Orange City shrugged off three consecutive Orange District Cricket Association second grade grand final defeats to seal this summer’s title at Country Club Oval last weekend while, across town at Riawena, the Warriors’ third XI was picking up its first premiership since 2013-14.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Both wins were comprehensive too, secured by eight and seven wickets over Cavaliers and Waratahs respectively.
In second grade it was Orange City’s 12th consecutive grand final appearance and the win – the Warriors’ fifth in that period – came on the back of a player-of-the-final effort with the ball from Marty Day and a stoic chase, led by Joey Kay and Blake Weymouth.
After Cavaliers’ first two wickets fell via run-outs from Day and Hayden Streatfield, the former picked up 4-34 from his 16.5 overs, combining beautifully with new-ball partner Tom Waters (3-26) to skittle the maroons for just 119.
Cam Laird fought hard for 35, while Kaleb Cook was the next best for Cavaliers with 30.
Going a long way to winning the game, Orange City skipper Jamie Stedman and Blake Weymouth pushed the Warriors to 0-49 at stumps on day one.
They only added five more before Stedman (25) was dismissed, and Weymouth (33) fell with the score at 74 too, but Kay (46) and Troy O’Keeffe (30 not out) added 61 for the third wicket to get their side home.
“We got the job done for once, which is really cool after so many losses,” Orange City skipper Jamie Stedman said.
“It was a big effort from Cavaliers with a young side, we saved our best for last though and the most enjoyable thing for me is to see our young guys win a premiership.
“Marty and Tommy were both outstanding. Any time I threw them the ball they got the job done, when I needed a bowler I only thought of those two.
“Joey was huge in the field and then to back it up with the bat was great, and Blake’s effort for such a young bloke, he’s only 14, was incredible.”
At Riawena, the Warriors rolled Waratahs for just 118. Nick Da Silva (2-8) and Kyle Walker (2-0) were the best of the bowlers while Jeffy James (35) and danger man Dennis Cyriac (33) made some inroads for the sky blues, before being dismissed.
Jeremy Bartier (12), Harry Cooper (9) and Mark Kennedy (7) all fell reasonably early to leave Orange City 3-46 in the chase, before Mitch Maker (44), Dave Langston (63 not out) and Mick Evans (23 not out) toughed it out to secure the win.
“It was tough work in the field on that first day, it really was. The bowlers had to put it in the right areas and they did that,” Orange City skipper Josh Cheney said.
“Then to chase it down with the rain in front of us, it was brilliant, just brilliant. The thing is, and you see it in this game too, we were a team of 12, 13, 14, 15, even more. All the guys who played always contributed and I couldn’t be prouder.”
Last weekend’s wins were the first time the Warriors have done the second and third grade double since 2013-14, and 1992-93 before that.
Coincidentally, 1992-93 was also the last time Orange City won firsts, seconds and third as well, which the Warriors did this summer as well.
Incredibly, that season was the club’s 25th anniversary, this one it’s 50th.
“That kind of success doesn’t come around all that often. We had a chance in 2013-14 but the bloody first graders much it up by losing to Cavaliers,” Stedman, who played in the 1992-93 success, laughed.
“To do that then in an anniversary year and to do it again this year, it’s something we’ll really cherish I think and I hope all the boys really appreciate how much it means to a lot of the older guys in the club.”
AT A GLANCE
SECOND GRADE
Orange City 3-144 defeated Cavaliers 119 by eight wickets
Orange City: Joey Kay 46, Blake Weymouth 33; Marty Day 4-34, Tom Waters 3-26
Cavaliers: Cam Laird 35, Kaleb Cook 30; Laird 2-31, Zac Pavy 1-6
THIRD GRADE
Orange City 4-179 def Waratahs 118 by seven wickets
Orange City: Dave Langston 63*, Mitch Maker 44; Kyle Walker 2-0, Nick Da Silva 2-8
Waratahs: Jeffy James 35, Dennis Cyriac 33; Chris Rawsthorne 1-14, Manu Mohan 1-15