A Michael Rees century steered Western Suburbs to a dominant seven-wicket first grade grand final victory over minor premiers City United at Robins Oval on the weekend.
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The Chris Mudd Memorial Shield man-of-the-match scored 143, including 94 in boundaries, on Sunday in chasing down the 224 posted by City on day one.
The Plovers opener combined with No.3 Aaron Mahony (50) for a 132-run second-wicket stand that put Wests within sight of victory at the tea break.
Rees continued to accelerate in hot conditions and despite being dismissed just shy of the total Wests reached the target with 35 overs to spare.
Luke Merchant hit the winning runs with Wests captain Andrew Trappel at the other end.
Trappel, at the helm for his second major premiership with the club, was full of praise for Rees and his entire squad.
“Mick Rees is a special player and that was a special knock,” Trappel said.
“He had a top score of 45 all year and then he comes out and does that in a final because he is a big game player.
“But everyone played well – we bowled well, caught well, batted well – it was just a great team effort.”
On Saturday the Plovers took wickets at crucial times throughout City’s innings, which included Mitch Fisher bowling Kerryn Ball with the first delivery of the match.
Either side of the tea break Wests clinched 5-35 with pacemen Fisher (3-42) and Luke Kealy (2-58) toiling away for a combined 42 overs.
City’s mainstays were opener Kirk Mullard (66) and No.10 Tim Carrall (46), recovering from 8-147, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a third straight grand final loss for the central Maitland club.
“They gave us something to bowl at today but full credit to Mick Rees,” City captain Matt Trappel said. “It hurts for us but he got the Plovers home.”
Winning players were presented with embroidered towels instead of medals.
In the lower grade grand finals City United won seconds, Wests took out fifths and Raymond Terrace clinched both thirds and fourths.
