The Country Tigers completed a rare premiership treble on Saturday, rolling the ever-improving Cressy by 65 runs to maintain their record of being the only team to win the Premier League since its inception three years ago.

Arriving at the crease at 3-49 after Sam Henley dismissed Longford star trio Shannon Rumbel, Josh Adams and Dilan Sandagirigoda for a total of 25 runs, Blair put a lean year behind him and took control of the match.

Starting with a flurry of boundaries, Blair put on 54 with opener Jason Snare and another 78 with Kieran Davey (23) to lead his side from a vulnerable 5-110 to 7-207.

Cressy reached 3-89 in the 22^nd over before wickets began to tumble, leaving Davey to mop up the tail and claim man-of-the-match honours.

Adams, who has coached the Tigers in all three flags, put Blair’s unbeaten 75 among the top finals innings he had seen. 

“Pistol Blair has been struggling a bit but he’s renowned for stepping up in big games,” Adams said.

“That innings he played today was one of the great finals innings when we were in trouble and I’m very proud of him.

“Kieran Davey bowled beautifully to end up with five wickets and Adam Smith got the wicket of (Cressy coach Damian Whybrow) to get us going early - it was a massive team effort from everyone.

“It’s a big effort to win one premiership let alone three in a row… we’re a proud club and what we’ve achieved over the last three years is a bloody big effort.”

Sam Graham played a lone hand for the Bulldogs with the bat, finishing on 38 not out as Cressy was bowled out for 142 in the 34^th over. 

Henley and Danny Bennett had spectators retrieving balls from the clubroom roof on several occasions, but neither could go on to influence the outcome. 

Whybrow said he was proud of his side despite the loss and paid credit to his opposite number in Adams.

“To keep them to 200 today was a good performance by the boys with the bat and ball – we did drop a few catches but that’s cricket,” he said.

“When I first took over at the start of the season… we just wanted to make finals and get all grades to be competitive and I thought we did that.

“It’s just a bonus for the Premier League boys in their second year in the comp to make a grand final and we’re definitely going to learn from that.

“I don’t like to lose but at the end of the day I thought the guys put up a good fight and I’ve got a lot of respect for Joshy Adams - he’s a good leader and that’s probably why they’ve won three in a row.”

Dion Blair 75*

Jason Snare 53

Sam Graham 38*

Danny Bennett 26

Kieran Davey 5-25

Sam Henley 4-37

D. Sandagirigoda 2-28