Sport
17 March, 2021
Swamp secures long overdue premiership
PRINCETOWN skipper Jason Kordupel has signaled the club’s premiership win on Sunday as one of its best.
PRINCETOWN skipper Jason Kordupel has signaled the club’s premiership win on Sunday as one of its best.
The Swamp recorded its first division three flag as a standalone entity when it defeated Bookaar by six wickets at Ecklin, having previously tasted success as Princetown/Jancourt in 1996/97.
However, the club has been through tough times since that victory, spending a season in recess almost a year later.
Shortly after, a colts side was reformed by the club, with the Swamp working its way back into the South West Cricket Association’s senior ranks around the turn of the century.
Princetown continued to run strongly with two senior sides until 10 years ago.
An exodus of players left the club to join the newly-formed Heytesbury Rebels, with many tipping the demise of the Swamp in the years to come.
Thanks to hard work of loyal players and members, Kordupel said the club continued to progress and deserved its taste of glory.
“A lot of hard work has gone in since the divide that happened,” he said.
“It’s been 10 years since it happened and to get some silverware on the wall makes it all worthwhile.
“They said we wouldn’t survive down there as a standalone club but we’ve still got the two senior sides and juniors so we’re rapt.”
Having lost the toss and being sent into the field, Princetown captured an early wicket but were behind the eight ball, with the Pelicans entering drinks at 1/69.
However, the Swamp regained control in the last 20 overs and wrapped up the Pelicans innings for 155 courtesy of a five wicket haul from Jones (5/15).
“We went back to what we’ve done all year, that line and length outside off stump,” Kordupel said.
“We tied them up, they were hungry for runs and then hit a few catches and we got lucky.
“There was a few pretty good catches there. One hundred and fifty we would have taken that here because it’s the same dimensions as Frederick Street Oval.
“They’re only 50 metre boundaries and our older blokes they don’t do a lot of running, they will hit singles and a couple of boundaries.”
The Swamp made a fast start to its batting innings to be 3/55 before a match winning partnership between Jones (41 not out) and Colin Costin (31) put Princetown in the box seat for victory.
The pair put on 69 for the fourth wicket before late inclusion Brad Armistead (29 not out) brought up victory in style.
“Colin calls himself the finisher because he’s been not out six or seven times this year,” Kordupel said.
“Today (Sunday) I was glad he went out because Armi (Brad Armistead) came out and hit 29 off 11 balls.
“Brad can clear them anywhere. It was a tough decision to bring him in but it’s probably gone the right way.
“If it went the wrong way I’d look pretty bad.”
Moving forward, Kordupel said his club would need to focus on youth as it looks to embolden its future.
“From a club point of view we had two 16 year-olds miss out today (Sunday) but they have to play next year for us to go forward,” he said.
“We’ve got our flag but in div two we’ve always gone with youth up there and played well so hopefully they can get one.
“We’ve got to start getting more younger blokes. There was only two blokes under 28 that played today.
“If you don’t give the younger guys a go they won’t play for us. In other years I’ve stood myself down just to play them and this year I had taps on the shoulder saying I’m not doing it.”
Kordupel thanked the league for allowing the two clubs to play on Sunday, as well as his club’s supporters for attending the contest.
“It’s been a great turnout, there’s a great amount of people here and it’s proved that Sunday grand finals do work,” he said.
“I want to think our crowd for coming, we’re small but we make plenty of noise and good luck to the Bookaar boys going forward.
“They’re a great side and I think they’ll be here again.”
In the division two grand final, Woorndoo defeated Mortlake at Pomborneit on Sunday.
The Tigers (8/179) recorded a 97 run win over Mortlake (82) with Woorndoo all-rounder Brody Mifsud named man of the match.
The division one decider was held over an extra week, with that contest to be played at Cobden Recreation Reserve this Saturday.