Cooma celebrate a wicket in the first innings. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
Cooma had the fairytale ending it deserved after a season of unrivalled dominance in B-grade Murray, bringing home the Bill Williams Shield to the little town that could.
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After finishing the Goulburn Murray Cricket home-and-away season with an almost-perfect record of 15-1, Cooma was the team to beat in the finals.
Opponent Leitchville-Gunbower had a tough battle after finishing third with an even record of 8-8.
Leitchville-Gunbower won the toss and elected to bat first at Echuca South Recreation Reserve.
This appeared to be a mistake, as Cooma had Leitchville-Gunbower reeling early after Hunter Fawcett knocked over opener Daniel Hegarty (1) early.
Fellow opener Scott Lucas and Jasper Hare combined well following the early dismissal and got the side back on track.
They managed to steer their way to the verge of 10 overs before Hare’s innings came to an end on 20 after he hit one into the hands of Ethan Palma-Ludeman with Fawcett striking again.
New batter Matthew Hawken worked hard for his single run, facing 20 deliveries before he edged one into the gloves of Kade Hipwell.
Matthew Pollock (1) wasn’t far behind him, lasting just three deliveries before he too nicked off, this time off the bowling of Palma-Ludeman.
Xavier Fawcett led the way with the ball, taking 4-16.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
Lucas continued to toil for his side, remaining a constant stronghold down the other end, as Leitchville-Gunbower batsmen rotated in and out.
Zac Hegarty (11) was valiant in his innings, but again Leitchville-Gunbower was struggling to find a partner to go along with Lucas.
Xavier Fawcett broke through for two quick wickets, claiming the scalps of Kaleb Quinn (6) and Lewis Stubbs (3).
After a defiant 96-ball century that included eight boundaries, Lucas (54) could go on no longer, with Xavier Fawcett claiming his third wicket in succession.
Jimmy Gelletly (13) was the last line of defence for Leitchville-Gunbower as the side was bowled out for just 128, a score lower than the players would have liked in a grand final against the minor premier.
This proved to be the case as Cooma players were firing on all cylinders from the first ball.
Openers Archer Backaway and Liam Scopelliti could not be denied as they raced to 65 before the partnership was split in the 13th over by Zac Hegarty, who hung onto a catch off his own bowling to dismiss the former for 30.
This did not slow down new batter Russell Napier and Scopelliti, taking the side within 35 runs of the target when the latter was beaten all ends up by Kaleb Quinn for a match-defining 43.
That was essentially all she wrote as Napier (22 not out) and captain Cooper Fawcett (21 not out) guided Cooma home to a dominant victory in just 27 overs.
The Game
Leitchville-Gunbower 128 (Scott Lucas 54, Jasper Hare 20, Xavier Fawcett 4-16) were defeated by Cooma 2-129 (Liam Scopelliti 43, Archer Backway 30, Zac Hegarty 1-10)
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