So we meet again.
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That is the story when it comes to Armidale District Cricket rivals Easts and Hillgrove.
The competition heavyweights will pen another chapter of an epic rivalry in this weekend’s A-grade grand final at the Sportsground.
“Since I first started playing at 15, it has been us and Easts in the grand final,” Hillgrove skipper Matt Baillie said.
“I had a few seasons away, but in the time I’ve been here that has been the way it is.”
Easts will be looking to defend the title won last season after a series of defeats in the big dance.
“We had been trying for a number of seasons to get over them in the grand final and we finally did,” captain Sam Uphill said.
“But we’ve gone through a few changes since, we’ve probably got only four or five survivors from that team.
Easts goes in as slight favourites having overcome Hillgrove by 30 runs in the major semi-final and will again try to apply the lessons that worked that day.
“That was the first time we had beaten them this season,” Uphill said.
“We bowled and fielded well.
“There’s not a lot between the sides, so the team that does everything right will win the game.”
Armidale has been lashed by a spate of wet weather in the days leading up to the decider, meaning batting conditions may be testing.
Both sides boast trumpcards with the willow.
Todd Francis (509 runs at 56.56) is the man the Easts order is built around.
Hillgrove will field the competition’s two leading run-scorers in captain Baillie (575 runs at 41.07) and gun all-rounder Matt Schaefer.
Schaefer (514 runs at 39.57 and 35 wickets at 10.46) has the ability to turn the game with either bat or ball.
The Easts bowling attack features four of the top six A-grade wicket-takers, with Baillie well-aware of the danger the quartet of Francis, Uphill, Matt Jackson and Mitchell Gwynne possess.
“The challenge is to bat for the full 85 overs,” he said. “Sam is a threat with the new ball, while Todd and Matt’s spin forms a key part of their attack.”
Hillgrove goes into the grand final without Brad King, who broke his thumb in the final round of the regular season.
But the recent return of South African wicketkeeper-batsman Michael Cursons has boosted the Colts.
Play is from 1.15pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday.
- EASTS: Sam Uphill (captain), Nathan Porter, Aaron Whackett, Donovan Chalmers, Todd Francis, Justin Hickey, Dean Waters, Matt Jackson, Jackson Gwynne, Mitchell Gwynne, Brandon Burey.
- HILLGROVE: Matt Baillie (captain), Tom Browne, Matt Schaefer, Josh Croft, Michael Cursons, Hugh Reeves, Richard Heagney, Max Laurie, Ben Gleeson, Jack Carey, Sean Skinner.