Wallsend cricket team close in on impossible dream

Even their skipper, David Celep, freely admits he initially believed the side were another season off fulfilling that ambition.

Come this weekend, the Tigers have the chance to pull off a major upset in the Newcastle grade final at No.1 Sportsground against a powerful Merewether side.

‘‘To be honest, it’s happened a season quicker,’’ Celep said of reaching the final.

‘‘We worked hard on getting the right balance to our side this year.

‘‘Going back to last year we knew we needed more seniority within the side.

‘‘Ability wasn’t a problem, but getting more senior troops to steer the young guys was vitally important.’’

The signing of Joe Curk from Newcastle City and the return of former NSW Second XI rep Brett Jackson full-time has helped create the form middle order of the competition.

The pair have scored 1199 runs between them this summer. Their 109-run partnership last week in the semi-final rescued the Tigers from certain defeat against Hamilton-Wickham.

‘‘I know Joe has scored a lot of runs before Christmas and he’s batted quite well after, so he’d have to be close to one of the best signings all year,’’ Celep said.

‘‘He’s slotted into our unit very well and he plays the game hard, so he fits into the brand of cricket we play.

‘‘I think that’s been part of his success – he hasn’t had to try to integrate much.’’

In their only clash this season the Tigers chased down Merewether’s 6-418 declared at Wallsend Oval after Curk (118) and Jackson (166 not out) put on a 222-run partnership.

But since then the Lions have been almost unstoppable.

Besides a shock loss to Queanbeyan in the SCG Country Cup, Merewether have been finals specialists.

They defeated Western Suburbs in the Twenty20 decider on March 11 then beat minor premiers Hamwicks to secure the Tom Locker Cup.

Victory tomorrow would secure Merewether’s place as the first club to win the trifecta of competitions.

‘‘I think it’s probably something we’ll look back on after the game if things go our way, as it would be a great achievement,’’ Lions captain Simon Moore said yesterday.

‘‘We haven’t looked too far ahead during the last couple of weeks as it means nothing going into tomorrow’s game.’’

At the start of the season the Lions were almost unanimously tipped to win the final due to a star-studded roster including NSW Country players Moore, Pat Darwen and Troy Goodwin.

Their fourth Bush Blue, Kaine Harmsworth, left the club just before the finals.

Moore said the high expectations had not affected his players.

‘‘It’s a good pressure to have,’’ he said.

‘‘I don’t think the boys paid much attention to the newspaper on where people thought we’d come – we just wanted to play our best cricket.

‘‘We’ve improved after Christmas and got better and mentally a lot stronger.’’