Cootamundra only managed to score 107, but it was more than enough to win their first O’Farrell Cup challenge in 15 years on Sunday.
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Cootamundra ended Temora’s six-match winning streak with a 39-run win at Nixon Park.
Winning the toss and batting, Cootamundra captain Dean Bradley didn’t believe his team had enough runs on the board but their bowlers made sure their drought in the competition ended.
“We’ve had a few hidings, a few floggings and haven’t always had our best side but the stars have aligned today and we were good enough to win,” Bradley said.
“I thought we were 100 short to be honest.
“We were lucky enough to win the toss on a really hot day and thought if we could have 55 overs and score 200 plus it would have put us in a strong position, but to get rolled for 100 makes it pretty hard.
“But we were good enough in the end and we bowled well.”
John Stephens took 4-15, Bradley snared 3-20 while Dave Garness finished with 3-17 as Temora were bowled out for 68.
The experience quick was thrilled to win an O’Farrell Cup challenge for the first time in his 15-year representative career.
“It is the first time I’ve won it after many, many times,” Bradley said.
“Coota haven’t won it in 15 years so it is good to get it back for at least one game.
“That is what the cup is all about. It is fantastic.”
Matt Berkrey continued his good form with the bat, topscoring with 56.
Bradley thought he set the match up for Cootamundra.
Peter Gerhard took 5-19 to put his team in a good position but they couldn’t back it up with the bat.
Captain Luke Gerhard was disappointed by how they let the cup slip away.
“We done half a job, got 10 wickets for 107 but then we just couldn’t get the runs,” Gerhard said.
“It was a good wicket but we just didn’t do enough with the bat to get a win.
“It’s credit to them, they bowled really well.”
Cootamundra will now play host to Griffith on January 7.
The O’Farrell Cup winning team
- Dean Bradley (Capt.)
- David Garness
- Mark Elia
- Matt Berkrey
- Ryan Connell
- Josh Purtell
- Brendan Gale
- John Stephens
- Adam Twyford
- Jack Caldwell
- Phil Gay
- Tom Grace (12th man)