The Tamborine Mountain Canungra Bushrats fell agonisingly short of a premiership, going down by 12 runs to Coomera Hope Island in the Division 3 grand final at Oxenford Park on March 29.
Chasing 159 for victory, the Bushrats were dismissed for 147, with a promising run chase ultimately undone by challenging conditions and key moments late in the innings.
Despite the loss, coach Chris Anderson praised his side’s effort.
“I was very pleased with how the boys played. I was very, very happy,” Anderson said.
The Bushrats’ bowling effort on day one had placed them in a strong position, with Bailee Prosser leading the way with four wickets, while captain James Dougherty claimed two.
Anderson highlighted the team’s fielding as a major strength.
“I think there was something like eight catches and a run out, which means anything that went in the air they took. It was fantastic,” he said.
However, conditions shifted dramatically overnight, making batting more difficult on day two.
“The pitch changed… there was a bit of inconsistent bounce, so that made it a lot harder,” Anderson said.
Oliver Anderson anchored the chase with a well-made 52, while Harvey Mahony (35) and Dougherty (25) added valuable contributions.
Anderson said the innings of Mahony was particularly impressive given his inexperience.
“He hasn’t played cricket before. This is his first season, so he did great,” he said.
A mid-innings ball change also proved a turning point, handing momentum back to Coomera mid-way through day two.
“The boys had done all the hard work taking the shine off the ball, and then they got what was pretty much a new ball at a critical time,” Anderson said.
Despite the disappointment, Anderson said the performance capped a remarkable season for a side featuring a mix of experienced players, newcomers and returning cricketers.
“There was only four of the team that played cricket last season and some had never played or even watched cricket before,” he said.
“The improvement has just been exponential. I’m quite proud as a coach.”
The close-knit nature of the group was also a defining feature of their success and getting them primed for next season.
“They beat a lot of teams that were stronger on paper purely because they gelled as a group and enjoyed each other’s company,” Anderson said.
“A lot of them are keen to come back next season and have another crack.”
