Weston Creek Molonglo topples Western District to take out Douglas Cup

But the Creek skipper stuck to his guns come day three, backing opening quicks Harry Medhurst and Djali Bloomfield.

And boy did they deliver for their captain, as Weston Creek claimed the Douglas Cup with a 59-run first innings win over Wests.

Bloomfield (3-33) began the charge, taking the wicket of Jordan Smith for a duck. And soon after he claimed the dangerous scalp of Dean, LBW for 117, in his final dig in ACT Premier Cricket.

Medhurst (4-41) then finished off Wests with the final two wickets, dismissing Kurt Johnstone and Luke Powell in consecutive balls to set up the win for Creek, their first Douglas Cup title since 2018.

"Absolutely over the moon, I am a very nervous watcher of cricket, particularly when the grand final is on the line," Rogers said.

"You just know what you are going to get with Djali [Bloomfield] and Harry [Medhurst], they have been the backbone of our team for years now.

"There is no one else I would throw the ball to when the game is on the line and they stepped up as we are really lucky to expect now, it is so pleasing that they can turn it on.

"A lot of relief, very proud of the lads and it was a hard-fought win."

Creek were then required to bat again, with Rogers delighted with how openers Josh Myburgh (66) and Robbie Trickett (18) killed off the game.

Both were unbeaten when opposition captain Joseph Cooke declared the match was out of reach. Trickett's 18 came off 121 balls.

"They [Myburgh and Trickett] did a great job of killing off the game," Rogers said.

"Probably in years gone past we might have struggled there and lost a few wickets and made it hard for ourselves for the rest of the day, as there was still a lot of cricket left.

"Super proud of Robbie and Josh, they have really come on in leaps and bounds over the last couple of years as a partnership.

"To turn it on there when the game is on the line just to put the game to bed is really pleasing."

Rogers was also full of praise for former teammate Blake Dean, with Creek benefiting strongly from Dean's individual coaching program.

"He is a really impressive player and he has contributed a lot to the Canberra cricketing community in general," Rogers said.

"He has done a lot for Weston Creek. We had a lot of success together in the short time we played together and he carried that on at Wests.

"But as I said in the presentation, the biggest contribution he has made to Canberra cricket is what he is going to continue to do, which is developing the youngsters.

"And us as Weston Creek are reaping the awards of that in Blake Faunce and David Waters.

"Long may it continue that he looks after the next generation of Canberra cricket."

In the lower grade grand finals, Ginninderra (7-233) was too strong for ANU (84) in second grade; Queanbeyan (134) defeated Ginninderra (107) on first innings in third grade; while Ginninderra (6-147) chased down Queanbeyan's 146 in the fourth grade decider.

WESTON CREEK MOLONGLO 262 (John Rogers 70; Scott Murn 3-53) and 0-87 (Josh Myburgh 66) bt WESTERN DISTRICT 203 (Blake Dean 117; Harry Medhurst 4-41).

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