It was grand final heartache for St Anthonys against Wallan in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association B-grade.
Both teams had been the best two sides all season, so the decider promised to be a classic match, but the Magpies stepped up a level when it counted to claim premiership glory.
Day one was abandoned due to heavy rain, with Saints captain-coach Cameron Clayton saying you could have swam on the ground.
The weather gods shone brighter on day two and play started at the scheduled time.
Both sides have been high-scoring teams throughout the season, and it could have been a hit out, but the Saints restricted the Magpies to 199.
“We bowled really well against a good side,” Clayton said. “They could have batted for two days, but we bowled the best we had all year.
“We just couldn’t get the job done with the bat.”
Kieran Atkin top scored for the Magpies making 50.
Things looked good early in the Saints innings as they were cruising at 1-50 with still more than a day to go.
That’s when things started to go wrong and the Saints collapsed, losing 9-21 to be all out for 71.
Clayton said they just couldn’t do anything right with the bat and were made to pay.
“We would have rather lost to them than a side below us.”
Scott Gilchrist and Brenton Hanson took five wickets apiece for the Magpies, as they needed just two bowlers to get the job done.
The win earns the Magpies promotion to the McIntyre Cup for next season.
They’ll play in that division for the first time since 2014-15.
For the Saints, it’s a second grand final loss in three years, after coming close in 2015-16.
Despite the loss, Clayton said it would be a season of positives with the club going from strength to strength on and off the field.
He said the vibe around the club had been the best it had been during his time there.
“Last year we finished second last and were the laughing stock of the competition,” Clayton said.
“To finish where we did, we’re very proud.
“It’s the first time since 2012-13 we’ve had three sides in the grand final.
“There’s been massive improvement from the group and the club overall.”
It wasn’t all bad news for the Saints on Sunday, with their third XI winning the E-grade premiership, defeating Ashfield.
The club’s second XI side is hoping to add a second premiership to the cabinet on Saturday.
They made 9-378 against Malmsbury in the D-grade grand final.
“We’ll go up there as a club next weekend and support the seconds and hope they get over the line,” Clayton said.
