The Australian wins Sydney Major Pennant
IN: News | Australian Mens Amateur | Sydney Schweppes Major Pennant Final (2007) | Wrap | by Anthony Powter | 20 May 2007
It was a long time coming, 40 years in fact, since The Australian Golf Club won a Sydney Major Pennant flag, yet the strong following of supporters who crossed the harbour to urge their team to victory, felt it was worth all the wait. Finally the Sydney Major Pennant had fallen The Australian’s way with a 4½ to 2½ victory, at the expense of Moore Park.
It was a fitting and satisfying ending to a chapter in the Club’s history, breaking the drought of “near misses”.
In 2005, The Australian was narrowly beaten in the Major Pennant Final by Liverpool. Last year, Cronulla pipped them in the semi-final. Cronulla would eventually go on to win the Major Pennant.
The Australian this year were eager to forge a lead early and erase all possibilities of having another Sydney Major Pennant final go down the wire to the last players. That was a risk no player or supporter was willing to take.
Whilst the bottom order for The Australian “bolted” out of the gate, Aaron Hart and Ryan Swelin from Moore Park were able to get back and eventually secure the first two matches for Moore Park.
News quickly spread that a mini recovery was been mounted, but by then The Australian middle order of Adam Revai, Matt Gleeson and Ian Badley were playing too strongly against their Moore Park opponents. All secured comfortable wins and with that the Major Pennant for The Australian.
Brian Altree-Williams, who has overseen The Australian pennant squads as Team Manager for some time, reflected the general sentiment amongst his players and supporters.
“Obviously we are extremely pleased to break through after been so close in the last two years.”
“We have been fortunate enough to maintain a core of stability with players like Paul Blake, Ian Bradley, Shay Knight, Nick Crews, Adam Revai and Nick Dunn over the years. They’ve blended with our up and comers like Matt Giles, Matt Gleeson, Ben Webber and the like, so we can field a blend of both experience and youth.”
“You don’t need gun players to make a pennant team strong and these players have been able to raise the profile of Pennant golf at The Australian and you can be sure today’s victory will get noticed. Full credit to all as it’s a team effort”
Getting noticed is certainly what The Australian Pennant team has achieved in the Sydney Pennant competition recently. They’ve secured their Pennant Division title for the last three years in a row. Claiming the Major Pennant this morning at Elanora Country Club was not just icing on the cake, but fitting given where the team has come from and what its achieved.
Harry James, the Moore Park Pennant manager was frank in his assessment of today’s final.
“The Australian got the jump early in a few matches and we were playing catch up. We were able to get some ground back and I thought that mid way we might be in with a chance. But the Aussie middle order got us. They have players like Adam Revai at 5 and Ian Bradley at 3. They’re two seasoned players.”
“The Aussie are a great side, you only have to look through their order, there’s a huge amount of experience there.”
“We have a lot of guys in there 20’s who have never been here before and they’ve learnt a lot today from that.”
“There were simply two great sides playing today and like a Joe Frazier and Ali fight, two champions going together and one has to win, today it was The Australian. We won in 1988, I just hope we don’t have to wait 40 years before our next win.”
According to my little golden book of fine wine, 1967 was a solid vintage for Australian Reds. You can be sure someone at The Australian Golf Club will be searching for that fine bottle of ‘67 to toast today’s win and why not as they say good things come to those who wait.
