Belltrees Bath In Glory
The drought is officially over.
Belltrees captain Adam Williamson admits this year’s Upper Hunter District Cricket Association grand final win was one almost half a century in the making.
After two defeats to the Bulls in the regular season the minor premier set a modest target of 129 in this year’s season decider.
It proved to be enough in the end.
“We have a big night of celebrations ahead,” Williamson told The Hunter River Times that evening.
The victorious captain had previously played for Merriwa and Aberdeen before crossing over to Belltrees.
After a coveted career with three clubs, he has finally claimed an A-Grade premiership title at the age of 41.
However, this win was for the club.
“To be honest there was a lot of relief and we hadn’t won an A-Grade premiership as a club in more than 40 years with our last one in 1975/76,” he explained.
“Even though covid came along last year and we were granted the (major) premiership we didn’t actually win the final so this is a vindication for the last two years really.”
Members from their last on-field grand final victory could not help but smile from the hill at the Bill Rose Sports Complex when the drought had finally come to an end.
“You have the likes of Anto White who has been up us forever but we have finally done it,” Williamson concluded.
Bulls players such as McEwan Dawson admitted the match was played in good spirit while also agreeing that Belltrees’ bowler Brad McCosker was the clear man of the match.
McCoskers’ 41st birthday came three days early when finishing the final innings with 5/11.
“It has taken us 45 years to win a grand final; back then we were known as Woolooma-Belltrees in the 1970s,” McCosker added that night.
“That being the case, we now have four and a half days of celebrating to do.”