Two titles in two weeks for Tony

JOEL RITCHIE

SUNDAY’S South Coast cricket premiership made it two titles in as many weeks for Tony Panecasio.

Last Saturday Panecasio coached Kiama Junior Cricket Club’s 12As – featuring his son Matt Panecasio – to a premiership over Shellharbour.

This Sunday dad bowled Lake Illawarra to a first grade title, snaring 5/11 to help defeat Albion Park in the decider at Croome Road Oval.

“Matt said to me after his side won that ‘now you have to win your game’,” Panecasio said shortly after the triumph.

Lake Illawarra skipper Tony McCabe singled Panecasio out for special praise after the match.

“Tony took 10/36 off 36 overs in our final and semi-final,” McCabe said.

“He was fantastic for us throughout the finals.”

Panecasio’s figures were 11.3 overs, six maidens, 5/11, including the key wickets of Albion Park all-rounders Graeme Smith and Paul Schofield.

The left-arm tweaker then spun out the Eagles’ tail, claiming the final three wickets to fall. Panecasio however deferred to his team mates’ fielding on day one of the clash, when they dismissed Albion Park for 54.

“Scott Ulcigrai took the best catch I have ever seen,” Panecasio said.

“He grabbed another one and Brendan White took a good one at slip too – they were three of the best catches I have seen.

“Everyone’s fielding was sensational – it was a classical team effort.”

The premiership was the South Coast title for Panecasio. It nearly didn’t come about – he had retired after last season’s grand final loss to Oak Flats, but was talked into one more season.

“I had retired but a few of the boys talked me back into it,” Panecasio said.

And will he have just one more season?

“I’ll be playing again next year,” Panecasio said.