Cricket North: Westbury claim 2021-22 premiership over Launceston in grand final

The triumph caps a season of great success for the Shamrocks as they secured trophies in the Twenty20 Cup, Greater Northern Cup and Cricket North's first-grade while suffering only a solitary defeat.

Entering the final day at the NTCA Ground, the Shamrocks pushed their lead in the morning as Joel Lloyd (44 off 111) circled a half-century but a sharp piece of glovework from Charlie Eastoe caused his demise.

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Will Bennett added his second wicket of the morning a short while later as he rattled James Tyson's stumps for his fourth of the innings. When Daniel Smith (1-26) replicated the dose for Kieren Hume, the Shamrocks were 152 all out with a lead over 250 runs.

With a line-up containing recent Tasmanian Second XI player Eastoe and Greater Northern Raiders regular Alistair Taylor, the Lions retained a shot at claiming the title.

However, Lloyd delivered early for the Shamrocks when he had Cameron Lynch miscuing into the deep for his first wicket.

Oliver Wood removed the dangerous Samuel Elliston-Buckley when he looked set at the crease before the former triumphed in the battle of the Raiders' teammates when he had Taylor judged adjacent two overs later.

While the history books will note Jono Chapman as the man of the match, the Shamrocks' ever-present wicket-taking force Michael Lukic (7-40) had an equally important say in the outcome.

The spinner, with his flight and guile that had been an omnipresent threat all season, mesmerised the Lions to claim the last seven wickets of the match.

When Dihan Cloete was trapped in front, Lukic was mobbed on the centre-wickets by a swarm of Shamrocks as they soaked in the win.

Premiership-winning captain Daniel Murfet heaped praise on the Lions.

"You guys did not stop coming at us for three days. You're a credit to yourselves and the environment you've got at your club. It's a transition period for the club but you're in a really strong place and all the best for the next few years," he said.

"It's been a really good spectacle and we've thoroughly enjoyed being able to play in it.

"This season has been unlike any other and this is seriously special so we'll make sure we enjoy it. After last year going out in the semi for the first time in about nine years that really hurt so we wanted to make up for that and this is really special."

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Launceston captain Taylor was gracious in defeat.

"It was great to see so many people for a grand final. It was a fantastic season," he said.

"You guys have been the benchmark for 10 years. We started our year really rocky, lost some core people and have done really well to get where we are.

"We played the way we wanted to. Unfortunately, it did not get us across the line but we'll be back next year."