By Russell Bennett
The West Gippsland Country Week cricket side lived up to the Warrior nickname time and time again last week, creating their own piece of history in the process.
Exceptionally led by inspirational skipper Dom Paynter and supported all the way by the likes of team manager Phil Anning, Matt Finch, Les Jones and Robert Dennis, the 13-man playing group became the first in the history of the West Gippsland Cricket Association to win through to the VCCL Melbourne Country Week’s top tier – Provincial.
It’s a feat that would have seemed impossible to many on the outside just over a year ago, with the Warriors then about to embark on yet another campaign in Division 3.
But the seeds sowed in last year’s successful campaign sprung to life this time around in a team that truly put the WGCA on the statewide map – as one of Victoria’s top eight country leagues.
No longer should the West Gippsland Cricket Association be considered as some small-time minnow. Starting next season, they’ll be going head-to-head with some of the most reputable country cricket leagues in the state – and they’ll be confident they can push them all the way.
The Warriors got off to a horror start on day one of their Division 2 journey last Monday – seemingly dominated on an inconsistent wicket by Bendigo.
But they didn’t bow their heads – instead digging their heels in and showing they were up for the fight.
They went on a three-game winning streak against the South West in Ivanhoe, Sunraysia at Greenvale, and Shepparton at Essendon’s spiritual home, Windy Hill, that took them to Friday’s final and secured them a birth in Provincial next year. They even then had a very real chance of winning the second tier against the might of Ferntree Gully. If not for their opposition’s superb batting depth, it could have been Paynter’s men holding that trophy aloft at the iconic Albert Ground.
The week was littered with star turns by the Warriors – 118 runs at an average of 59 from Paynter to go along with seven wickets and some all-around brilliance in the field; 158 runs from Rob Elston including an unbeaten 80 in the final; and 115 runs and 14 wickets by Demons star Mark Cooper. But everyone played their role – from top to bottom.
“The most pleasing aspect of it was that the group was so galvanised,” Elston said in the wake of the campaign.
“We all worked together and built on what we did last year, and that was probably the most satisfying thing.
“Hopefully that can continue and help even more guys now that we are in Provincial – having other guys wanting to totally embrace Country Week.
“Everyone knows it’s difficult – you have to get work off and you’re spending time away from your family – but it’d be really nice to get our best squad together to actually see how we could go next year.
“We really took the bull by the horns and beat Shepparton in a good performance and probably really should have gone on and won on Friday. There were probably some learnings for some of us as well.”
Anning said the group’s initial aim was to avoid relegation back to Division 3, but it’s now got much bigger fish to fry.
“Not that you’d go down there expecting to lose or not perform to the best of your ability, but we knew that if we played to our best we were capable of having a good week. Still, I think we exceeded our own expectations by actually making the final,” he said.
“We were disappointed we lost the final, but also in saying that the guys were just about spent because there was some added pressure and responsibility on the players due to a couple of late withdrawals from Country Week.”
Anning was awestruck by the efforts of Tom Tyrrell who, despite being a late call-up, showed his commitment to the group by playing every day he could – including Friday’s final, despite having to drive as soon as his bowling spell had finished to a family wedding on the Murray.
He then lined up for Pakenham on Saturday to again star with the ball.
“I cannot speak highly enough of him,” Anning said.
“He’s just an amazing young man.
“I can’t speak highly enough of blokes like Coops (Cooper), Huss (Tom Hussey), Wombat (Chris Bright), Robbie (Elston), Dom (Paynter), T-Mac (Troy McDermott) and these blokes either – the older, experienced blokes who’ve played a lot of cricket. What they did was outstanding, but let’s not forget how outstanding those young blokes (Tyler Clark, Kallan Braid-Ball, Mitch Cammarano, Josh Lownds, and Nick Sadler) were too. They all played a role, and they all justified their selection. They’ve had a taste of it now and I’m sure they’ll be up and about and pretty keen to have good starts to the year next year to put their names up to go again.”
Anning said the WGCA had earned genuine respect with its performance, and added he’d be honoured to again serve as team manager in the future.
“I think the association has got a lot better in how to manage Country Week,” he said.
“We don’t threaten the boys with curfews or put any restrictions on them – all we ask them to do is come down and represent themselves, their clubs and their association to the best of their ability and the best of their behaviour, both on and off the field. It was just an absolute pleasure to be around the boys, whether it be on the field or off it.”
Anning also made special mention of the impact Aaron Avery, Mick Torney and the WGCA’s board of management had on this year’s campaign.
“I hope people don’t underestimate the work Azz did,” Anning said.
“For personal reasons he couldn’t make it, but the input he had into organising the squad, the feedback he gave us, and the interest he showed speaks volumes for the type of bloke he is and I’ll be forever grateful for what he’s done. The same goes for (chairman of selectors) Mick Torney. He couldn’t commit to it as much as he would have liked but his input into it was also really strong.”
It was Cooper who gave a 20-year-old Paynter his first taste of Country Week cricket around a decade ago. Last week, they again stood proudly together as team mates.
“It’s just been an absolute thrill to be a part of it,” Paynter said.
“I remember when I was in Mitch’s shoes when Coops gave me my first gig. They’d come off the back of winning Division 3 too, so we were really riding the wave of how fun they said it was and that culture then of doing what it takes, enjoying yourself off the field, but playing damn hard on it.”
But Paynter also experienced the lows of being part of a side relegated back to Division 3.
“It started to look like we might’ve missed the boat and we mightn’t have our own story to tell,” he said.
“Over the past couple of years to get things going again and get a really good culture going, and to only lose one game in the last two years, is no fluke.
“We haven’t had the sheer best talent. I think it purely comes from working together as one, and those who’ve been a part of this have been very lucky.
“We’ve created memories we’re all going to have for a long, long time.
“To come through like we did this year after a day one thumping is just incredible, and I can’t speak highly enough of the guys involved and what they were able to achieve, particularly after such a setback.
“Everyone kept putting their bodies on the line and refused to quit or give in.
“Country Week is a test on personal levels – cricket is a team game filled with individual moments.
“It’s a test to show you are good enough and can stand up.
“We all hate losing, and the likes of what Robbie (Elston) and Coops have achieved over their careers is no fluke. When you’ve got two of your oldest guys as two of your hardest workers, that sets the blueprint.”
This year’s Country Week squad included: Captain Dom Paynter (Pakenham), Mark Cooper (Kooweerup), Rob Elston (Pakenham), Tom Hussey (Tooradin), Chris Bright (Kooweerup), Kallan Braid-Ball (Cardinia), Mitch Cammarano (Kooweerup), Tyler Clark (Officer), Josh Lownds (Tooradin), Troy McDermott (Pakenham), Nick Sadler (Clyde), Tom Tyrrell (Pakenham), and Jason Williams (Pakenham).
