COLEAMBALLY C grade took on Hanwood in the preliminary final on Saturday at Exies No. 2 oval.
Hanwood won the toss and elected to bat first.
After a pep talk from B grade skipper Craig Mark, the Coly boys were ready to go and opened up their bowling attack with Andrew Noack and Cameron McFadyen.
Both opening bowlers were unlucky to not snare a wicket before the change of bowling, which brought Todd Clark and Adam Mannes in.
Clark made the first break in his second over claiming the first wicket of the day. Mannes also followed with a wicket and ended his stint with figures of 1-18 off four overs.
Lachlan Dunbar was brought in after Mannes to complete the allocated overs before the drinks break.
Hanwood went into the break 2-86.
After the break Jack Weymouth-Smith bowled to his set field, with Sam Casey taking a spectacular catch – right up there with the best of the season.
Unfortunately, Casey had no luck with his own bowling, ending with the figures of 0-14.
The “young” up and coming star in the field was Chris Noack, whose fine fielding skills scored two great run outs.
Shawn Iddles was treated badly by the batsmen, ending his one over with 10 runs being scored off it.
With 12 overs remaining, McFadyen and Noack came back into the attack. Andrew Noack ended with 0-29 off his eight overs and McFadyen came very close to a hat-trick ending with figures of 2-24.
Weymouth-Smith took another two wickets to finish off the Hanwood innings, which stood at 163, providing the biggest run chase the locals have faced all season.
Jacob Breed and McFadyen took to the new ball with an excellent opening partnership of 48, which ended with McFadyen out on 19. Andrew Noack was next to the crease, but left just as quickly with zero added to the score.
Clark came in next and took the remaining shine off the ball until he was dismissed for six. Breed scooped one straight down the throat of the fielder, also departing for a patient 20.
Casey and Dunbar were next in after the drinks break with the score sitting on 4-80, which soon moved to 5-80 with Dunbar’s downfall.
Mannes was next in for a quick seven, getting bowled twice due to a no-ball the first time.
Mitchell Wiseman and Iddles didn’t bother the scorers, both scoring ducks and kit packing duty.
Chris Noack then joined Casey at the crease in the hopes of resurrecting the Coly innings. However, he was clean bowled with a half-tracker ending his innings on 13.
The stand out bowler for the day, Weymouth-Smith then came to the crease for a majestic one not out after Casey skied a full toss ending the Coly innings 17 runs short of the first grand final appearance.
The local team has proven themselves as worthy contenders in their first year in the Griffith competition and will no doubt come back stronger next year in the hope of going further.
The team would like to thank all their sponsor throughout the season, Coly Roadhouse, Tim’s Meats and Magic’s Bobcat and Tipper Hire.
The young Nomads would also like to wish the B grade Nomads best off luck in the grand final this weekend, as well as the two local A grade players who will also be playing the grand final for Exies.
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