Clay clobbers century on way to player of match gong

AFTER walking into the club with a mate four years ago, Clay Mulgrew became an Armstrong Creek premiership hero at the weekend.

The Titans won their inaugural Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association A1 flag and the opener scored the lion’s share of the runs.

He was awarded player of the match for his 135 runs from 231 balls after Armstrong Creek defended 8-202 against Barwon Heads, who made 189.

“To get over the line in the end was really special,” he said following the tight two-day victory at Collendina Recreation Reserve.

Mulgrew, from Colac, stood tall when on day one none of his other teammates surpassed 21 and Seagulls spinner Dan Donaldson shone with 4-70 from 32 overs.

 

No other player made a century with the next best score across both teams being 51, achieved by both Max Melzer and Donaldson of Barwon Heads.

Mulgrew said his initial approach was to not go out.

“But then we lost a few early and then it was really about not getting out and just trying to bat through and have other guys bat around me.

“It’s kind of the easy job to just stay in and not really have to risk the wicket.

“I moved on with it at the end of the innings and got myself some runs.”

Mulgrew, who was eventually run out by Matteo Surace, joined the Titans after Colac West’s A-grade side folded.

“I was living in Geelong and walked in with another mate of mine and have been here four years and loved it,” he said.

“There’s a great atmosphere and it’s a great environment.”

Mulgrew scored four centuries this season, and last season won the Ray Menzies Medal as BPCA player of the year.