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The Port Stephens Pythons have completed the perfect finals campaign by defeating Tenambit Morpeth in Saturday’s grand final at Fieldsend Oval and claiming the 2013-2014 A-grade major premiership.
The Pythons could not afford to slip up during the past three weeks of the post season after finishing the regular rounds in third position and they have risen to the occasion each and every time to clinch the Maitland and District Cricket Association title.
“No words, so incredibly proud to be part of this 13-man squad,” Pythons all-rounder Josh Moxey said. “We have our good days and our bad days, but it’s days like this we play for.”
The Pythons made it look easy in the end, reaching the victory target on Saturday with five wickets in hand and 14 overs to spare after the Bulls posted 125 in their first innings.
But at 4-33 on the alternate synthetic wicket, utilised after allocated venue Robins Oval was ruled out, the Pythons appeared to be in trouble with Bulls opener Danny Johnson (4-33) running riot.
It was a 79-run fifth-wicket partnership between Joshua Dall (57) and wicketkeeper Matthew Rolston (38 not out), which put the Pythons back on the front foot and en route to glory.
Dall scored his half century off 45 balls in less than an hour, striking six sixes and three fours, before being dismissed with the total at 112.
Rolston then took over the reins and got his team across the line for the club’s fourth A-grade grand final triumph since 2009-2010 and ninth since 2001-2002.
Earlier in the day Joel Magnee (3-29) and Mitchell Groat (3-33) took six wickets between them for the Pythons while Adam Sidoti (33) and Michael Crawford (21) made the most inroads for the Bulls.
Port Stephens had accounted for minor premiers Windsor Castle and fourth-placed Raworth to qualify for this season’s decider.
The club made it a year to remember with the Python’s D-grade successful in their grand final on Saturday playing against Regal Hunter at alternate venue Lakeside 3.
It was the complete opposite for Tenambit Morpeth who went down in their second title attempt with the Bulls (69) losing to Windsor Castle (180) by 111 runs at wet weather wicket Beryl Humble Sporting Complex on Saturday.
And in the other grand final fixture from the weekend Windsor Castle, like Port Stephens, also made it a club double with a seven-wicket triumph against Regal Hunter at King Park 3 yesterday after reeling in the victory target of 91 shortly on from the drinks break.