By Mark Bercini
Piranhas/Bellbird claimed its maiden first grade Coalfields Cup title by defeating Valley/JPC in an incredible finale to the season at Cessnock’s East End Oval on March 23.
In a match that had more twists and turns than a soap opera, Bellfish claimed the coveted trophy by just one wicket in front of a healthy and vocal crowd on hand to witness what was truly a fantastic premiership decider.
After the Piranhas and Bellbird Clubs decided to join forces at the start of the season previous, they reversed the trend of the heartbreaking loss at Miller Park 12 months earlier to snatch the title in emphatic fashion.
The East End curating staff did an excellent job to have the ground ready for play after some decent rain fell on the eve of the match.
Valley JPC skipper Dan Storey won the toss and elected to bat, but they lost early wickets to prevent them gaining any momentum, including English import Ross Parker (19) fresh off his match-winning century in the preliminary final the previous week.
Alex Stafa (13) was next to fall, and with the next three wickets falling for just 13 runs, the visitors found themselves in all sorts of strife at 7-79.
Class all-rounder Isaac Barry then departed for a fighting 39, with Tristan Muir also batting well for 21. Valley/JPC were all out on the penultimate delivery of the 32nd over for 113. Opening seamer Billy Orr was superb for the home side, taking a memorable 5-16 off 7.5 very good overs. He was well backed up by Luke Sweeney (2-18 off 8) and skipper Joey Main (2-21 off 5) who also took a brace with his off-spinners, and was also on a hat-trick.
After a brief interval, the Valley/JPC side took to the field desperate for early wickets to give themselves every chance of snatching an unlikely victory. This was achieved when Luke Dempster bowled an absolute peach of a delivery to danger man Matt Hopley who lost his off stump. He backed this up shortly after when Ben Fairlie shouldered-arms to be adjudged LBW, and when Barry picked up Jason Orr (14) after a screamer of a catch from Shane Givney in the gully, the Bellfish looked to be reeling at 3-24.
Skipper Main entered the arena and he played to the situation beautifully. Although wickets fell around him at regular intervals, he remained calm and worked the ball around the oval with great control.
The rest of the middle order fell relatively cheaply, and when Main eventually departed for a well-made 47, a grandstand finish was on the cards with his side at 9-103. The Bellfish number ten and eleven batsmen Zac Kronholm and Liam Robinson were left with the arduous task of finding 11 runs for the final wicket with still six overs remaining.
They remained composed, playing very cautiously without risk, ever so slowly inching towards the finish line. Down to the penultimate over of the match, they required seven runs to win. They managed five runs from the first four balls, leaving just two runs for victory, which with great irony was the deficit in last season’s heart-breaking grand final loss.
You could hear a pin drop in the 250-plus crowd who tensely witnessed the match on a knife edge. Aiming up was Robinson, who had kept Valley/JPC’s seamers at bay so well since arriving to the crease. He found the outside edge down to the vacant third man area and he came back for two runs to win the match for his team.
The crowd erupted, with fans quickly running onto the field to embrace their local heroes. Robinson remained unbeaten on 3, with Kronholm playing a vital role with 9no.
Valley/JPC were gallant in defeat, with their bowlers doing everything possible to give themselves every chance of snatching an unlikely victory. Barry (2-27 off 8), Dempster (2-14 off 8) and Stafa (2-23 off 8) all picked up a brace of wickets each in what were outstanding spells.
Celebrations continued well on into the night at nearby East Cessnock Bowling Club and other establishments around the Cessnock area.
SECOND GRADE
Bellbird claimed the second-grade premiership with a six-run victory against minor premiers Valley in what was also an exciting finish at Cook Park no.5.
The match was originally scheduled for Howe Park, but the rain Friday afternoon was enough to put Singleton’s premier ground out of play.
In an action replay of the major semi-final played at the same ground a fortnight previous, the Tigers reversed the trend to claim their third straight premiership title. Batting first, they posted a healthy 8-186 after winning the toss and electing to bat. Opener Joey Millington timed the ball nicely for his team’s high score of 65. Most other batsmen made starts, with Jon Schatz (37no), Aaron Duffie (20), skipper Daniel Attewell (15), Matt Fairlie (15) and Pat Cagney (11no) all contributing. Valley’s best with the ball was Mick Hamson (2-33 off 7) and Daniel Hayes (2-45 off 8).
The home side remained on target throughout the run-chase, eventually falling agonisingly short by just six runs when they needed 21 to win from the remaining two overs. Competition leading run-scorer Troy Barnett kept his team in the game with a well-constructed 62, with Chris Howard (35), Hamson (23) and Nathan Bagnall (22) providing support. Bellbird off-spinner Shannon Attewell proved the difference in the end with 4-25 off his five overs, with Stef Durie (2-33 off 8) and Jake Riley (2-17 off 4) chipping in with a couple each.
THIRD GRADE
Hotel Cessnock came from third spot to claim the third grade shield with a hard-fought five-wicket win over minor premiers JPC.
The match was also deferred from its original location of Cook Park no.1 to the synthetic at Civic Park. JPC batted first, and runs proved hard to come by with the slow outfield and good line bowling from the Hotel Cessnock attack. Even the competition’s leading run-scorer Dean Moore found batting difficult as he batted half the innings to post his team’s high score of 30. Harry Moore (21), skipper Daniel Thrift (20), Gregory Thrift (15) and Austin Maher (14) were the other main contributors. Hotel Cessnock’s bowling attack combined beautifully, with Matt Bullen (4-29 off 8), Heath Cameron (3-27 off 7) and Jordan Field (2-13 off 8) all bowling tidy spells.
The Mongrels took their time in reply, but eventually achieved the modest target in the 33rd over with five wickets in hand. Mick Mascord remained unbeaten on 42, with Field (18), Graham Stoker (15), Dylan Stoker (14) and Rob Jordan (9no) cutting the ribbon with the winning boundary. Daniel Thrift (1-15 off 8), James Shoulders (1-28 off 5), Gregory Thrift (1-6 off 7), Daniel Andrews (1-25 off 4) and Austin Maher (1-19 off 5.1) all picked up a wicket each for JPC.
FOURTH GRADE
In a replay of last year’s fourth grade decider, Wine Country reversed the ledger with a six-wicket victory over minor premiers Hotel Cessnock at Drain Oval.
Sent in to bat first, the home side were skittled inside 29 overs for just 86, with Karl Capararo (43) making half their runs. Brother Shawn was next best with 12, with Matt Blake making 10. Lewis Sinclair (3-10 off 4), Tim Shields (3-11 off 4.4) and Gary Rauber (2-5 off 4) were the Wood Ducks’ best with the two-piece. The match was completed in the 24th over of the second innings, with Wine Country achieving the small target after losing just the four wickets. After having the winning runs hit from his bowling in last year’s decider, opener Matt Hollis found revenge very sweet as he hit the winning runs. He remained unbeaten on 53, with opening partner Jason Zeller making 15. Blake tried hard for the home side with 3-24 off his eight overs, but the small target was always going to be hard to defend.
The combined CDCA & SDCA junior and senior presentations will be held at East Cessnock Bowling Club on the night of Saturday, April 26. Ticket information will be communicated to all clubs in coming weeks.
