WOODFORD'S emphatic one-day grand final victory over ladder-leaders Brierly-Christ Church showed Eels captain Nick Butters his side is capable of matching it with the best.
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It's the first time since 2016 the club has won the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association one-day title.
The Eels set the Bulls an imposing 222 thanks to half-centuries to Butters, who fell six runs short of a century attempting to play a ramp shot, and young gun Liam Burgess (55).
Butters' side then backed it up with the ball as Hank Schlaghecke (3-26) and Connor Richardson (3-22) ripped through the Bulls' top order, including stars Nathan and Mark Murphy.
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"It gets our confidence up to show we can beat these top sides," Butters, who was named player of the match, said of the impact of Sunday's victory at Avery's Paddock.
"They touched us up during the year and it shows we can match it with them as they are the benchmark in the league at the moment."
The last time the two sides met Brierly ran away with a 10-wicket victory thanks to an undefeated opening stand from Matt Love, who didn't play on Sunday, and Nathan Murphy.
Butters said he was disappointed about missing out on a grand final century but praised the performances of Burgess, who he built a 156-run stand with.
"You don't get a chance to make a ton in a granny very often so very disappointed in that regard but I thought the boys batted really well," he said.
"I thought 'Burgos' (Burgess) innings was super for an 18-year-old to bat like that and I couldn't be more happier."
Brierly-Christ Church coach Jason Mungean conceded his side was well beaten by the Eels.
"We have had a really good year and we just fell away today," he said. "We didn't get enough runs early on and our top order collapsed but they bowled really well and that happens."
Mungean said the Bulls, who currently sit on top of the division one ladder, would look to reset quickly as they chase an elusive premiership.
"It's still the big picture for us for the end of the season," he said.
"Well done to Woodford I thought they played really well and probably deserved to win today."
Mungean said his side would focus on its batting at training in the hopes of avoiding a repeat of its top-order collapse, which had the Bulls reeling at 6-24 early in their innings.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
