How Swallows lifted their game

MOMENTUM can be irresistible in sport, and Irymple coach Bryson Lush hopes it can work in his team’s favour in the SCA grand final.

After holding a 4-4 record and one match with no result after round 9, the Swallows won five of their next six matches, including a strong nine-wicket victory over Nichols Point in their semi-final.

That one defeat, a 33-run loss to Mildura Settlers, had the coach believing it gave the squad the kick it needed to perform better.

While the campaign has been led by a scintillating batting season from skipper Mark Thomson, and a career-best bowling performance from vice-captain Billy Phelan, Lush hailed the entire playing squad for standing up when required.

“I think that’s been good for us, we didn’t have the most fluent first half of the year and the team had chopped and changed a few times,” he said.

“I think after Christmas was when we hit our straps. We dropped the one-dayer to Mildura Settlers, which was a bit of a disappointing result, but I think it ended being the old cliché of being the result that kicked us into gear.

“We’ve had even contributors across the board which has really helped, and it’s maybe something we’ve missed for a few seasons.

“Mark has been outstanding and led the way with the bat, but guys like Dave Filippi, Jacko Armsden, Jordy Payne have all been fantastic contributors as well.”

The bowling unit has long been regarded as one of the best in the competition, this year taking a combined 127 wickets with Phelan (32), Lush (22) and Bailey Anderson (20) at the front of pack.

Lush said the team’s vice-captain fitness and confidence following an SFNL premiership with Irymple has flowed into his cricket.

“Billy has been phenomenal with the new ball and importantly has been taking wickets early which has really been setting us up well and breaking the game open.

“We saw what he did in the two-dayer against Setts and again against Nichols Point in the semi he got the early breakthrough.

“Blokes like Bailey Anderson who’s just a consistent contributor, has been great, Chase Stone and Dom Price are the same as well. They’re a really strong bowling unit.

“Billy had a really good footy season and with Irymple so his fitness and confidence has been really built.

“He would run through a brick wall for the Irymple Cricket Club, he’s such a workhorse.”

Thomson, Phelan, Stone, Payne and Filippi are the five players still in the side from their last premiership victory in 2017/18.

“I think it’s been spoken about here and there, probably more so in reflection since the passing of ‘Jezza’ (Jeremy Graham), who was a part of that game,” Lush said.

“It obviously makes you realise it is just a game but at the same time you can be part of something special that you will always remember.

“The loss to Golly last year hurt even though they were favourites, so I’m champing at the bit to hopefully get a win with these boys this weekend.”