By RUSSELL BENNETT
CHRIS Dew still can’t quite believe what his Pearcedale side achieved on the weekend.
Of course, after the Dales won their second successive first XI Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association (MPCA) flag, their celebrations extended right through to Monday.
It’s really not until this point where it’s all started to sink in for Dew and his men.
“I think there’s only been four other clubs that have done it (winning from Sub-District to District, and then to Provincial in two seasons),” he said.
“It’s pretty big, but it’ll take a while to sink in.”
Dew came across to the Dales to play with a tightknit group of mates after his stint in Victorian Premier Cricket, and he paid tribute to all the other players who played a role in delivering premierships over the past two seasons – particularly on the weekend, when the club (9/272) got the job done over Flinders (136).
“Throughout the year there were always guys putting their hands up,” he said.
“In every game it felt like someone else stood up. I don’t think there were two weeks in a row where it was the same bloke.
“It’s a great bunch of boys, and a great bunch of players really. I was pretty lucky I went there when I did.”
Dew said his side’s style of play was suited to both the District and Provincial levels of the MPCA, and he expects the Dales to more than match it with plenty of the top sides in season 2016/17.
But for now, it’s all about celebrating what they’ve achieved against Flinders, and acknowledging the efforts of some great people at the club.
“I was really happy with Matt Cousland because last year he missed out on the grand final,” Dew said of his great mate and club vice-president.
“This year he made a couple of 40-plus scores and he’s still got a bit to go – I reckon he’ll get better – but we saw a massive difference in him. Having him at the top of the order was really great.”
Luke Jennings and Sam Frawley were two of the other feel-good stories from the weekend – having also missed out last season.
With the likes of Cousland, Jennings, Frawley, chairman of selectors Jason Morris and past president Mitch Andrew, Dew couldn’t have won this season’s premiership with a better group of people.
“A big part of what we’ve been able to do is because of how close we all are,” he said.
“I’ve never played anywhere where the boys have been this close.
“We did it for the whole club – not just for our team.”
