Northern Suburbs have managed to keep their title aspirations alive by sneaking into the semi-finals with a narrow 22-run last round win over Thornton on Saturday.
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The visitors posted 201 and then dismissed the Thunder for 179 with nine balls remaining to seal the fourth and final spot in the Maitland and District Cricket Association first grade play-offs.
Thornton would have taken the same position if the result was reversed on the last weekend of the regular season but instead they finished fifth and just shy of their first finals appearance since 2006-2007.
It came two seasons after suffering a winless summer with Ricky Dent’s men the big improvers. Still, Thornton (39) failed to capitalise on a productive first half of the year and failed to record a victory after Christmas.
It has been the opposite for Norths, who started 2015-2016 sluggishly but since the break have been unbeaten in four starts.
In the space of a month the two-time major defending premiers (47) have surged from sixth to fourth and almost tripled their competition points – two short of those directly above them on the ladder in Western Suburbs and Kurri Weston (49).
That form continued at Thornton 1 on Saturday in what was a tense and keenly fought limited overs battle between two teams with their seasons on the line.
Norths openers Lincoln Mills (29) and Mitch Saxby (35) put on 58 for the first wicket but Thornton medium-pacer Jeremy Kirk (2-44) struck back with two wickets in three overs.
Norths then consolidated with skipper Josh Callinan (46) and Terry Humphreys (30) combining for 60 in the middle order before Dent’s leg spinners (2-22) dismissed both batsmen in the same over.
The departure of all-rounder Matthew Holwell (2) from a Matt Thompson (1-44) yorker swung the momentum back in favour of the hosts at 6-162 but Matthew Wilks (18 not out) and Dave Currey (19 not out) negotiated the last seven overs for 39.
In reply Thornton lost both openers, Chad Ryan (14) and Chris Archer (0), early but Dent (17) and top scorer Jake Moore (56) steadied the ship with a third-wicket stand of 50.
And at 3-104 with 96 deliveries remaining in the final session the match was evenly poised, but a double wicket over from Ben Sayers (3-32) shortly after the resumption of play turned the tides.
The Gabriel family – Matt (19), Peter (12) and last man out Jono (30) – did what they could to pick up the pieces and get Thornton across the line, but fell agonisingly short.
Mills (3-52), Tim Field (2-20), Mitch Field (1-25) and Humphreys (1-20) were the other wicket takers for the Lorn lads.
Norths now face a replay of the last two deciders this weekend with a semi-final showdown at Robins Oval against minor premiers and club champions City United, who made light work of last-placed Eastern Suburbs at East Maitland Park.
City smashed 8-331 from their 50 overs against the Griffins with skipper Matthew Trappel scoring 114 and opener Kerryn Ball posting 71.
Lachlan Wishart (3-78) and Brendan Allen (3-53) split six wickets between them for the home side.
In reply Easts’ skipper Andrew Vickery (58) was the only one to get going as the district’s leading wicket taker Nick Bower (4-30) and opener Ben Davies (3-29) did most of the damage for City.
And over at Coronation Oval it was Western Suburbs who triumphed over Raymond Terrace and edged into second spot ahead of this weekend’s semi-final against Kurri Weston at Lorn Park.
Mark Curran (60) and Luke Merchant (57) made half centuries on the way to a total of 237 for the hosts.
Lions skipper Nick Savage (3-27) was best with the ball for the visitors, along with Will Maher (2-37).
In reply Raymond Terrace were all out for 149 despite the best efforts of wicketkeeper Joey Harden (61) and Aaron Sherritt (35).
Plovers left-arm orthodox spinner Rob Wheildon (5-38) starred with the ball from his 10-over spell.
Wests have a superior quotient to Kurri Weston, who had the bye on Saturday, which puts the Plovers ahead on the overall standings despite having the same number of competition points.
LADDER
City United 57
Western Suburbs 49
Kurri Weston 49
Northern Suburbs 47
Thornton Park 39
Raymond Terrace 32
Eastern Suburbs 12
SEMI-FINAL FIXTURES
City United (1) v Northern Suburbs (4) at Robins Oval
Western Suburbs (2) v Kurri Weston (3) at Lorn Park
*March 6 and 7
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Matthew Trappel - City United
Kerryn Ball - City United
Joey Harden - Raymond Terrace
Mark Curran - Western Suburbs
Andrew Vickery - Eastern Suburbs
Luke Merchant - Western Suburbs
Jake Moore - Thornton Park
Lincoln Mills - Northern Suburbs
Nick Bower - City United
Rob Wheildon - Western Suburbs
Nick Savage - Raymond Terrace
Ben Davies - City United
