), Corey Joyce (243) and Tom Taylor (179) have all played key roles at certain stages of the season.
And the Maroons…well they have Scott Pitcher!
Pitcher, or ‘Scooter’ to his mates, has been one of the best leg-spinners to play in the WGCA over the last two decades.
Pitcher has taken 23 wickets for the season and looms as a key obstacle for the Bullants to overcome if they are to lift this season’s flag.
Brennan (15 wickets), Jayden Joyce (13), Andy McDonald (13) and Haines (10) are others to keep an eye out for on the weekend.
But the Bullants will be too strong…they’ll progress to the elite level of the WGCA for the first time in a decade with a three-wicket or 30-run win.
