SUB PARKS GO BACK- TO- BACK
SUBURBAN Parks have defied a blistering bowling performance from Wests on the opening day of their grand final showdown at Riverway Stadium to claim back- to- back Townsville Cricket A- grade premierships. Sub Parks made 136 runs in their first innings and then bowled Wests out for 87, before closing out the game with a second- innings total of 7- 159.
SUBURBAN Parks have defied a blistering bowling performance from Wests on the opening day of their grand final showdown at Riverway Stadium to claim back- to- back Townsville Cricket A- grade titles.
Wests captain Shaun Curnow ( 5- 32) was named player of the final for his impressive spell, taking the first four wickets of the match to reduce Sub Parks to 4- 21.
Bradley Radford ( 23) and Chris Gartrell ( 27) steadied the innings before Jamie Heit ( 19), Stephen Taylor ( 17) and Mark Danaher ( 16) chipped in down the order to take Sub Parks to 136 for their first innings.
In reply, Wests quickly found themselves in trouble at 2- 10 and never recovered despite the efforts of Patrick Hagenbach ( 29), with Bradley Dunn ( 3- 16) and Taylor ( 3- 20) leading the way to bowl them out for 87.
Adrian West ( 2- 14) gave Wests some hope of batting again as Sub Parks slipped to 4- 66, but Riley Ward smacked a brilliant 80 to help take his side to 7- 159 before stumps was called.
Sub Parks skipper Mark Taviani conceded they were below their best with the bat in the first innings, but he praised their bowling attack as the driving force behind their grand final triumph.
“It was definitely our bowling attack,” Taviani said.
“We probably didn’t put the score we wanted on the board early, but we worked really hard with the ball.
“Our middle order and tail were really important to get us to a total we could really bowl at.
“I definitely would’ve taken 130 after where we were earlier in the day.
“To restrict Wests to under 100 was a really good bowling effort and considering the situation it was really needed.
“Every time you win it’s unbelievable.
“It was another really hard- fought final and I’m really proud of the boys’ efforts this weekend.”
Wests all- rounder Dan Kearney felt they’d let the grand final slip away with the bat after working hard to restrict Sub Parks to a modest total in the first innings.
“The ball was certainly nipping around early and we took advantage of that and got some good early wickets and we probably weren’t disciplined enough with the bat,” Kearney said.
“There’s a lot of guys hurting in the dressing room at the moment so hopefully we can use that as motivation over the off- season then come back bigger and better.”
The grand final was a fitting farewell for Ward, who was the leading run- scorer this season, but admits he’s unlikely to be back next summer as he awaits the arrival of twin girls.
“You never take them ( grand final wins) for granted. It’s nice to win another one,” Ward said.
“I’ve two twin girls on the way in six weeks so I don’t think I’ll be here next season, but we’ll play it by ear.
“I think I’ll have my hands full to be honest.
“We had a great year and after our start ( in the grand final) it was pretty disappointing, but to win it like that is just gravy, it’s great.”