Cricket North: Alistair Taylor reflects on Lions premiership

Wooden-spooners in 2016-17, the Lions lost the preliminary final three years straight before a sterling 2020-21 yielded the Greater Northern Cup and just one loss in the regular season.

Winning captain and player of the match for 109 and 28 not out, Alistair Taylor said the Lions' success had been born out of hard work.

MATCH REPORT, PHOTOS: Gray, Smith get Lions home on final day

"I'm just so proud of the boys - you don't deserve anything but gee our group did, we worked so hard for so long," he said.

"A lot of people said we underperformed the last couple of years but you don't care when you win one, it's such a good feeling."

The pluckiest of underdogs, Riverside looked like causing a major upset on several occasions.

But just as the Blues were getting on top, Tom Gray and veteran Rowan Smith found ways to take wickets.

Gray's one-handed return catch dismissed Pete New as the sixth-wicket stand neared 50, while Smith's dismissal of Stubbs was perhaps the turning point of the day.

The Launceston pair shared the two final wickets between them and no-one was more excited than 2010-11 flag winner Smith, who sat out all last season.

Taylor said he was hopeful the all-rounder had not played his last game for the Lions.

"Rowan is a finals competitor - he's wanted this as much as anyone," he said.

"He's won them before but he wanted to win one with this group of boys.

"I'm not sure [if he'll continue] - he hasn't said anything but you never know with him. We weren't sure whether he'd play this year but he did - I hope he plays again."

Taylor also paid tribute to Riverside, who pulled off a huge upset last week to deny Westbury a 10^th straight grand final appearance.

"They've had a serious effort this year to get to here like us, we've [both] played out of skins and it's always tight between us."

In the second-grade grand final, Launceston bowled Westbury out for 73 and then made 5-211 with Dean Thiesfield making 109 and George Maguire 31 not out.

Tom Garwood, Blues captain

"It was disappointing to lose but we played a really good game ... we fell a bit short and Launny were better on the day.

"Rama [Ramesh Sundra] was really good - his determination is unbelievable and it's an inspiration to a lot of us, he nearly saw us home.

"I'm very proud of where we came from - two years ago not even playing finals to make a grand final this year ... the club we're in a good spot and we'll keep going.

"All throughout the innings I thought we could win it - to Launny's credit they took wickets when they needed to. I still thought we would win it with one wicket in hand but we didn't quite get there."

Andy Gower, Lions coach

"We set our sights on trying to win flags over a period of three years - we knew we had a group that could achieve success, but we didn't think it would come so quickly.

"The group really bought into what we wanted to do - we trained in July, did Sunday sessions and really worked hard on our game.

"I don't think the club's ever won four (in a year) - I know they've won first-grade, second-grade, third-grade in previous years when the Greater Northern Cup wasn't back in there.

"To win four is fantastic and gets us into the record books so I'm proud of that."

Lawrence Dodson, Lions second grade captain

"It was really good - a good group of lads to win it with and to go a three-peat was a massive effort, especially in second-grade where teams change so much.

"It's a huge effort from all the boys."