The Moree and District Cricket Association 40-over competition is done and dusted for 2019, with Stallions once again taking out the title with a seven-wicket win over Soapy Rowe in the A-grade grand final.
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Mark Stewart scored a quickfire 73 off 59 for Stallions as they chased down Soapy Rowe's total of 156 with ease, securing the victory with a little over 17 overs to spare to make it three straight titles for Stallions.
"He just got them away to a flyer. Certainly, he was the difference I think," Moree and District Cricket Association president Glen Holland said.
Soapy Rowe looked solid to start their innings, with James Smith (56) and Adam French (30) regrouping after the loss of an early wicket to get their side to 1/92, before Ryan Hunt (5/24) broke the partnership and started a collapse.
Lloyd Munro (35) fought hard in the middle order but no other batsman was able to reach double figures as they were bowled out for 156.
"He turned it around for them (Stallions)," Holland said of Hunt.
"It could have potentially been 200-plus the way they were going."
Ben Day (2/40), Sam Brown (2/53) and Beau McMahon (1/24) took the rest of the wickets.
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Soapy Rowe got the early wicket of Day (9) as they set about defending their total, but by the time Stewart was dismissed, Stallions were sitting comfortable on 3/121 and the result was all but confirmed.
Tom Ryan (38 not out) and Harry Woods (14 not out) finished the chase off as Stallions finished on 3/158 off 22.2 overs.
In the B-grade grand final, the Amaroo Tavern Vikings proved too strong for Colts in a four-wicket victory.
Batting first, Colts could only manage 122, Grady Sinclair top scoring with 41 not out, with Chris Holland (23) and Grady Tapping (18) the next best.
Jem Nash (5/20) and Norman Duke (3/42) led the way with the ball, with Wyatt Roberts and Aaron Annis-Brown taking one wicket apiece.
The run chase was looking a little shaky, with the Vikings sitting at 4/49 at one stage, before Annis-Brown and Lindsay Vandriest steadied the ship.
Ashley Jones (17), Aaron Dudgeon (14) and Daniel West (11) all got starts at the top order, but an important 43-run partnership between Vandriest (19) and Annis-Brown (33 not out) helped set up the win.
When Vandriest was dismissed, Vikings needed just 30 more runs with five wickets in hand, and Annis-Brown held up and end while Clint Thompson (9) hit the winning runs.
Sinclair backed up his performance with the bat, taking 4/26, but it wasn't enough as Vikings took out the B-grade final.
Holland said that the 40-over competition went well, despite a few complaints about it finishing up early, due to concerns over player availability with the Moree Twilight Races on this weekend.
There has also been issues with the turf wicket, which forced some games to be moved around, but that should be sorted for the twenty20 competition which is set to kick off next year.
While not certain yet, Holland said they're hoping play one game per week under lights.
"Everyone plays in the afternoons and we'll hold one game back to play under lights. Hopefully keep a few people there and a few people interested," he said.
He said they're hoping to get 10 teams nominated for the competition, but is confident they'll get at least eight.
The twenty20 competition begins on January 11, 2020.