South Hay Colts premiers in Hay Cricket competition
Pictured are the victorious premiers, South Hay Colts, who battled it out for victory against South Hay Crusaders. Back row, from left: Rupert Lilburne, Monte Barnes, Cooper Scott, Jensen Hargreaves, Tim Zambon, Josh Gardiner, Mick Cattanach. Front row Will Simpson, Lane Griffiths, Hilton Hargreaves, Ned Williamson, Jack Cattanach, Isaac Gardiner. Full story on Page 15. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Margie McClelland
By Mick Cattanach
South Hay Crusaders took on South Hay Colts on Saturday in the Grand Final, the culmination of the local season.
Winning the toss, Crusaders had no hesitation in batting first on a good-looking batting deck. The contest was keen early with the bowling and batting both good qualities, however after some tight early overs Rupert Lilburne struck, trapping Tom McGufficke LBW in the fifth over.
Scoring remained tight, and when Josh Gardiner joined the attack and clean bowled Zac O’Neil in over 11 with the score on 18, the Colts were on top. Simon Bunyan was joined by Jack Headon. The two of them started to lift the scoring before Jack was stumped off Isaac Gardiner's bowling looking to push the scoring with the score on 44 in over 18.
Justin Brown then got to work with Simon and the two of them started to get on top of the Colts bowling, but an excellent piece of out fielding by Rupert Lilburne saw Justin run out trying to get back for a second run. Soon after Simon was stumped off the bowling of Jack Cattanach for a well-made 54 that had ensured the Crusaders were going to have a competitive total.
Some late hitting by Nick Milliken saw Crusaders make a respectable 126 off their allotted 30 overs.
In response the Colts got off to a flying start with 27 on the board in the first three overs before Tim Zambon lost his wicket, bowled by David Caldow. Jensen Hargreaves, who was attacking the bowling, combined with Rupert Lilburne as they continued the momentum to get the total to 67 in over 9 when Jensen was caught in the deep by Jack Headon off Justin Brown.
This brought Rupert together with Jack Cattanach and the two of them gathered in the total despite some very good tight bowling by Alice Caldow.
Batting sensibly as they picked off the loose ball and defended the good one, saw them put on an unbroken 61 partnership to reel the total in with 5 overs left in a comfortable victory for the Colts, as they became Premiers for 2023/24 season.
South Hay Crusaders 5/126 (S Bunyan 54, J Headon 17, N Milliken 15 not out, J Brown 13) were defeated by the South Hay Colts 2/128 (J Hargreaves 45, J Cattanach 40 not out, R Lilburne 28 not out).
Despite respectable efforts, the Crusaders, in this case, lost their crusade for the final. Pictured are the team, Jack Headon, Simon Parr, Simon Bunyan, Nick Milliken, Justin Brown, Ryan Curtis, Devlin Clarke. Front: Sean Aylett, Archie Houston, Zac ONeill, Tom McGufficke, Alice Caldow, David Caldow. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Margie McClelland.
