The Rainbows had stunned the Blues 3-1 in the 2013 decider and had also claimed the 2014 minor premiership on for and against after both teams had tied on the points table and had also won two apiece of the season’s previous matches.

Saturday’s grand final was just as close.

The Blues led 2-nil after three innings and then 3-1 after four before the Rainbows evened it up 3-all at the top of the sixth.

Mick Alldis then broke open the game when he slammed a monster hit to the fence in the eighth inning.

“I thought it was gone,”  Rainbows skipper and starting pitcher Rob Chandler said of what looked like being a home run.

“It hit the fence on the full, they scored a run from it and then another.”

It gave the Blues their 5-3 lead they would hold through the ninth.

Blues skipper and catcher Chris Dyson thought it was one of the plays of the grand final.

“Ryan Handsaker also made two plays in the eighth . They were awesome. 

“The Rainbows put down a bunt and he was able to throw them out at first from third. 

“Then another hit could have gone through the infield but Ryan was able to knock it down and make the play and get the out at second. 

“If he doesn’t make either they probably score at least a run or two and it could have been a lot different.”

He thought starting pitcher John Warren and reliever Alldis were outstanding.

Warren threw 5 and a third innings, finishing with 52 strikes in his 81 pitches while Alldis came up with 26 strikes in his 37 pitches.

 Chandler started on the mound for the Rainbows and came up with 69 strikes in his 101-pitch seven innings, with younger brother Jeff finishing off with 11 strikes in his 16 pitches.

Dyson was named player of the match after he combined a faultless display of catching with three good hits.

Mick Martin,  Warren and  Handsaker also had two hits apiece with  Alldis, Will Burke and Vali Orcher also recording safe hits.

Lachlan Ng, Mitch Holt, Rob Chandler  and James Psarakis all had two hits for the Rainbows with Joey Holt, Jeff Chandler, Sam Holt and Keyton Hislop also producing a safe hit apiece.

Robert Chandler thought his young team “had our chances”.

“We got back to 3-all and it was anyone’s game,” Chandler said.

“They just got a few more hits than us.

“Mick Alldis hit the fence on the full with that hit. I thought it was gone. 

“They scored one and another after it. 

“But they were two out and he had two strikes when he smashed that to the left field fence.

“He’d hurt his back during the week and couldn’t get out of bed but then came out and did that. 

“He’s a class player.”

 It earned the Warriors a 10th premiership in the last 12 years.

They also won the second grade title and club championship however Cougars star Kris Bird  stopped the Warrior dominance when he was named  player of the season.

 Young Gunnedah player  Bailey Keelor also had success when he was named rookie of the year as well as second grade player of the season.