After last weekend’s second and third grade preliminary finals and fourth grade and Centenary Cup’s final regular season rounds, Orange District Cricket Association’s lower grade blockbuster decider match-ups have been confirmed.
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In second and third grade Cavaliers and Orange City progressed, they’ll face their grades’ respective minor premiership winners in Orange City and Waratahs.
In fourth grade Centrals-Wanderers secured a massive upset win over minor premiers Spring Hill to leapfrog CYMS into second and set up a grand final rematch with the Wood Ducks.
Centenary Cup’s result didn’t impact CYMS and Kinross’ grand final match-up, but Orange City’s boilover win against the students did help the Warriors finish their campaign on a high note.
That result has forced Kinross to enter this weekend’s grand final with no momentum too.
Cavaliers’ second grade victory over Centrals at Country Club Oval was Stu Middleton’s show, just as he did in the top grade for so long the maroons’ skipper stood up when it counted to inspire his side to a massive win.
Middleton picked up 2-2 from his eight overs – six of which were maidens – as Centrals succumbed for just 100, a total the maroons knocked off for the loss of just two wickets before stumps on the first day.
Middleton was unbeaten overnight and when on to blast a stunning 133 as Cavaliers batted Centrals out of the game, declaring at 9-318.
Centrals didn’t start well, after winning the toss and batting skipper Kyle Nonnenmacher (0) didn’t last long.
Mark Hayman (12) and Brenton Anthony (14) tried to mount a fightback, but both fell in quick time to leave their side reeling at 3-35.
Matt Burgess fell to Fergus O’Shea (3-23) in the next over, and things didn’t improve much from there for the red and blacks.
Only Matt Tedeschi (17) and Adam Simpson (17) put up any real resistance as their side limped to 100.
Cavaliers didn’t start well either and were sitting precariously at 2-17 after Mitchell Cooper (0) and Cam Laird (5) fell early, the scalps giving Centrals hope of a stunning fightback.
But that’s when Middleton came to the crease, joining the unbeaten Kaleb Cook.
The pair made it to stumps and continued into Sunday’s second day, adding 160 for the third wicket and securing first innings points for their side.
Cook finished with a well-made 59, and Middleton added another 67 with Luke Wilson (31) after he fell.
Joel Thomas (13) and Charlie Harris (17 not out) also made contributions from the lower order, with Tedeschi (3-41) and Anthony (2-13) the best of Centrals’ bowlers.
Orange City, largely, has skipper Josh Cheney and veteran seamer Mark Kennedy to thank for its third grade victory.
Cheney won the toss and batted against CYMS at Riawena Oval, and promptly watched his side slump to 8-82 – 33 of which Jeremy Bartier contributed.
In one of the great captain’s knocks, Cheney – who is actually renowned for his stoic defence at end of an innings – combined with Kennedy to add 86 for the ninth wicket.
Just as importantly considering Orange City only needed a draw to progress, Cheney (41) and Kennedy (35) batted into Sunday’s second day and ate up plenty of overs, their side eventually making 173.
CYMS had 50 overs, minimum, to chase that down, but it only took 22 for the Warriors to clean them up.
Cheney was the best with the ball too, taking 3-0 from 1.2 overs, while Sam Kay (2-15), Harry Edwards (2-16) and Mick Evans (2-11) all did a great job earlier on.
Gav Smith was the hero for Centrals-Wanderers at Spring Hill Oval on Saturday afternoon, the victory over the Wood Ducks keeping his side’s title hopes alive.
He clobbered 138 not out to lead the red and blacks to 3-260 from their 40 overs, Damien Caughlan (35), skipper Gareth Faul (34) and Nathan Totten (24 not out) also cracking a few.
The Wood Ducks made a real fist of the chase though and only fell 24 short, which signals a potentially epic finale at Max Stewart Oval this weekend.
Dan Lamb blasted 77 from the top for Spring Hill but ultimately it was the lack of support he got from the rest of the top order which proved costly.
Luke Bingham made 20 and Chris Fieldus made 33, but at 6-173 the Wood Ducks were in trouble.
Andrew Wiegold (29 not out) and Jake Fieldus (26) did add 64 for the seventh wicket, but the task just proved too big.
Orange City’s win in Centenary Cup was just its second of the season, and it was a pretty dominant one.
Alex Walker took 3-18 to help restrict Kinross to 106, Tom Madigan’s 53 the best score.
Caleb Toms then blasted 45 and Darcy Climpson chipped in with a well-made 20 not out as the Warriors cruised to a seven-wicket win.
The second and third grade grand finals are two-day games, fourth grade and Centenary Cup are one-day clashes.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
