NAMBUCCA HOTEL: Mick Townsend, Daniel Ledger, Jesse Allan, Michael Stennett, Jason Ahearn, Mathew Ward, Curtis Ellis, Jack Ingham, Neale Howle, (front) Joe Newman, Kurt Stennett, Dane Luffman, Matthew Harper and David Stuart. Photo: Kylie Ellis

THE GRAND final of Nambucca Valley Cricket was played on Saturday with defending premiers Nambucca Hotel taking on minor premiers Nambucca Heads at the Thistle Park turf.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

The wicket looked a belter and well done to the crew who maintained and prepared the wicket all season – it's one of the best wickets on the North Coast.

Nambucca Hotel won the toss and chose to bat under warm and sunny skies.

Hotel lost a wicket in just the second over with Jesse Allan bowled by Alex Hull for three with the score 1/3.

Captain Michael Stennett and Dane Luffman put on 59 for the second wicket as Luffman was caught by Greg Watts off the bowling of Troy Herbert.

Jason Ahern was the next to go, bowled by Tim Moon for seven, and that dismissal was followed two balls later by Matt Ward in the same fashion for a duck.

Nambucca Hotel were 4/71 when Jack Ingham came to to join his captain and he seemed to find the middle of the bat from the word go and some boundaries followed. Stennett did his hamstring running between the wickets and struggled for a few overs before retiring hurt.

But Ingham kept hitting boundaries and was joined by Joseph Newman and the run rate increased. The Nambucca Heads bowlers toiled away but the runs kept flowing. Darrell Flanders came into the attack with medium pacers that were hard to handle and he claimed Newman for 17. Mick Townsend came and went for a duck as Herbert came back into the attack then Flanders finally got rid of Ingham for a well made matching-turning 70.

Flanders then dismissed Dave Stuart for two, and Curtis Ellis was run out off a no ball for three bringing the skipper Michael Stennett 41 not out back in to join his son Kurt 0 not out for the remaining few overs of the innings.

Hotel finished the 40 overs 9/193, an imposing total that would take some getting.

Best bowlers for Nambucca Heads were Darrell Flanders 3/29, Troy Herbert 2/22 and Tim Moon 2/28.

Nambucca Heads openers captain Peter Lee and Jacob Welsh started the huge task of chasing down the Hotel total but both were back in the sheds within the first 10 overs. Welsh was bowled by Mick Townsend for six and Peter Lee bowled by Curtis Ellis, also for six, and Nambucca Heads were 2/18.

Greg Watts and David Marchant tried to get things going. Jason Ahearn came into the attack and dismissed David Marchant for 10 caught behind, then Alex Hull was caught by Dave Stuart for seven. Greg Watts batted well for 33 before he was bowled by Ahearn and Nambucca Heads were 5/66 after 25 overs and struggling.

Troy Herbert and Darrell Flanders put on 19 together, before Flanders was caught by Matt Ward off the bowling of Jack Ingham for eight. Then Declan Cutmore was next to go, bowled by Joseph Newman for two.

Young Kurt Stennett came on for a bowl and was in to the wickets as well, dismissing Llogan Greenup-Stokes for four and then bowling Karl Gadsen for two. That saw No.11 Tim Moon in to join Troy Herbert 35 not out at the wicket with way too much work to do – and Nambucca Heads finished the 40 overs well short of the target at 9/118.

Best bowlers for Nambucca Hotel were Jason Ahearn 3/25, Kurt Stennett 2/8 and the opening bowlers who set the foundation, Mick Townsend 1/12 and Curtis Ellis 1/16 both off eight overs.

Nambucca Hotel winners by 75 runs and premiers for the third season running.

Nambucca Heads should be commended for their season – it was their first year back in the competition after a long break and they managed to win the minor premiership and finish runner-up.

The game was played in great spirit as were all games this season and the players should be proud.