Community celebrates on pitch as Titans claim inaugural top-grade flag

YOU could hear the emotion in Armstrong Creek captain-coach Daniel Maclean’s voice as he looked at his winning group during the premiership presentation and said “Boys, we’ve done it, finally.”

The Titans had just won their inaugural Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 grand final and there was electricity in the air at Collendina Recreation Reserve on Sunday.

It was hard not to get caught up in the pandemonium following the winning catch.

The Titans’ children streamed onto the field and beat the adults to the team hug as ‘wooos’ and car horns could be heard around the ground.

“I can’t put it into words, there were so many emotions going through everyone,” Maclean said of the big gathering on the pitch.

“To see all the people, our C grade won [on Saturday] as well, so it was good to have all their support.”

Armstrong Creek posted 8-202 from its 75 overs before restricting Barwon Heads to 189 from 72.5 overs.

The Titans had just held off an almighty effort by Seagulls captain-coach and second-drop Dan Donaldson, who ran out of partners and finished 51 not out from 96 balls.

Barwon Heads looked in the box seat after Jaxon Mallett and Max Melzer put on a 90-run opening partnership.

But then the batting collapse came. The Seagulls went from 2-4, to 3-3, then 4-12.

Maclean’s brother Jack starred with 5-64 and Lachlan Mulgrew (3-42) inflicted damage early before taking the winning scalp.

“We just had to keep reiterating that 10 good balls is going to win us the game,” Maclean said.

“We know teams get away, but we’ve probably got one of the best bowling line-ups in the league so we always back ourselves.

“You’re never out of a game of cricket, which is what we saw [on Sunday].”

In other BPCA results:

Inverleigh defeated Wallington in the A2 decider, finishing on 4-142 chasing 141.

Barwon Heads overcame Jan Juc in the B1 grand final defending 288 and keeping the Sharks to 219.

Collendina outlasted Inverleigh in the C1 big dance with its 145 too strong for Inverleigh which finished on 125.

Armstrong Creek also beat Barwon Heads in the C2 decider after keeping the Seagulls to 60 from 35 overs.

Winchelsea tasted success against Wallington with its 132 far too much for the Wallabies who were all out for 80.