A season spent developing their young charges has paid off for a group of cricketing dads.
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Prior to the commencement of the season, Jerome Simpson, Dave Schmude, Greg Johnson, Mark McDermott, Andrew Starr, Brad Schumacher and Scott Waterson decided to form a father-son team and enter the third grade competition under the Hillgrove banner.
Winning wasn't their main priority, they were there to pass on their knowledge of the game to their enthusiastic youngsters.
Not only did the teenagers develop and improve throughout the season, they capped it off with a grand final win against last season's runners-up Easts-Anytime.
Six youngsters and five fathers took the field in the decider on Sunday and it was the rising stars who shined.
Batting first on what proved a difficult field to score runs on, David Schmude got things underway with a knock of 40 but it was 15-year-old Ryan Simpson who top-scored for the day.
Simpson smacked 57 not out on the father-son side's way to 5-143.
With the ball, Darcy McDermott opened and claimed wickets early on his way to 3-9.
After his son, Sam nearly stole the headlines in February's first grade one-day final for his standout efforts there, Greg 'the destroyer' Johnson took them back with a surge of wickets late in the game and the final caught and bowled.
Johnson finished with 3-14 but he was the only father who claimed wickets with Hamish Biddle 1-16, Olly Schmude 2-15 and one run out, thanks to a Darcy McDermott throw, seeing Easts-Anytime dismissed for 73.
Of winning the decider, Jerome Simpson said he was "real proud" to win one playing alongside his son, Ryan, and credited their opponents for their sportsmanship.
"We knew it would be a hard game," he said.
"They are a good mob of blokes too. They played it well. We went and had a beer after it.
"Ryan batted really well. When you need a big game out of him he seems to pull one out of a hat.
"He seems to stand tall in those big games. He thrives on the challenge."
The teenagers have stood out at representative level and made their way into first grade teams.
Sam Johnson captained the third-placed Armidale side in the Walter Taylor Shield which also featured a large contingent of players from their club team.
Sam has played first grade games for Hillgrove including a grand final berth where he finished 12 not out and caught the eye of everyone in attendance.
Olly Schmude and Ryan Simpson played senior representative cricket in Armidale's Connolly Cup team as well as being part of the wider first grade squad at various stages throughout the season.
They have also all played junior representative cricket at some stage.
"I think these young fellas have really made a name for themselves," Simpson said.
"A lot of people have stood up taken notice and that was shown by the crowd on the sidelines."
As for next season, Simpson is eager to see them grow further and a move up to second grade isn't out of the question.
"I think a lot of the boys will go up to second grade," he said.
"A few of the fathers will want to sit back with their walking sticks but if they are asked they will go I am sure they will go up."