Rup-Murtoa completed a stellar debut Horsham under-16s season by knocking off red-hot favourites Horsham Saints in Monday's grand final at Horsham City Oval. Picture: SAMANTHA CAMARRI
Rup-Murtoa completed a stellar debut Horsham under-16s season by knocking off red-hot favourites Horsham Saints in Monday's grand final at Horsham City Oval.
The combine edged out the previously undefeated Saints by just 14 runs in a thrilling decider that had it all.
Captain Dan Clark praised his team- mates for a stellar performance with the bat and in the field.
He highlighted opener Max Koschmann's half-century, Baillie Batchelor's late innings, Corey Morgan's bowling 4-16 and Mitchell Delahunty's four catches as the game-changers.
The talented teenager, who also won the association batting award with 235 at an average of 58, said his side went into the match with a nothing to lose attitude which helped the players' nerves.
Rup-Murtoa batted first and posted 175, with Koschmann, 52, Batchelor, 39 not out, and Clark, 27, the stars of the show. Koschmann and Clark, who put on a 72-run partnership for the second wicket, both made the Saints pay for dropped catches early in their innings.
Batchelor oozed confidence in his destructive 43-ball knock.
Rup-Murtoa scored 46 off its last five overs after some patient batting earlier in the day.
The Saints' innings started badly, with opener Jacob O'Beirne out second ball after tickling one through to wicket keeper Batchelor. One became two the next over when Jayden Egan lobbed one straight to Morgan at short cover.
Dawson Cross, 31 off 35 balls, and Tom McDonald, 29, got together for a vital 52-run stand, but both fell to Morgan before the midway point of the innings.
The minor premiers were in massive trouble at 6-84 before some late hitting from Oliver Timms, 26, Conor O'Beirne, 25, and Matt Burns, 20, had the Saints back in the hunt. Timms and O'Beirne were particularly impressive, putting on a cool 44-run partnership under pressure, but when they fell late in chase, the momentum swung firmly back in Rup-Murtoa's favour.
It was all over in the 41st over, with the Saints dismissed for 161.
Koschmann was named man of the match, while Saints' skipper Josh Carroll was presented with the association bowling award after taking 16 wickets at an average four this season.