Eltham players celebrate their victory over Jamaica College in the Grace Shield final at Melbourne Oval yesterday. -Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

ELTHAM SCORED a hat-trick of Grace Shield victories after completing a big 186-run win over Jamaica College (JC) in the final at Melbourne Oval yesterday.

Final scores: Eltham 192 (Shacoya Thomas 98) and 279 (Thomas 145 not out); JC 121 (Frederick Hermitt 5-52) and 164.

Set 351 to win, JC, who started their reply yesterday, were dismissed in the post-lunch session for 164.

The Old Hope Road-based boys were going well at 114 for two and 120 for four before surrendering for the second time in two years to Eltham. Only Mardio Grandston, 48, Elvis Watson, 38, and Oliver Walker, 24, made worthwhile contributions. Sandre Watson took 4-52 to end with a match haul of 9-98, while Frederick Hermitt, who picked up 5-52 in the first innings, took 3-57 in the second.

Romeo Dunka supported well with 3-26.

The Spaulding Cup final between Eltham and Grace Headley Cup champions, St. Elizabeth Technical, will be played at a venue and date to be announced. Winning coach Oral Simpson said this was the hardest of the three titles his team had won.

"This one was the hardest of the three titles. Jamaica College never gave up, they fought until the very end," he said.

However, he said his young troops were prepared.

"This was what we expected ... most of the boys are inexperienced so we knew we were going to have to work hard over the three days to be successful," Simpson said.