WHEN Macquarie posted 9-272 on day one of the Whitney Cup final those in the crowd said it would take an almighty effort from South Dubbo's talented lineup to get the job done.
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Even for a batting side as deep and as high profile as the Hornets' it did prove to be too much and they fell well short.
After Ben Taylor had done the early damage on Sunday, taking four early wickets to reduce Souths to 4-29, Brad Johnson chimed in late with 3-10 as Souths were dismissed for 124, 149 runs short of their target.
"It was definitely the batting," Macquarie captain Keiran Brien said when asked what was the most important part of the match.
"I've said all season we haven't been firing so it was good we did it at the end so I'm very happy with the batting and that won us the game.
"The pressure with the bowling just topped it off."
Souths were understandably disappointed after the match, not just for losing the match but for producing one of their poorest batting efforts of the season.
"To put all that work in you want to finish the season on a good note and our effort didn't reflect the cricket we've played this summer," captain Tim Berry said.
"But full credit to the blue boys, they've been outstanding all year and 272 was always going to be a tall mountain to climb and we couldn't get there.
"It's disappointing but all the boys tried."
While Brien said his side's batting had the biggest influence on the match, Berry said the turning point came early on day two.
Souths had reached 1-29 but in the space of three overs they slumped to 4-29 with Ben Taylor removing key batsmen Mitch Bower, Greg Rummans and Berry for ducks.
"You can't win a game when your three, four and five get nothing and it's pretty disappoint to finish that way because we haven't done that all season," Berry said.
Taylor was outstanding with the new ball, bowling 15 overs straight and taking 4-34.
He backed up the work done by the batsmen on day one.
Angus Cusack made a classy 59 but it was Jason Green who held the innings together, as he has so many times for the Blues, and top-scored with 65.
Ed Haylock (43), Dan Medway (35) and Dalton Medcalf (33) also chipped in while of the Souths bowlers both Will Lindsay (3-69) and Berry (2-87) toiled all day.
When the final Souths wicket fell on Sunday there was sheer jubilation on the pitch
"It will definitely be a big night," Brien smiled, before speaking about winning a Whitney Cup in only his second seasons as captain.
"It's very good but I had a lot of experience around me.
"For me personally it's good and very happy but as I said there were plenty of blokes around me who could get the job done."
Brien also took a moment to speak about Green, who was the man of the moment after finally won a Whitney Cup grand final after more than 20 years of trying.
"To see his face then when he came running down the wicket just made it all good and I'm definitely happy for him," he said.
In the lower grade matches, RSL-Colts won the Pinnington Cup, South Dubbo Green won the Kelly Cup and Macquarie made it two for the day when they won the Dawson Cup.
A full wrap up of those matches will appear in tomorrow's Daily Liberal.