Leeton defeat Wagga Blue in Warren Smith Cup decider
Leeton has taken out the Warren Smith Cup for the 2019/20 season after knocking off the previous undefeated Wagga Blue side on home turf on Sunday.
Off the back of a confidence-building win over rivals Griffith last weekend, the young Wolves won the toss and elected to bat. After an opening stand which saw Leeton put on 22 runs, Tyler O'Connell (6) was dismissed by Ryley Cowan (1/14), but the wicket did little to slow the Wolves.
GREAT EFFORT: Leeton captain Harry Steele and coach Scott McDonald hold the Cup aloft.
Dan Hillam and captain Harry Steele were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over and started to lay a strong foundation for the Leeton side.
Over the course of the next 10 overs the pair were able to put on 40 runs before Hilliam (30) was out caught and bowled by Connor McGinn (1/19).
Steele (37) kept the score ticking over while Blake McDonald (12) and Noah Maybon also contributed before a mini-collapse but the Wolves under a bit of pressure.
WINNERS ARE GRINNERS: The successful Leeton side who took out the Warren Smith Cup on Sunday. PHOTO: Supplied
The dismissal of Steele with the score on 101 saw the Leeton side lose 4/13 with Thomas Camm (0), Harvey Gay (4)and Maybon (10) making their way back to the pavilion with Jake Scott (3/25) doing the damage as Leeton fell to 7/114.
Thankfully for the Wolves their lower order fired with Max Yelland (10), Chris Iannelli (12), Darcey Cullen (15*) and Emerson Cody (16*) helping their side finish their 50 overs on a very defendable total of 9/177.
The Wolves were able to make an immediate impact with the ball with Hillam picking up a wicket with the fourth ball of the innings before Jack Glanvill and Edouard Grigg led a fightback for the Wagga side.
FIVE-FA: Dan Hillam was the pick of the bowlers for the Leeton side after picking up five wickets. PHOTO: Liam Warren
After a 79-run partnership for the second-wicket Cullen (1/10) made the vital breakthrough to pick up the wicket of Grigg (40) while Glanvill (25) was run out in the next over.
Hillam got back in on the wicket-taking action to take the wickets of Scott (0), Matthew Barton (4) and Liam Davies (2) in the space of three overs to see Wagga fall from 1/79 to 6/89 in the space of seven overs.
Steele (1/21) and Cody (1/6) picked up two wickets before Luke Naumann and Austin Cornell tried to get their side back into the game.
They got past the 100-mark before Hillam (5/34) picked up his fifth for the day before a run out to Camm saw Wagga bowled out for 129 to give Leeton a 48-run win and the Warren Smith Cup.
RELATED