HENTY opener Mark White played the innings of his life yesterday to steer the Swampies to a record-equalling fourth successive premiership against Culcairn at Culcairn.
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Chasing 188 for victory, the former skipper held the innings together with 82.
That allowed the Swampies to reel in the target with three wickets to spare.
The win allowed Henty to match the feats of Holbrook (1975-76, 1976-77, 1977-78 and 1978-79) and MCU (1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82 and 1982-83).
White credited the Swampies’ never-day-die attitude for the win.
“It’s about time I came good in a grand final,” White said.
“I have been pretty shabby over the past few years.
“The boys just didn’t give up.
“Culcairn got off to a flyer yesterday with Jamie Cooper smashing us everywhere and looking like he was going to score 100.
“We could easily have turned to garbage, but everyone hung in there and we were able to get back into the game.”
Cooper was at his brilliant best for Culcairn making 66, but a collapse in which the Lions crashed from 0-107 to be bowled out for 188 undid much of his good work.
Henty had a much more even spread of contributors with the bat.
Chris Spicer stepped up the order to make 27 and Al Meyer (29) and Matt Kilo (18) also made runs.
White said the run chase was always going to be hard work.
“We made a good start, but then Culcairn came back,” he said. “It was that sort of game.
“We hung in there and it finally went our way.”
In the second grade grand final, Uranquinty defeated Culcairn with Steven Hall making 106.
