The grand final was played on Saturday, the game that the players had been working towards all season.
The weather was cool and quite breezy and caught many a parents off guard. Frantic phone calls were made to bring warmer clothes and lots of coffee.
The Under 16 teams were out warming up are eager to start. Mick Press the official umpire had the boys out on the field and ready to start.
Ballardong batted first and it wasn't long before they lost their first wicket. It was the start of a collapse and they were all out for 42.
Northam Senior High School took their turn at the crease and easily chased down the target. Once they passed the 42 runs the match was declared a win and the Under 16 boys left the field and wandered over to watch the Under 13 match that was still in progress.
The Under 13 game was played in great spirits, during warm ups opposing players were throwing balls down to each other. The players all had great banter both on and off the field.
Renegades won the toss and elected to bowl. The O'Drsicoll cousins Kane and Aiden opened the batting and they got St Josephs off to a magnificent start. Aiden was the first to retire not out on 21 after facing the maximum balls. Kane followed with 28 not out. Loche MacTaggart helped the score by adding 13 runs to the total. St Josephs finished 6/128.
Renegades had a big job ahead of them. They hadn't beaten St Josephs all season and were hoping for a shock upset. Renegades didn't start out well when opener Max Smith lost his wicket. It wasn't long before the second wicket fell and Renegades were 2/7. Jaxon Austin Burns and Evan Clements steadied the ship and slowly added runs to the board. Clements retired and so too did Austin-Burns.
Unfortunately the wickets started to fall quickly again for Renegades which then Clements and Austin-Burns both return to the crease to continue their innings. The balls remaining were nearing the runs required, at one point it was just over six runs require per over.
The crowd could feel the pressure that Renegades had on them. Could they snatch victory. Thirty-five runs required and 29 balls left. Austin Burns calls for a single, MacTaggart scoops the ball up and throws towards the stumps. The bails fly off the stumps from the direct hit. Its all over for Renegades 8/93. St Josephs had won the premiership!
Best Batting St Josephs:
Kane O'Driscoll 28 retired not out
Aiden O'Driscoll 21 retired not out
Best Bowling St Josephs:
Riley Thorpe 2/7 off 4
Loche MacTaggart 2/14 off 4
Best Batting Renegades:
Jaxon Austin Burns 29
Evan Clements 28 not out
Best Bowling Renegades:
Beau Vellios 2/22 off 4
Evan Clements 1/18 off 4.
Presentations
Following the game, presentations were held at the pavilion.
Both U16 Renegades and U13 St Joepshs teams were presented with a medallion each plus the shield.
The U13 shield is kindly sponsored by the family of the late Kevin Watson and the U16 shield sponsored and presented by patron John Lucas.
The NJCA greatly appreciate the continued support from both those families.
The U13 also had awards for best bowling average and aggregate which was won by Jason Jolliffe from St Jospehs.
The best batting average and aggregate was won by Aiden Odriscoll from St Josephs.
Aiden also took home the champion player for U13's. Well done boys.
The U16 award for best bowling average and aggregate was won by Callum Norrish from NSHS Renegades with Dylan Lewis from Ballardong winning the best batting average and aggregate.
The Rutherford shield was also presented to the NJCA for winning the Rutherford Shield competition that was played late in 2018.
The association presented president Nick Norrish with a lounge chair as a thank you for the tireless work and many years of service he has provided to the association.
Cindy Clements received a lovely bouquet of flowers in appreciation of her contributions for the year.
There were many other thank yous that were spoke of at the presentations including to all the coaches for U13, Mick Carter, Scott Romasz, Peter Clements, Brendan and Meagan from York, Jermaine Davis and U16 coaches Nick Norrish and Junior Davis.
Thank you to the coaches for Rutherford Shield, Country Week and Peel Carnival.
Big thanks to the scorers every week and to those who also scored at association games.
Special mention to Kristy Turner who worked behind the scenes on the MyCricet program, helping enter fixtures, players and results.
Without all of these volunteers there wouldn't be any games played, you are all wonderful.
Finally please have a think over the off season about becoming part of the committee or taking on a role in the NJCA.
There are quite a lot of things that need to be covered to enable the season to go ahead and run smoothly.
Many hands make light work.
