ADDA Constructions (back from left) Sam Sewell, Matt Jackson, Sam Uphill, Mitch Moore, Bentley Cropper, Cameron Wood, Nick Sewell, (front from left) Corby Kliendienst, Scott Brennan, Michael Dawson, Matt Schaefer and Andrew Williams celebrate winning the Armidale Premier League. Photo: Grant Robertson 150213GRB01
A TIMELY half century from Nick Sewell gave ADDA Constructions the leg-up it needed to win the NEM Armidale Premier League title on Friday night.
He bashed 62 from 51 balls in a good total of 8-138 after ADDA chose to bat against the previously unbeaten Buttercup & Ace Embroidery at the Armidale Sportsground.
That total proved too good for the chasing side, which only managed 6-100.
ADDA lost a wicket in the first over but captain Matt Schaefer and Sewell put on 44 for the second wicket.
That would have been an even better start except for run outs in consecutive overs that removed Schaefer for 21 and dangerman Bentley Cropper for one.
Sewell and Matt Jackson (19) combined for a 45-run stand later in the dig to push the score above the run-a-ball 120.
“We had some good partnerships,” Schaefer said.
“Nick batted really well and a couple of others batted around him.
“There were a couple of silly run outs but it didn’t cost us.
“We came back well after that.
“Nick and Jacko had a good partnership in the middle.
“I’ve said to the boys all along that if someone can get a 50 and there’s a couple of 40-odd partnerships you’ll get a good score.
“120 was par tonight and we got 140 so I was very happy with that.”
Jared Graham took 3-28 for Buttercup & Ace but the run chase was always behind where it needed to be.
The second innings started like the first, with captain Cam Mundy going in the first over.
But instead of building partnerships, Buttercup & Ace lost two more wickets to be 3-20.
Clarrie Moran (26) smashed some quick runs but when he departed the chase was in trouble and, even though Shannon Rafferty (22no) hung around and Kyle Taylor hit a run-a-ball 25, their side only reached the 100 mark with a couple of balls to play.
Cameron Wood picked up two of the early scalps to finish with 2-19 while some tight bowling in the middle overs from Schaefer (1-14) and Cropper (0-17) was enough to put Buttercup & Ace behind the eight ball.
“We got off to a good start by getting Cam in the first over,” Schaefer said. “I think we got into their heads after that.
“I think they thought they had to go for it when they probably didn’t.
“Myself and Chilli (Cropper) bowled some good overs in the middle and that was six overs that gave us some breathing space.”
It was ADDA’s first year in the premier league.
Franchise owners, father and son builders David and Andrew Williams, were pleased to have claimed a title straight away.
“It’s their first year and I think everyone had a good time so they’ll probably be back,” Schaefer said.
“I enjoyed the captaincy too.
“They were a good group of lads.”
The previously winless Hutchinson and Harlow finished the competition with an improved outing in the third place playoff.
A Tom Armitage 50 helped it score 120 against Sportspower despite only having nine men.
Richard Heagney took 3-24 for Sportspower.
Hugh Reckord (3-9) and Trent Snell (3-12) then ripped through a 10-man Sportspower lineup to win by 44 runs.
Luke Brown’s 25 was the only double-figure score in a total of 76.