The Warwick Hotel Colts are the Warwick Cricket Association 2021/22 premiers after a great win in the A grade grand final at Slade Oval at the weekend.
It was a win 12 months in the making after their loss to Maryvale in last season’s grand final.
After overnight showers in Warwick, Colts who won the toss sent Maryvale in. James Fern and Jack Ragh opened the bowling. The Maryvale openers had little time to settle before Pat Bourke (3) was caught by Inmon off a delivery from Ragh. The score was 1/5.
The incoming batsman Pat Gordon (6) was having difficulty scoring and was back in the clubhouse after falling to a John Cleary delivery. 2/24 after 14 overs.
Cleary was in the thick of things only a couple of balls later taking a catch off the bowling of Matt Kiernan to dismiss Mitch Darton (12). The score now 3/26 and it is fair to say Maryvale were in trouble. A partnership was needed if the defending premiers were to pull this game out of the fire. Will Gordon was joined in the centre by Michael Bourke and the pair moved the score to 44 before Bourke was out for 12 in the 24th over. Cleary and Kiernan combined again to dismiss the dangerous Maryvale batsman.
The score was moving in the right direction before a good piece of work saw Will Gordon stumped by Maugan Benn off a delivery from Shaun O’Leary for 17.
The dismissal brought Keiran and Paul Bourke together in the middle. The pair put together a much needed 53-run partnership before Paul was bowled by Jack Ragh for 24 with a little more than three overs remaining. The score 6/116.
Maryvale desperately needed a cameo from their tailenders but while Kieran was solid and went about adding to the total batting partners came and went. At the end of the 50 overs Kieran Bourke was unbeaten on 37, the score 8/129.
It was at best a moderate total to chase and Colts were upbeat about their chances although they had seen fist hand what was in the wicket.
Things did not go exactly to plan as Colts began their run chase. Brothers Tom and James Fern opened the batting only to see James run out for a duck by Pat Bourke. The innings just three balls old. The score 1/0 – a perfect start for Maryvale.
Maugan Benn found himself at the crease far sooner than expected but he and Tom Fern looked in control as they moved the score to 49 before he was caught by Pat Gordon off a Paul Bourke delivery. The score 2/49 in the 17th over bringing John Cleary to the centre. Pat Bourke bowled Tom Fern for 12 in the 20th over with the score at 3/51 and Colts were control. Cleary stepped up the pace scoring 28 from 25 deliveries before he was out for 28. The picture was looking bleak for Maryvale. Colts required only 39 to win with six wickets in hand and plenty of overs up their sleeve. Keiran and Paul Bourke combined to dismiss Jack Ragh when the score was 5/111 and the premiership trophy looked to be well on its way to a new home.
Sean O’Leary (n/o 16) and Matt Kiernan (n/o 11) picked up the necessary runs as Colts celebrated a comprehensive win in the 42nd over.
John Cleary was named player of the final after a great all round performance. Cleary finished with 1/13 from 10 overs which included four maidens. He took two catches and scored 28 runs – one shy of the top score.
In what seemed to perfectly sum up the 2021/22 season the Warwick Player of the Year was shared between John Cleary (Colts) and Pat Bourke (Maryvale).
