Valley/JPC claimed an unprecedented third Coalfields Cup Tier One T20 title in just the fourth year of the competition at the weekend.

It comes after the heavyweights overcame Singleton compatriots Creeks by 97 runs at Howe Park on Saturday 31 January.

After just scraping into fourth spot to make the semi-finals, they claimed the shortened version of the game trophy in emphatic fashion.

Batting first in the decider, Valley/JPC posted a healthy 7-187 from its 20 overs, with opener Alex Thrift notching 69 to cap a memorable day after scoring an unbeaten 101 in the semi-final.

Opening partner Ross Parker also ticked things along at a decent clip with 41, with Isaac Barry making an unbeaten 40.

In a trying night for rival bowlers, Bayden Mulholland was their pick with 2-18 off three, with Owen Daley (2-35 off 3) and Chad Solman (2-26 off 4) chipping in with a couple each.

In an unfavourable tradition, batting second under lights at the ground, Creeks was bundled out for 90 inside 17 overs in reply, with skipper Nathan Hudson (31) and Jake Gordon (17) the only batsmen able to reach double figures.

Valley/JPC seamer Archit Bele was named man-of-the-match with an incredible 6-12 off his four overs. 

The Tier Two decider was a thriller, with Creeks sneaking home by just two runs against Greta-Branxton at Miller Park No. 1.

The side batted first and posted a more than healthy 8-191, with the top order of Chris Unicomb (60), Adam Gehrig (38), Macauley Johnsson (34), Ben Thomas (21) and Hayden Bourke (14) all firing.

Jamie McNamara was the pick of the Greta-Branxton attack with 5-40 off four.

The Blues required 10 from the final over to snatch victory but fell at the final hurdle.

Their great run chase was led by Noah McNamara (94) at the top of the order, who holed out on the boundary looking to bring up his century in style.

Jamie Moore played a supporting role with 39, with Ash Waters making 19.

Unicomb capped an excellent all-round match-winning performance with 3-31 off his four overs.

The Tier Three finale next door at Miller Park No. 2 was also tight, with Piranhas coming away with the trophy by three wickets against Glendon.

Chasing 150 for victory, they achieved the target with 13 balls to spare after losing seven scalps.

TJ Roe led the way from the first ball with 54, with Tom Page (20) and Damon Besoff (19) playing vital roles.

Taj Vesper (3-28 off 3.5), Ethan Newman (2-25 off 3) and Tom Pearce (2-33 off 4) shared the poles for Glendon.

Earlier in the day, Glendon posted a competitive 7-149, with Vesper starting his fine all-round day with 81.

Skipper Clancy Cameron was next best with 29, with Sam Apthorpe (2-15 off 4) and Roe (2-21 off 4) picking up a couple of wickets each.

Forty-over action returns on Saturday 7 February in all grades, with four rounds remaining before the semi-finals begin.

• Mark Bercini

Tier One

Semi-final 1

• Valley/JPC 0/145 (Alex Thrift 101no, Ross Parker 41no) defeated PCH/Glendon 144 (Lachlan Watts 41, Kyle Bailey 33, Karl Bowd 22, Alex Stafa 2-27 off 4, Brandon Carman 2-18 off 4, Tristan Muir 2-35 off 4, Archit Bele 2-27 off 4) at Howe Park

Semi-final 2

• Creeks 4/107 (Steve Abel 41no, Owen Daley 31no, Nathan Hudson 18, Mark White 1-31 off 3, Joey Main 1-25 off 4, Aaron Sweeney 1-9 off 4) defeated Piranhas/Bellbird 104 (Matt Fairlie 48, Ben Fairlie 23, Joey Barber 16, Steve Abel 3-11 off 3.2, Nathan Hudson 3-23 off 3, Owen Daley 2-21 off 4) at Howe Park

Tier Two

Round five

• Creeks 8/126 (Ash Borg 35no, Hayden Bourke 28, Chris Unicomb 16, Mason Kelly 4-14 off 4, Dave Newman 2-22 off 4) defeated Valley/JPC 5/125 (Tate Edwards 50no, Austin Maher 29no, Dave Newman 17, Brendan Leach 3-22 off 4) at Howe Park
• Greta-Branxton 1/107 (Noah McNamara 75no, Adam Vernon 17no, Jake Daniels 1-28 off 3) defeated PCH 104 (Evan Moss 35, Jamie McNamara 4-18 off 4, Jamie Moore 2-9 off 4) at Miller 1
• Piranhas 4/124 (Aaron Zechel 60no, Matt Brodie 27, Muhammad Abdullah Rafique 22, Matt Harrison 1-34 off 4, Zaviar Fullbrook 1-24 off 2, Mac Burgess 1-28 off 4, Jack Rachel 1-6 off 1) defeated Bellbird 6/123 (Cameron Martin 36, Will Burgess 30, Rawson Drage 17) at Miller 2

Fourth grade (40 Over Comp)

• Hotel Cessnock 199 (Jamie Spence 50 ret, Ben Smith 43, Trenten Mascord 28no, Shawn Capararo 28, Jonathan Holt 4-30 off 6, Stuart Matheson 3-37 off 6.5) defeated Wine Country 7/138 (Adam Elbourne 50 ret, Brodey Saunders 20, Jason Gregory 17, Jonathan Holt 17, Dan Field 2-15 off 5, Jamie Spence 2-12 off 5, Phillip Vitnell 2-1 off 2) at Drain Oval
• Piranhas 0/39 (Ben Hipwell 33no, Adam Campbell 5no) defeated Supporters 36 (Scott Minter 22, Logan Marino 6-7 off 6, Kaiden Howson 2-8 off 8, Steve Burgess 2-1 off 1.3) at Baddeley 1
• Denman defeated Greta-Branxton Blue by forfeit
• Valley/JPC defeated Bellbird by forfeit
• Bye: Greta-Branxton White

Points tables

• First grade: Valley/JPC 56, Greta-Branxton 48, Creeks 44, PCH/Glendon 37, Wine Country 33, Piranhas/Bellbird 32
• Second grade: Creeks 49, Bellbird 46, Greta-Branxton 45, Wine Country 41, Piranhas 38, Denman 34, Valley/JPC 29, PCH 28
• Third grade: Hotel Cessnock 50, Greta-Branxton 42, Piranhas White 42, Valley/JPC 36, Glendon 35, Wine Country 35, Bellbird 34, Piranhas Blue 30
• Fourth grade: Hotel Cessnock 67*, Denman 55**, Piranhas 54*, Valley/JPC 48**, Supporters 46**, Wine Country 40*, Greta-Branxton White 37**, Bellbird 36*, Greta-Branxton Blue 29**  

* bye received, no points awarded

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• GALLERY… Historic weekend pushed to background as Jets face tough time on the road
• Holbrook names 28-man squad for Knights’ first hit-out

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