By Mikayla van Loon
Kilsyth Cricket Club is getting ready to take to the pitch on the weekend with two teams playing in grand finals.
Across the board Kilsyth has had some great success with six teams making it to the finals and five teams making it to the grand final.
The 1XI team play South Warrandyte in the final of Stuart Newey Plate, while the 2XI play North Ringwood in the Pat Meehan Shield.
Club president Shaun Goodwin said it’s taken a fair few years to get to this point, considering the last grand final won by the ones team was 30 years ago.
“We went backwards to go forwards as a club so we had to rebuild a bit to get to this stage. We’re playing a lot of juniors and then also recruited a few good players. So we’ve worked hard over the last couple of years to get to this point,” he said.
Building from the ground up again after losing seven ones players four years ago, Mr Goodwin said it wasn’t just about reestablishing a good playing side but also a good committee.
“We started getting the committee right and getting a few other things right in the background, and when the off field was alright, the on field started working for us,” he said.
Some of the highlights throughout the season Mr Goodwin said were seeing the women’s team in their second year get to the top of their division, as well as seeing some junior 14-year-old players stepping into the ones team.
Mr Goodwin said although it’s been a combined effort from all teams, in the ones it’s been players like Mitch Gregory and Josh Turner who have helped guide them to the grand final.
Heading into the grand final weekend, Mr Goodwin said he is nervous for them but also excited to see them play.
“The ones were clearly the best side all year and we’re expecting them to win but it’s a grand final and anything can happen.”
Finishing two games clear this season and having beaten South Warrandyte twice, the Kilsyth ones are the favourites but Mr Goodwin doesn’t want to put any undue pressure on them.
Kilsyth 1XI takes to the field against South Warrandyte at Pinks Reserve on the Alan Smith Oval at 1pm. Kilsyth 2XI will play North Ringwood at Quambee Reserve at 1pm.
