Greta-Branxton will take on minor premiers Valley/JPC in the Coalfields Cup first grade decider at Singleton’s Howe Park this weekend.

The 2023/24 champions booked their place in the big dance following a hard-fought 34-run preliminary final win over a gallant Creeks to end what has been a prosperous year for the Club Singleton-based outfit at Miller Park on Saturday.

Creeks skipper Chad Solman won the toss and asked the home side to have a bat first.

Greta-Branxton cautiously accumulated its innings and was well-placed at 4-151 with still six overs remaining in the innings.

But, thanks to Creeks’ left-arm orthodox spinner Nathan Hudson (6-45 off 7.5), the hosts capitulated and lost 6-14 to be all out in the 38th over for 165.

Skipper Joey Butler (59) drove the ball nicely at the top of the order with a fine half century, with Connor Thomson (28) and Chris Murray (21) the other main contributors.

Hudson’s fine spell of slow bowling was well-supported by fellow spinner Owen Daley, who took 3-27 off seven.

Creeks were reeling at 9-103 in reply.

However, a fighting final wicket stand by Daley and Dan Tracey gave them a glimmer of hope with still plenty of overs to spare.

They were eventually all out in the 30th over for 131.

Daley completed a fine all-round game with an unbeaten 44, as did Hudson with 25.

For the Blues, it was Patrick Andrews (3-40 off 8), Thomson (3-32 off 6.5) and Jace Lawson (2-18 off 8) who did the majority of the damage.  

On adjacent Miller Park No. 2, Greta-Branxton also won through to the second grade finale when it was able to chase down the Piranhas’ healthy total of 225.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, with Matt Brodie blasting 65 from just 45 balls.

He was assisted by Adam Sable (48), while Hayden Farrell (19), Matt Zechel (18) and Aaron Zechel (17) made starts.

Blues skipper Jamie Moore (3-42 off 8) and Kenny Gorton (3-24 off 5.5) took a treble of wickets each.

The home side cruised to victory in reply, achieving the healthy target with nearly six overs to spare and the same amount of wickets in hand.

The Greta-Branxton top order combined beautifully, with Wayne Chandler (77), Nigel Charnock (60no), Tony Williams (40) and Fazel Khan (27) getting the job done.

In a trying day for the Piranhas bowlers, Aaron Zechel was their pick with 2-49 off eight.

Minor premiers Hotel Cessnock bowed out of the third grade race with a shock two-run loss to fourth-placed Wine Country at Drain Oval.

After going down to Bellbird in the major semi the previous week, they failed to recover as they fell agonisingly short of Wine Country’s modest total of 96.

Jason Gregory (39) and Adam Elbourne (24) scored the bulk of their runs, meanwhile Hotel Cessnock skipper Joel Butterfield claimed 5-9 off a very economical eight overs for the hosts.

The home team was cruising at 2-78 in reply, but the wheels fell off in a big way as they were all out in the 31st over for 94.

Liam Beckett (53 retired) and Dylan Stoker (16) were the only batsmen in double figures while, for the Wood Ducks, Darren Sutton (3-10 off 8), Jonathan Holt (3-10 off 4) and Tallen Howson (2-6 off 3) combined beautifully in the upset win.

The fourth grade showdown will see minor premiers Hotel Cessnock take on the Piranhas, after the latter overcame Denman by 47 runs in the prelim at Turner Park.

The hosts managed 9-184 batting first.

After a shaky start that saw them 3-6 at one stage, the middle order recovered the innings on the back of Dean Campbell (48), Ben Hipwell (41) and Adam Williams (40).

Denman’s new-ball trio of Keith Ghent (2-33 off 8), Alex Loredo (2-29 off 6) and Mason Hewitt (2-20 off 6) were the pick of their attack.

In reply, the Devils were all out in the penultimate over of the match for 137.

Plenty of batsmen made starts without pushing on to that one big score they needed to post a threat.

Allan Murphy led the way with 32, with Ghent (15), Hewitt (14) and Timothy Hewitt (13) chipping in.

Kaiden Howson (3-21 off 8), Williams (2-30 off 8) and Logan Marino (2-29 off 8) kept things in check with the two-piece. 

• Mark Bercini

COALFIELDS CUP

Grand final draw:

(1pm start – 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:

• Knights renew commitment to grassroots in Hunter
• Jets’ ‘breathing room’ vanishes after ALM loss to Auckland
• Hoban double keeps Jets in the ALW finals hunt

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