Brendan Allen and Lachy Wishart delivered Eastern Suburbs a memorable victory over arch rivals Western Suburbs on Old Boys Day at East Maitland Park.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Griffins change rooms were packed with current and former players for one of the loudest renditions of the club victory song Two Little Boys heard in years.
"It was really good to get all the Old Boys in there," Easts co-captain Jack Bennett said of the win after posting 155 and dismissing West for 136.
"We probably shouldn't have won that one. It was a well below par score but we worked real hard in the field and just kept fighting for it.
"Brendan Allen was amazing with the ball taking seven wickets so that always helps."
Allen finished with 7-51 off his 10 overs and Wishart top scored for the Griffins with 54.
"Lachy got us off to a super start and it was the top score in that game by about 30 runs," Bennett said.
"Brendan was our next best with 27 and the top score for them was about 29.
"His runs at the start were vital in getting us what was a defendable score in the end."
Wests bowler Joel Connell turned the game on his head with an outstanding spell of 6-18 to tear through Easts lower order.
Wests got off to a steady start and looked like cruising to victory with five wickets in hand and 50 runs to score.
"Mitchell Fisher and Justin Lantry appeared to have the game in control for them," Bennett said.
"Justin finished the over before the first drinks break with a six and then another six straight across the road at the Lawes Street end.
"BA (Allen) got Justin just after drinks and that swung the momentum as he picked up another wicket in the same over.
"Then we got Mitch out and BA was pretty much getting a wicket an over.
"Luke Kealy and Joel Connell got together and started to build an innings but we got Keals out. Joel hit a couple of fours and we started to get a bit nervous but we got him out and their last batsman out with the next ball.
"It was a really good win. You probably shouldn't win many games when you get 155, especially at East Maitland Park but we kept on fighting.
"At drinks we said to each other we've got nothing to lose let's go out and enjoy ourselves and have a big session.
"We did and it came off. We took our catches and we worked real hard.
"BA and Josh Hicks bowled really well in that session and kept the runs tight and kept taking wickets at regular intervals."
Bennett said it was a whole club celebration as the second, thirds, fourths and fifths teams had returned to the ground when their games were washed.
"To have them and all the Old Boys back in the rooms was fantastic.
"The Old Boys were stoked I think they realised that a win like that can start turning the tide on a team's fortunes.
"We're learning how to win. It's such a big turn around from where we were at the start of the season. .
"We hung in there, they were five for 100-odd and we ended up getting five wickets for about 20 to get the win.