Jackson Gwynne saved his best bowling performance of the Armidale first grade season for the one-day grand final on Sunday.
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Batting first, Easts Ian Ranger gave the team an early scare with Sandy Frend dismissing him for two.
But that brought an in-form Clarrie Moran to the crease to join Cody Graham.
Graham made 17 while Moran top-scored with 43.
Cameron Ashe and Aaron Whackett kept the scoreboard ticking over with 34 and 35.
The remaining six batsmen brought the score up to 179 from the 45 overs.
With his team defending 179, Gwynne tore through Hillgroves top order bowling Matt Baillie for three, Will Waterson for two, trapping Matt Schaefer leg-before-wicket for two, Brad King caught for two and rounding out his opening spell with another lbw in the form of Andrew Brownlie for one.
The first change in bowlers saw Sam Constance and Brandon Burey step up to deliver three more wickets and a run out before Gwynne came on for his next spell.
He sent Andrew Curry back to the sheds for one to finish off the Hillgrove batting lineup for 106 and end with his own figures of 6-17.
Gwynne downplayed his feats, crediting the sides batsmen with laying a platform from the get-go.
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"I am only 17 and haven't played in a whole heap of grand finals," he told The Armidale Express.
"It is pretty cool to win them, I know they don't come around very often.
"I think it always helps having runs on the board though, a lot of credit has to go to the batsmen for that."
With Easts captain Todd Francis a late withdrawal from the match, Sam Uphill stepped into the skippers role.
He said it is always nice to beat long-time rivals Hillgrove in a grand final.
I have been on the other side plenty of times so it is always nice to get a couple under your belt, Uphill said.
"I think we got off to a start with the bat, the boys batted really well," he said.
"To get 180 out here is always a good go.
"We came out here and JG [Gwynne] to start with five in his first spell, that always puts you in a good spot.
"Good to do it without Toddy too, it means we can do it without him.
"Sam Constance did outstanding and bowled really well, bowled some handy overs there and batted really well so it was really good to have him."
It wasn't all doom and gloom for Hillgrove though with 14-year-old Sam Johnson holding his own against what is considered the best pace attack in Armidale.
A late call-up for the grand final, the youngster didn't look out of place.
Johnson came in down the batting order stuck out the innings as wickets fell around him.
His 12 not out, combined with his batting technique, had members of the crowd, even Easts supporters, cheering him on.
He also drew the attention of the opposing side, who believed he looked the best of the Hillgrove batsmen.
Johnson captained Armidale Districts team in this years Walter Taylor Shield which finished third.