SO CLOSE FOR THE SHINERS

The game was almost in their grip, but the Moonee Valley Fifths fell agonisingly short in their NWMCA Girolami Shield Grand Final against Maribyrnong Park St Marys on March 5.
Cruising at 2/140, we lost direction and were all out for 185. We then gave Maribyrnong a big scare before they passed Moonee Valley seven wickets down inthe 33rd over.
At left: Our mighty Shiners Grand Final team: L-R. Back - Manu Poulose, Liam Shaw, Paddy Shelton, Ryan Chirgwin, Cassidy Box, Jesse Nankivell-Sandor, Liam Farrell, Jesse O'Grady. Front - Jarrad Sims, Charlie Jackson, Nathan Deery, Dominic Rettino, Taylor Newton.
It had been a tough battle to get to the Grand Final, after finishing second on the ladder.
We finished in arrears on the scoreboard in the Semi Final, but were awarded the game when opponent Aintree was found to have played a player under a false name.
Perhaps the drama of that encounter took it out of us before the decider, after we had to play out a tough tussle off the field.
Regardless, a great season to the Mighty Shiners and well done guys.