Belvoir captain Matt Jaensch says Tallangatta’s verbal attack on his team pre-match served as motivation for the 85-run thumping.
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The Eagles ended third-placed Tallangatta’s season after posting 222, before skittling the home side for 137.
Sidelined Tallangatta co-coach Trent Ball said his team owed the Eagles after they claimed last year’s preliminary final, suggesting the club had some standout weaknesses and the Bushies needed to exploit their passengers.
Co-coach Matt Armstrong also said the Eagles lacked depth in their bowling.
“Yeah, a big motivating factor,” Jaensch said when quizzed.
“We certainly used that and obviously it was probably directed at Tate (Spiteri) and guys like that, Mick Russell, Mick Spiteri, even Josh (Warren) took offence to it, so for those guys to perform the way they did in this game, we certainly used that to our advantage.”
The Eagles’ John Spencer top-scored with 55 from 148 balls.
We certainly used that and obviously it was probably directed at Tate (Spiteri) and guys like that, Mick Russell, Mick Spiteri, even Josh (Warren) took offence to it.
- Matt Jaensch
“John Spencer starred for us mate, he anchored our innings for most of the day,” Jaensch said.
“He was very good, it’s the best I’ve even seen him bat.”
Warren made 45, with four boundaries, while Nat Sariman chipped in with 41.
Veteran Steve Wood took 6-67 from 33 overs.
Tallangatta opened with a 36-run stand, but lost crucial wickets Armstrong (28), former Indian under 19 squad member Sahib Malhotra (0) and Nathan Thompson (39).
The Bushies were battling at 5-114, but then collapsed, losing 5-23.
Tate Spiteri, the son of veteran Mick, took 5-7 from seven overs.
“It’s the perfect game to get your first A grade five-for for sure, especially at Tallangatta, such a good deck and such a good team,” he said.
The 20-year-old’s previous best was two four-wicket hauls.
“He was fantastic, to take 5-7 on a pretty flat wicket, he just stuck to the plan, he came in the second half of the year, and he executed our plans to a tee,” Jaensch said.
And Belvoir will face Lavington after the sixth-placed outfit upset minor premier Wodonga.
The home team was bowled out for 179 from 71 overs, with Jack Craig batting superbly for an unbeaten 90, with only two boundaries and a six.
Star bowlers Brett Davies and Nathan Brown took four wickets each.
Lavington’s batting has been a problem all year, but opener Sam O’Connor showed tremendous patience to bat through the 65.1 overs and finish unbeaten on 58, while Andrew Mackinlay made 47.
“We had a few of our lesser lights stand up with Sam and ‘AB’, they both probably got their highest scores for the year, while Mick Galvin was fantastic,” Lavington coach Robbie Mackinlay said.
