MATES during winter and opponents during summer, players from Ouyen and Tempy cricket clubs are cut from similar cloth.
The Mallee townships separated by a 20-minute drive have a Red Cliffs Cricket Association rivalry that’s more brotherly than hostile, but in this weekend’s A Grade grand final, one is hoping to change their fortunes.
Ouyen, who have been the benchmark of the competition in recent years, defeated Tempy in a one-wicket grand final thriller two years ago, before winning a low-scoring affair in the sequel by 14 runs.
Exacerbating the pain for the Tigers is the fact they also lost to Nursery Ridge in the grand final previous, making it three years in a row they’ve fallen at the final hurdle.
The Rams have also won all three matches head-to-head this year, but Tempy captain Joel Monaghan, who played in the club’s most recent flag in 2017, said the underdog tag suits them fine.
“Ouyen have been by far the best team in the competition this year so we’re definitely the underdogs but that’s almost a nice position to be in,” he said.
“Some of the boys have lost three grand finals in a row, it’s two for me and some others, so it would be nice if we an finally break through for that victory.
The majority of players and members from both team are all aligned during winter through the Ouyen United Football and Netball Club and are close mates off the field.
Grand final meetings between the two is also all that supporters from Mallee towns can talk about.
“It’s the talk of the town again, and it’s always a good turnout from the people down here in the Mallee,” Monaghan said.
“You’re either Ouyen or Tempy so there’s always some good banter that goes on, and hopefully we can put on a bit of a spectacle for them.
“We’re all teammates during the winter in footy season and we’re all mates off the field and we enjoy playing against them.
“If you want to be the best, you have the beat the best and that’s definitely Ouyen at the moment.”
The Tigers have struggled for consistent numbers across the season, calling on almost 30 different A Grade players across the season, but they appear to have settled on their best side come finals.
Tempy had to go the long way around to make the grand final after finishing third.
They started with a 101-run win over Robinvale Euston in their elimination final, led by Zak Robertson (61), Heath Smith (44) and Blake Smith (3/20).
It was much tighter in Sunday’s preliminary final. After dismissing Nursery Ridge for 93, they snuck over the line by one wicket, Nic Monghan scoring the winning boundary for 18 not out to go with his three wickets.
“We normally get hit before Christmas with the harvest time and afterwards we usually get back on a good run, but this year we only won one game in 2024 before the finals so that wasn’t ideal but we’ve got confidence after last week’s games,” Monaghan said.
“When we’ve needed someone to stand up in games, they have, and it’s often been someone different each time… hopefully, Saturday can be the day we all do so at once.”
Meanwhile, Curlwaa Islanders are in their third consecutive B Grade grand final, facing last year’s adversaries Nursery Ridge.
Both matches are at Quandong Park, Red Cliffs, from 1pm.
