It has been almost two decades in the making but Western Suburbs have claimed the Maitland and District Cricket Association club championship.
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The Plovers clinched the 2012-2013 crown after accumulating 605 points across the five grades this season.
They beat nearest rivals Thornton Park (582) to the punch by 23 points, while two-time reigning champions Northern Suburbs (579) were a further three behind.
This was Wests’ ninth district club championship title since the award was introduced in 1947-1948 but their first since 1994-1995.
President of the champion club Stephen Kauter said the Plovers were able to get across the line this time after being close on previous occasions.
“We have been close the last three of four years but we were able to pinch one this time,” he said.
“It is something we have been working towards and to be club champions is pretty special.”
Kauter put the success down to a combined effort and not just the three semi-final qualifiers, which includes the third grade minor premiers.
“It has been the performance across the board,” he said.
“We had two teams miss out on semis so it shows that we have been in the hunt all the way.”
Kauter said “club unity” and “camaraderie” were contributing factors to showings on the field.
The club has hosted trivia and karaoke nights as well as raising $1500 for the Maitland Dungog Community Palliative Care at the Chris Mudd Twenty20 Memorial Day.
First, third and fifth grades will represent the club in semi-finals this weekend.
The Plovers’ most successful streak in the club championship standings occurred more than half a century ago with three titles in four seasons (1954-1955, 1956-1957, 1957-1958) while back-to-back success followed in the ensuing decades (1971-1972, 1972-1973 and 1981-1982, 1982-1983).