Both Valley/JPC and Greta-Branxton have plenty to play for when the teams clash in this weekend’s Coalfields Cup decider.

Even though defending cricket champions Piranhas/Bellbird fell by the wayside, Saturday’s combatants are no stranger to success either.

The Alex Stafa-captained Valley/JPC suffered a heart-breaking one-wicket loss to the Bellfish in last season’s grand final, while the Joey Butler-led Greta-Branxton lifted the trophy in 2023-24.

It means each outfit knows what it takes to prevail.

And, a belter of a fixture is expected at Howe Park on 21 March.

In what has been a great fourth season of full home-and-away games in the six-team Coalfields Cup, minor premiers Valley/JPC will be desperate to avenge the result from 12 months ago.

They were first through to the big dance following a seven-wicket victory over Greta-Branxton in the major semi.

The Blues, on the other hand, earned their spot having defended their modest total of 165 against Creeks in the prelim at Miller Park. 

Valley/JPC will turn to Ross Parker, Brandon Carman and Stafa to lead the way with the bat as they have done all year.

The skipper is likely to play an important role with the new four-piece, too, along with Archit Bele who has enjoyed a stellar 2025/26 with 24 scalps.

Tristan Muir will also bowl in tandem and boasts an impeccable record against the Blues.

Meanwhile, Greta-Branxton will look to build its innings around Butler, who has peaked at the right end of the season, Connor Thomson and Chris Murray.

First grade Champion Player of the Year Patrick Andrews is again primed to claim early wickets before Jace Lawson and his left-arm tweakers take over in the middle stages of the innings.

Singleton’s picturesque Howe Park will be the stage for this much-anticipated showdown, which is a replay of the epic decider that unfolded at the same ground between the two sides three years ago.

All cricketing fans across the Coalfields district are encouraged to come out and watch what should be a great contest between the best sides in this year’s competition.

• Mark Bercini

Coalfields Cup first grade grand final preview

Valley/JPC (1st) v Greta-Branxton (2nd) 

• Head-to-head this season: Played 3, Valley/JPC 1, Greta-Branxton 1, Abandoned 1

VALLEY/JPC

• Last season: Runner-up
• Captain: Alex Stafa
• Premierships: SDCA – Valley 14 (1967-68, 1969-70, 1973-74, 1976-77, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1985-86, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2017-18); JPC 2 (1986-87, 2006-07); Coalfields Cup – Valley/JPC 1 (2022-23)
• Line-up: Ross Parker, Shane Givney, Brandon Carman, Isaac Barry, Alex Stafa (c), Rhys Giles, Daniel Storey (wk), Archit Bele, Tristan Muir, Chris Bradford, Liam Storey, Matt Wilkinson
• Key three: Ross Parker, Alex Stafa, Tristan Muir
• X-Factor: Archit Bele

GRETA-BRANXTON

• Last season: Second, beaten preliminary finalists
• Captain: Joey Butler
• Premierships: CDCA – 4 (2004-05, 2007-08, joint 2013-14, 2020-21), Coalfields Cup 2 (joint 2021-22, 2023-24)
• Line-up: Mark Bercini, Joey Butler (c), Chris Murray, Connor Thomson, Nathan Holz, Reuben Andrews, Patrick Andrews, Will Regan, Jace Lawson, Ben Regan, Greg Andrews (wk), Andrew Bercini, Jack Roberts
• Key three: Joey Butler, Connor Thomson, Jace Lawson
• X-Factor: Patrick Andrews

Coalfields Cup grand final fixtures

(1pm, Saturday 21 March)

First grade

• Valley/JPC (1st) v Greta-Branxton (2nd) at Howe Park

Second grade

• Bellbird (1st) v Greta-Branxton (2nd) at Carmichael 1

Third grade

• Bellbird (2nd) v Wine Country (4th) at Carmichael 2

Fourth grade

• Hotel Cessnock (1st) v Piranhas (2nd) at Drain Oval

For more sports stories:

• Jets star Rose to blossom in Scottish Premiership
• Hunter Sports Centre kicks new goal with NRL partnership
• Knights’ pathways fire in big weekend across all grades

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