THE plan is for a little added motivation in the Burrumbeet camp this final series.
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Burrumbeet’s 1984/85 B-grade premiership players are keeping an eye on the club’s marquee team for the final day of its final-round clash against Buninyong in Ballarat Cricket Association district division one competition.
While a 30-year reunion is their primary reason for their gathering, they hope a little of their flag success will influence this latest generation.
The Beet defeated Lucas by nine runs on Lake Oval back then and the rivalry has lived on with Lucas edging out Burrumbeet for the division one title last summer.
Burrumbeet club historian Lindsay Vanstan said returning premiership players were keen to watch some of Saturday’s game before reliving their own glory.
“The final was a great game and one that lives on in everyone involved,” Vanstan said.
“...We hope it’s a bit of an incentive to say that grand finals are hard to win.
“We’ve won only one other division one premiership since (1984/85) but we’ve been in a number of finals.
“We hope it’s an incentive for the team to get up and go one better this year.”
All but two premiership Beet players are set for a reunion at City Oval Bowling Club on Saturday night.
Vanstan said it was rare for this group of players to all get back together.
Premiership captain Colin Rogers, who was man of the match for the final, is travelling from interstate for the function.
Burrumbeet has also included its annual 100-game club and life members’ night in the reunion.
Vanstan expected plenty of great battle tales from the final.
Play was tight leading into the fourth day’s play. The Courier reported “there was an agreement around the ground that Lucas could get up and cause an upset” after Burrumbeet had only sustained one loss during the season.
Vanstan and Rogers guided Burrumbeet to a 246-run lead in a big finish and, with 10 overs left to reply, Lucas declined to bat.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au