A young Hillgrove side brimming with confidence caused a major upset to claim the Armidale District Cricket Association two-day premiership on Sunday.
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Hillgrove knocked off minor premiers Easts by 21 runs in a low scoring grand final at the Armidale Sportsground.
“There were some great scenes on the field after we won,” Hillgrove skipper Brad King said.
“I enjoyed playing with these young blokes all season.”
The final didn’t start well for Hillgrove on Saturday when they lost gun opener Matt Schaefer for a duck.
But, as had been the case for the most of the second half of the season, Michael Dawson stole the show.
The young opener belted 81 of Hillgrove’s total of 188.
Only King [25] could muster any real support for Dawson.
“Dawso and I were able to put on 50,” King said. “It ended up being a pretty important partnership, but I threw my wicket away.”
But Dawson kept Hillgrove in it and his knock proved the difference between the two sides.
“Dawson just kept going,” King said.
“He’s a class above that bloke.
“He did what he does best and that’s score runs.”
Easts captain Sam Uphill [4-48] bowled courageously for his side as did Sam Constance [3-31]. King said he felt 188 was a below par score at the Sportsground.
“The wicket was difficult early on,” he said.
“I still thought we were a few short, I really wanted 200.”
Hillgrove had some luck early on in Easts’ run chase after Dean Moore and Nathan Porter collided mid-pitch returning for a second run and Moore was run-out for just three.
“I think they were just ball watching and ran into each other,” King said.
Porter followed soon after, which put huge pressure on first drop Matt Jackson and Todd Francis.
Jackson chipped in with a valuable 36, but Francis was out LBW to Schaefer for just nine.
“I think Francis knew he had a lot to do so we put a bit of pressure on and it paid off,” King said.
Tom Toshack [49 not out] and Ben Hanlan [32] gave Hillgrove a late scare, but Toshack eventually ran out of partners when Max Laurie [2-30] skittled Justin McKay’s stumps with the third ball in the 51st over.
“They did get within 20, but I never felt we would lose,” King said.