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And then there were two.
Rugby Union and Bathurst City will contest the 2016-17 Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade grand final this weekend.
It will be a tale of first versus second, after the Redbacks claimed the minor premiership at the conclusion of the regular season and the Bulldogs finished behind them.
While the Redbacks claimed first spot by 9.15 points over the Bulldogs, it was the second-placed team that drew first blood in the finals, courtesy of a five-wicket win in the major semi-final.
Not many people at the Bulldogs can remember the last time the team won a top grade grand final, with reports the drought stretches more than three decades.
All-rounder Ryan Peacock is confident the future is far brighter.
“I think the players coming through from the lower grades can fill the holes that will appear in the next few years,” he said.
“Players like Sam [Macpherson], Jameel [Qureshi] and [Chris] Albon are the core of the team.
“The likes of Mike [Waldren], [Matt] Willis and [Ben] Orme for Bathurst City are players that can really turn the game on its head.”
Not many 20-year-olds can say they have had seven years of first grade experience, but Redbacks star Waldren can.
“This is my first year at Redbacks. I’ve won a grand final at ORC,” he said.
“It’s all semantics till the grand final.
“For Rugby, their batting is their strength. I wouldn’t say it’s a complete flip for us but our bowling is stronger than our batting.”
With two even teams, Peacock believes a BDCA first grade champion won’t be crowned until late on Sunday.
“There are good players on each team,” he said.
“It’ll be a gritty win for whoever wins and whoever plays the smarter cricket will probably get across the line.”
Redbacks have featured in six of the nine grand finals since 2007, when the BOIDC association split. This weekend’s clash is the Redbacks’ fifth consecutive grand final.
Morse Park 1 will be the venue for the grand final, to be held over Saturday and Sunday.
Play will start at 1.30pm on both days.
