Hatton heroics help Saints end drought

St Mary’s have ended the longest premiership drought in Busselton-Margaret River Cricket Association history, defeating Yobs in the grand final by seven wickets.

It took some heroics from man-of-the-match Saints captain Danny Hatton who took 3-22 and made 54no to help his team take home the Barnard Cup for the first time in 35 years.

“It was an emotional game, they got away with a good start but we were able to hold our catches and run-out the last batsman which is worth two wickets in a grand final,” Hatton said.

“It was a great deck so I was always confident in the chase.”

Reliable opening batsman Harvey Golding top scored for Yobs with 47.

English all-rounder Joe Lowe finished with 4-18 and also made a handy 22 for St Mary’s. Saints stalwart Wayne Thackrah said he’d been at the club for 20 years, through some dark times when the club would lose every game each week.

“It’s a massive effort from a lot of good people,” he said.

“You never know when you bring in an import but Joe held himself well all season and has been rewarded with a scholarship to India next week to ply his trade, he was a match-winner with the ball.”

Vasse were too strong for Dunsborough Cricket Club in B-grade and Augusta took the chocolates in C-grade, also over Dunsborough.