After Rugby Union batted first in the two-day decider at Morse Park 1 and posted 168 runs off 72.3 overs, Redbacks reeled in the total in 50 overs, finishing at 6-172.

It gave Redbacks a four-wicket victory in what the team’s fifth straight grand final appearance and seventh in 10 seasons. 

Mike Waldren claimed the first four wickets for Redbacks – Imran Qureshi (three), Chris Albon (one), Ryan Peacock (duck) and Tyler Horton (two) – in what was a key passage of play according to victorious captain Matt Willis.

“That’s what probably got it for us, the good start. They didn’t really recover from there, but Jameel [Qureshi] and Benny Hurford went alright,” he said.

“[Trent] Hemsworth also got a few [wickets] and the batting was good from Waldren.

“We didn’t bat too well. But we put the pressure on them and played the better cricket on the day.

“We’re just happy with the win.”

Waldren was the best of the bowlers for the Redbacks, taking 4-35 off 12 overs, while Ben Orme claimed 3-66 off 24 overs.

But on top of that, Hemsworth took 2-20 off 15.3 overs and Willis 1-17 off 15. Clinton Moxon was the only player to bowl and not take a wicket (0-24 off six).

After extending their streak of premiership successes, Willis declared his team is experiencing a dynasty.

“It’s kind of like that. We’ll try again next year, but we’ll have a few players leaving,” he said.

“But we have the likes of Olly Simpson, Mark Day and Cohen Schubert coming through, so there should be a few good days ahead.”

The chase got off to a rocky start for Redbacks as opener Greg Adams was out for seven runs.

But Redbacks slowly recovered, with number three Waldren scoring 36 and Willis with 47 after coming in at number five.

Orme kept the momentum going as he was was not out for 54 runs, on what was described as an almost perfect wicket by Willis. 

“It was beautiful, a great deck and fair to bowl on,” he said. 

Rugby Union, who were playing in their first grand final in over 30 years, had some good individual contributions but were unable to end to their premiership drought.

Jameel Qureshi was the best batsmen for the Bulldogs, amassing 66 runs before he was caught out by wicket-keeper John Rudge from a Willis delivery. 

Hurford scored 54 before also being caught out by Rudge, edging an Orme delivery. 

With the ball, rising star Luke Powell took 3-36 off 16 overs, in a match where little went right for the Bulldogs.

New South Wales Combined High School representative Peacock took 2-66 off 16 overs while Mitch Curle (1-22 off six) took the only other wicket for Bulldogs.

Still, if the Bulldogs can retain a bulk of their squad for next season, they can be expected to be challenge for the grand final.

Redbacks won second grade, Blayney won presidents cup and City Colts won fourth grade.