Taylors Arm will be playing in next Saturday’s local A-grade cricket grand final after defeating Ex-Services in a close encounter at Thistle Park.
Ex-Services captain Grant Collison won the toss and invited Taylors Arm to bat first on a wicket that appeared to be a “bit green”.
The father and son combination of Paul and Ben Mulvihill opened the batting and weathered the early assault from Jesse O’Grady and Matt Ward, with Paul going on to score 28.
Tony Johns was the best with 31 while Trevor Welsh and Rick Fry scored 21 apiece.
Taylors Arm was dismissed in 37 overs for 147, with Matt Ward (3/33), Rhys Fuller (2/24) and Grant Collison (2/36) Ex-Services’ top wicket takers.
Ex-Services in reply was dismissed for 133 in 31 overs.
Jesse O’Grady, batting in the middle order, top-scored with 38, while opener James Collison made 23, Matt Ward 19 and Jake Fuller remained 16 not out.
Taylors Arm’s top wicket takers were Rick Fry (4/45 from six overs) and Tony Johns (3/17 from eight overs).
Taylors Arm won by 14 runs and will now play Nambucca Hotel next Saturday at Thistle Park for the A-grade premiership.
Across the road at Donnelly-Welsh Country Club played its way into the B-grade grand final with a win over Talarm.
Country Club won the toss and elected to bat. After losing the early wicket of Phil Smith (4), Richard Spain (35) and Ben Oliver (14) settled down to provide a solid base for the batsmen to follow.
Two wickets fell quickly in the 17th and 18th overs but that opened the way for Stuart Wenham (72) to get things on track again with good support from Neale Howle (10).
There was a late flourish. Stuart (who pulled his hamstring and was run out using a runner), Darryl Crossingham (8), Jason O’Donnell (7), new dad Jim Angel (14) and Dave Ringstad (3 not out) yielded 74 runs in the last 10 overs, with the total finally reaching 180.
Andrew Fredericks (1/25) and Col Moxon (0/17) opened the bowling for Talarm with five maidens in the first 10 overs.
The run rate increased after this initial spell. The bowling honours went to Damien Kearney (2/13) Jenny Brabant (2/ 36) with John and Brian Cowan getting a wicket apiece.
Talarm lost a wicket in the second over but Brian Cowan (18) and Nigel Wilbow (24), Damien Kearney (11), Col Moxon (20) and Greg Chaseling (17) all combined to have Talarm ahead on runs at the halfway mark.
Unfortunately for Talarm the wickets started to fall, (including a hat-trick to Stuart Wenham) and despite a last wicket partnership of 19 between Andrew Fredericks (6) and Jenny Brabant (7 not out) the innings ended in the 33rd over with a total of 125.
The Country Club bowling honours went to an injured Stuart Wenham (three for three off two overs) including his hat-trick.
Darryl Crossingham made the most of a new run-up, taking 3/11 off five overs.
Other wicket takers were Jim Angel (1/12), Neale Howle (1/10) and Phil Smith, who took a sharp catch, bowled 1/25 and affected a smart run-out with a back-hand flick.
Country Club won by 55 runs and now play Warrell Creek next Saturday at Donnelly-Welsh for the B-grade premiership.
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