Western, Newcastle, Western, Newcastle, Western, Newcastle – there’s a trend, and potentially one of Country Cricket NSW’s greatest rivalries, developing here.
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Following the Novocastrians’ win over Central Coast in last weekend’s McDonald’s Country Championship decider, it’s now been six seasons since a side other than Western Zone or Newcastle has hoisted the trophy skyward.
Illawarra was the last to do it, winning in 2011-12 by defeating Western in the decider.
Since then the Baggy Blues and Novocastrians have traded titles, securing three championship wins each in the past six seasons and firmly establishing themselves as NSW Country’s most dominant regions.
Where it was Dubbo’s Jordan Moran leading Western’s win last year, Newcastle skipper Mark Littlewood was the inspiration for his side’s victory over Central Coast.
Littlewood defied illness and injury to lead his side to a nerve-racking three wicket win at Bowral’s Bradman Oval, notching a vital half-ton in his side’s successful chase.
Laid low by a virus in the week leading into the decider, Littlewood was then rushed to hospital after dislocating his finger in the field as Central Coast made 8-234.
He returned, despite the injury, to bat at three and produced a composed, 104-ball 59 and push his side within reaching distance of the win.
He was dismissed with the score at 207, the sixth wicket to fall, but Dylan Hunter (56 from 44) helped the Novocastrians home.
“It was a big effort from Mark,” Newcastle coach Shane Burley said.
“He’s been crook all week and then he dislocated a finger, so he showed his character. He’s a pretty proud Newcastle cricketer and he was determined to get the trophy back where it belongs.”
Central Coast lost wickets consistently throughout its dig, but with plenty of starts the side produced a more than competitive total.
Simon Keen (44), Ryan Fenning (35), Dylan Robertson (34), Lachlan Bell (33 not out) and Chris Archer (26 not out all made starts – the two latter added 62 for the ninth wicket as well – but the lack of any big scores would ultimately come back to bite Central Coast.
Former NSW Sheffield Shield quick Burt Cockley (2-49) and Jonty Durrheim (2-29) – who came into the side for the final – were Newcastle’s multiple wicket-takers, while Nathan Price (1-17), Andrew Somerville (1-20) and Pat Darwen (1-28) chipped in with one each.
Newcastle started reasonably, Price (23) and James Rushford (23) added 37 for the first wicket before the former was bowled, and when the latter was trapped in front the Novocastrians were sitting okay at 2-59.
Darwen (0) and Jeff Goninan (10) fell quickly around Littlewood though, leaving their side in a precarious position at 4-71.
Jed Dickson made a vital 29 to add 65 for the fifth wicket with Littlewood, then Hunter combined with his skipper to push the score to 207.
Littlewood’s dismissal sent a wave of nerves through the Newcastle camp, as did Hunter’s with the score at 223, but Durrheim (14 not out) and Ben Balcomb (3 not out) held their nerve.
It was Central Coast’s second consecutive loss after being defeated by Western the season before.
Newcastle’s victory is sure to add more fuel to the Northern Pool fire, assuming Western remains in that group, heading into next year’s championship – which is guaranteed to once again be pumped up as a showdown between the two powerhouse sides.
TRADING TITLES
How Western and Newcastle have claimed the last six McDonald’s Country Championships:
2017-18 | NEWCASTLE 7-235 (Mark Littlewood 59, Dylan Hunter 56; Chris Archer 2-29) def CENTRAL COAST 8-234 (Simon Keen 44, Ryan Fenning 35; Josh Durrheim 2-29, Burt Cockley 2-49) by three wickets
2016-17 | WESTERN ZONE 3-134 (Jordan Moran 57, Nick Berry 43; Dylan Robertson 1-12) def CENTRAL COAST 133 (Lachlan Bell 48, Kaine Harmsworth 25; Tim Berry 4-18, Jacob McNaught 3-27) by seven wickets
2015-16 | NEWCASTLE 9-257 (Pat Darwen 55, Grant Stewart 55; Cameron Suidgeest 3-55, Mark Bennett 2-35) def SOUTHERN-ACT 8-254 (Michael Arblaster 48, Ben Mitchell 46; Pat Darwen 4-38, Nick Foster 1-25) by three runs
2014-15 | WESTERN ZONE 4-275 (Jordan Moran 105 not out, Anthony Heraghty 98; Bryan Warren 2-53) def NEWCASTLE 6-274 (Joe Price 131, Mark Littlewood 52; Curtis Free 3-53, Ben Patterson 2-30) by six wickets
2013-14 | NEWCASTLE 9-190 (Joe Price 74 not out, Greg Hunt 45; Oscar Oborn-Corby 4-27, Jono Cook 2-30) def ILLAWARRA 189 (Michael Stephenson 45, Mark Johnson 32; Brad Aldous 3-30, Ray Cooper 3-45) by one wicket
2012-13 | WESTERN ZONE 8-198 (Trent Colley 65, Jordan Moran 33; Chris Archer 3-33, Ben Sunshine 2-19) def CENTRAL COAST 195 (Matt Jones 56, Dane Hokin 42; Tim Cox 4-24, James O’Brien 2-15)
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
