UNITED are once again the Manning River District first grade cricket premiers after coming from behind to defeat Old Bar in a low scoring grand final at Johnny Martin Oval.
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Old Bar gained a six run first innings lead but were unable to make any inroads into the United second innings batting as Josh Ferris led the defending premiers to consecutive premierships.
Old Bar skipper David Rees won the toss and had no hesitation in batting but were soon in trouble at 2/11 with the loss of Paxton Kelly (1) and Adam Fisher (0), both dismissed by Brock Stewart.
Rhys Whitton and Ben Cole took the total to 50 when Cole gave Dean Mills a simple return catch. He made 15. Whitton fell when the score reached 70, caught off Tom Burley for 33 and David Rees was LBW to Mills for just 1, to have the minor premiers reeling at 5/71. Danial Stone and Timothy Rees added 33 before Brock Stewart was re-introduced to the attack and promptly dismissed Rees (15), Mark Burgess (0), Danial Stone (33) and Alex Studdart (0) to leave the innings in tatters. When Murray McCartney bowled Bevan Coleman for 11 Old Bar was all out for 124 in 38 overs. Stewart claimed his best figures of 6/14 from nine overs while Mills' two prized scalps cost him 34 runs from 12 overs.
With an hour and a half to bat, United also got off to a bad start as Ferris slashed at a wide ball from Rees and was caught at point for 2. Five runs later McCartney edged a ball from Kelly which he was lucky to get anything on to the keeper and he was gone for a duck. Laurie Weeks held out until Stone's third over when he was trapped in front for 12 after he and Ricky Campbell got the innings back on track. But in the final over of the day Campbell was bowled by Rees for 45 leaving United on 4/66 overnight and their big three, Ferris, McCartney and Campbell back in the sheds.
Things got better for Old Bar as Matt Kennewell was dismissed for a duck, LBW to Kelly, in the second over on Sunday morning. Burley (8) was bowled by Stone and Kelly rolled Collier (6), Will Donovan (0) and Mills (2) in quick succession to have United languishing at 9/88. But the effervescent Jackson Witts strode to the crease and he and Jonathan Burton played positively to add 30 valuable runs before Burton was caught off Stone's bowling for 7, leaving Witts stranded on 19 not out and United six runs short on 118 from 50 overs.
Kelly starred for the Seasiders with 5/36 from 19 overs while Stone returned 3/24 from 11 and Rees 2/19 from 12.
With ample time remaining for an outright result Old Bar returned to the crease and again suffered from early wicket loss syndrome as Whitton, Adam Fisher and Burgess were out with only 16 on the board, Burley (2) and Witts (1) being responsible. Stone (8) was then well caught by Brock Stewart, who incidentally was named 12th man for the second innings and could not bowl a ball, from Burley's bowling. However while Ben Cole and Dave Rees were together Old Bar looked to be recovering.
But when McCartney was introduced to the attack the momentum swung decidedly in United's favor after Rees had his stumps rattled for 17 and his brother trapped LBW for a golden duck next ball and Old Bar had slumped to 6/61. McCartney trapped Bevan Coleman in front for 3 and Burley removed Kelly and Studdart cheaply before having Cole, who was forced to attend hospital overnight after taking a heavy fall while attempting a catch the previous day, caught at point for 37 to end the Old Bar innings on just 91.
Burley finished with 6/20 from 11 overs, including the final three wickets, while McCartney's victims (3/15 from eight overs) proved pivotal in changing the direction of the game.
With a target victory score of 98 in 1 hours or roughly 23 overs, and on a deteriorating pitch, United needed a good start and they got just that as Ferris and Witts opened the batting. After getting himself in for a few overs Ferris unloaded on the Old Bar attack with powerful drives both through and over the field.
Within 10 overs the result was never in doubt as the joint-venture team charged towards victory and Ferris neared his half century.
But he was dismissed one run shy but with less than 30 needed and from there United cruised to victory, only losing Witts wicket for 15. Ricky Campbell hit the winning runs and was unbeaten on 24 from 10 balls while Burley was 4 not out.