The joy and sense of relief was palpable as City United celebrated a hard-fought victory against Eastern Suburbs at Robins Oval on Saturday.
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The win sealed City’s place in the Maitland first grade cricket finals and was just the type of challenge they needed to meet in the lead-in to the finals.
Led by a tremendous 88 from Brendan Allan, and then an eighth-wicket partnership between Lucas Sargent (32) and Jesse Budden (11) Easts challenged for victory until the final overs when they were dismissed for 243 chasing City’s day-one total of 9/272.
“All in all in was great cricket game and we had to fight hard as a team, it was big win for the boys and with two games to go we are still on top of the table,” City skipper Josh Trappel said.
“But full credit to Easts they batted exceptionally well out there.
“The wicket is exceptional and without the best fast bowler in the comp (Tim Baker) we did very well.
“Timmy Burton was exceptional, he bowled so many overs straight and did very well to get the wickets when we needed them and kept the pressure on.”
Burton finished with 3/71 from his 25 overs and spinner Nick Bower took 4/50 from 19.4 overs.
“It was tough work with Easts batting well and putting on constant partnerships,
“They needed 100 with five wickets in hand we had to believe and stick at it and I think we all believed we could do it. In the end we ended up winning by 30 runs but it was an awesome game of cricket.
“It’s really good for the competition that anyone can win on any day. It’s hard to believe that was a game between first and last on the ladder.\
“I asked the boys to show their fighting spirit at the end and that’s what probably got us home.
“It was a big moment in the game and to take that under pressure that flowed through.
“I thought Brendan Allan batted exceptionally, I thought he was great.
“We fielded very well, a couple of dropped chances but we were always up.”
City are at home to Northern Suburbs in a one-day game next week before facing equal top side side Thornton in the final two-day game at Thornton.
“Every win now leading up to the finals is important as this is the time of the year, you’ve got to fire,” Trappel said.
“It doesn’t matter what happened earlier in the season. We were good before Christmas and we lost a few to start after the break.
“That win today might have secured us a finals spot, but we’ve got to keep on winning because the whoever makes the finals will be playing good cricket leading up as they need to be to make the finals.
“We’re not doing it overly easily, but in those tight moments, you are going to come up against at the end of the season, we responded well.”
Easts skipper Jack Bennett said he was extremely proud of his young team.
“That was a great game and we were right in it until the end. We are playing well as a team, it bodes well for the future,” he said.