DUBBO District Cricket Association's decision to make the Brewery Shield a place for up-and-coming representative players has paid off with the youthful side defeating Cobar on Sunday and advancing to this weekend's grand final.
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Matt Ellis' squad will now travel to Wellington in five days' time to take on the minor premiers in the decider after Sunday's 80-run win.
Dan Holland scored 63 in Dubbo's total of 200 before a Nick Karydis hat-trick highlighted another impressive team performance with the ball, knocking Cobar over for 120.
"It was a great day, I was thoroughly impressed with how we went," Ellis said.
"There were some things we could have done better and I told the boys that. At 1-100 at the first drinks I was hoping for more than 200, even though I thought that would be a defendable score but then the application of the bowlers was great, really disciplined line and length and made my job as captain easy."
After Ellis won the toss and elected to bat at No. 2 Oval the opening batsmen once again got Dubbo off to the perfect start.
With Marty Jeffrey and a number of other juniors missing due to under-16s commitments, Holland was called into the side and combined with Asher Robins (12) for a 72-run stand.
At 1-108 in the 20th over things were looking extremely positive for Dubbo but once Holland, Tom Carruthers (25) and Dan French (18) departed there were wobbles in the middle and lower order.
Lachlan Harper (23) and Justin Knudsen (13) helped the score to 200. Cobar star Wade Potter was again a standout for his side and finished with 3-44.
New-ball pair Angus Cusack and Blake Watmore then again created early pressure for Dubbo and had Cobar 1-26 after nine overs.
Jack Busch and Dan Holland continued that momentum and claimed wickets while Phil Harley (51 not out) played a lone hand for Cobar.
The highlight of the day came late in the match though as Karydis entered the attack and claimed a hat-trick. The efforts of the Rugby youngster were even more impressive given the fact each of the three deliveries cannoned into the stumps.
"Nick has really gone from strength to strength and got three consecutive bowled," Ellis said.
"He bowls to a field and is disciplined so I can always rely on him."
Dubbo now heads into this weekend's grand final full of confidence, especially given the fact they defeated Wellington just three weeks ago.
"We've had a few consecutive matches now the boys have tested themselves in different circumstances so it's perfect going into a final and we've got some momentum," Ellis said.
