North Bulldogs have finished the 2023/24 Barrier District Cricket League (BDCL) season three from three, winning the A Grade, B Grade, and Women’s Grand Finals this past weekend.
“We’re obviously very stoked about it. I think what makes it even sweeter for the entire club is, last year heading into Grand Final weekend, we were in the same position. We had three games and three Grand Finals, and last year, obviously, we didn’t come away with anything,” North Broken Hill Cricket Club President, Riley Bomford, told the Barrier Truth.
“For that to be turned completely on its head this year goes to show how much hard work people have put in during the season. A lot of people really focused on executing what they had to do on the field and having that end goal in mind. To come away with all three winning, seeing groups of people all in blue and white shirts with medals around their necks, enjoying each other’s company, certainly made the moment very sweet.”
A GRADE
Minor premiers in A Grade, North put the pain of last year’s Grand Final loss behind them to bear the back-to-back premiers West at Alma Oval on Saturday. Vindication had arrived for the side, celebrating its season with a four-wicket victory in the deciding fixture on the biggest stage.
North got West’s openers out cheaply as the bounce of the wicket took shape and runs were hard to come by, though the eventual premiers struck consistent blows to the reigning champions. Austin Wilson (3/21) and Codie Howard (2/11) took multiple wickets for the Bulldogs as the fielding side didn’t let the Robins get away easily, bowled out for 117.
The Bulldogs lost Brendan Martin early in the chase, but the steadiness of Tobias Hack (31) played a part in getting his side to a commendable position before the likes of Wilson (23), Howard (15), and Jordan Vella (12) kept proceedings progressing at a steady pace to chase the required target with five overs to spare as Luke Hall (seven not out) hit the winning runs.
“It’s been a really good season to come away with a premiership. It’s been a lot of hard work behind the scenes and a few honest chats as well with everyone of what we need from everyone,” North A Grade captain Tobias Hack told the Barrier Truth.
“To keep the same team predominantly for the whole year, to keep the same batting line up, it’s always handy when you come to finals. We know what our job is, and we’re pretty clear on what everyone’s jobs are in the team. Everyone knows. It’s not just an individual person, especially in Saturday’s game. I’d say everyone in that team contributed well in some shape or form.”
B GRADE
Finishing third this season, some mightn’t have expected North to reach the Grand Final, however a tense victory against West in the semi-final appeared to provide the spark that was needed to claim their first premiership in five years with a three-wicket win against top-of-the-table Warriors.
Warriors scored consistently early, but the breakthrough for the Bulldogs came in the fifth over as Kieran McEvoy (4/29) began a blistering spell, taking two wickets in consecutive overs, including of the dangerous Rhys Pavlich. While Daniel Milne would remain not out after hitting a half-century, Anthony Tidball (3/6) also did his best with the ball as Warriors were all out for 120.
North found an even spread of contributors with the bat, however found themselves falling behind with 10 overs to go in the run chase, needing some 60 runs still, though only three wickets down. Sensing another thrilling chase, an eight-wicket partnership between Tidball (21*) and Dylan Millsteed (12*) guided the side to the win with a ball to spare.
“It was pretty amazing. It had been a real struggle all year numbers-wise. It was really pleasing. The way we’ve always done it, we sort of dig in, try and get around each other and, got us across the line in the end,” North B Grade captain Kieran McEvoy told us.
“Obviously, we like to get it right to the end. It would have been pleasing if we could get a little bit earlier. We just kept ticking along and we knew if we could get anywhere close to that run-a-ball mark, then we were going to be in a reasonable position.”
WOMEN’S
Since the BDCL Women’s competition started in 2019, North has been chasing an elusive premiership. Going through the 2023/24 season undefeated, form was certainly on their side heading into the Grand Final against Central, eventually prevailing by nine wickets.
Electing to bowl first, the Bulldogs found early wickets with Britt Tangey (1/10) and Paige McInnes (1/7) claiming the scalps of the Magpie openers. Hannah Morris (2/10) charged through the lineup to take a couple of wickets also, restricting Central to 6/56.
In reply, the MVP of the competition Steph Balman made a team-high 18 not out as she and Brooklyn Gibson (14*) put on a 50-run partnership, with Gibson hitting the winning run at the completion of the 11th over.
“Amazing feeling. Finally, after four years, all our hard work has paid off and we’ve finally got a premiership under our belt. The track record – we’ve been minor premiers twice and then choked on Grand Final day – to obviously come through and get the win was yeah pretty awesome feeling,” North women’s captain Sophie Milne told us.
“The message was to just to play our game that we’ve been playing all year. To go out in the field and just have the banter that we have with each other, the jokes that we have, and just continue what we’ve been doing all season basically, and don’t change anything.”
