RSL-Colts Red may have sat atop the RSL-Kelly Cup ladder for the bulk of the season, but a final round loss saw Wayne Cole’s side miss out on the minor premiership.
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Heading into the final round with 13 wins from 18 games, Colts Red were favoured to get the job done against Rugby Red but it wasn’t to be in a thrilling contest.
A strong effort from Rugby’s bowlers, led by Garry Goodman (3/46), Mitch Rosenbaum (2/17) and Josh Connelly (2/34), never allowed partnerships to build and Irfan Sagri’s 49 was the top score in Colts’ total of 180.
Rugby Red, which goes straight through to the Dawson Cup grand final, did build partnerships in the chase and that was the difference in a match which was decided on the final ball.
Rosenbaum (57) was key in the win while Sagri took 2/27.
Newtown Black leapfrogged Colts into top spot and moved straight into the grand final after downing CYMS Green in a low-scoring classic.
Newtown Black seemed little chance of winning Brian Carroll’s 4/12 saw them rolled for just 86.
But a stellar bowling from Andrew Gardiner (3/24), Don Skinner (3/11), Scott Barber (2/7) and Craig Pettit (2/14) saw CYMS make just 74 in reply.
Newtown White was already assured of a top three spot but defeat to Macquarie White saw the victors claim a place in the Dawson Cup finals.
Macquarie White, led by Luke Patis (3/10), dismissed the White Tigers for just 63 and then James O’Malley hit 31 not out to guide his side to a massive victory.
Rugby Blue will meet Macquarie White in the Dawson Cup semi after accounting for RSL-Colts White.
Tim Mansour made 58 but Darcy Chewings’ 3/25 for Rugby saw Colts restricted to 9/148.
Bailey Collins (3/32) bowled well for Colts but James Rootes’ 63 led Rugby Blue to a relatively comfortable four-wicket win.
Newtown Gold and CYMS White both missed out on any type of finals but the former finished the season with a fantastic win.
Shawn Townsend’s 60 led CYMS White to 151 batting first while Jackson Dawe claimed 3/15 for Newtown Gold.
The run chase went down to the final wicket and the final over but Chris Lenord (35) and Dawe (30) starred in the chase while Erik Woolnough was 12 not out in the win.
Townsend and Brad Deveigne each took three wickets.
Only pride was at stake for South Dubbo and Macquarie Blue on Saturday but it was the Hornets who claimed a convincing eight-wicket win.
Matt Wakely took 3/13 from eight as the Blues, led by Rich Hawker’s 47, made 142.
The run chase dominated by Noel McGrath, who finished agonisingly short of a century but still guided his side to a huge win and finished unbeaten on 96.