RSL caps off another hugely successful season with grand final glory

Narrabri RSL Cricket Club completed another memorable campaign in style on Saturday when they were crowned Narrabri District Cricket Association’s 2023/24 season one day competition champions in both first and second grade.

The two premierships capped off a sensational season for the club that also included the second grade T20 premiership as well as the club championship, which they have now earned five times in the past six campaigns.

RSL’s chairman Jason Trindall, who played in the first grade game on Saturday, told The Courier that he could not have been any prouder of his club and everyone involved both on and off the field.

“It’s been an awesome effort this season, and I couldn’t be prouder of the boys,” Trindall said.

“We just continued to do what we do. As I said last year, it’s going to come to an end one day, but we’ll just enjoy it while we can.

“It’s six in a row for second grade now and four in a row for first grade.

“Both sides really fought hard. In first grade, it was probably one of the best wins I’ve been involved in. Especially being so close in a grand final.

“It’s been a really good year. Toughy and Saundo (RSL captains Jarrett Tough and Justin Saunders) do an excellent effort for the club. Captaining a cricket team is not an easy job. You make decisions and some people will agree with you and some people don’t. It’s definitely not an easy job, no matter what sport you play.”

Trindall also congratulated the RSL men who won individual awards at the presentation after the grand finals at Collins Park on Saturday, as well as the handful of them who played in the Narrabri District Cricket Association’s representative side during the 2023/24 campaign.

He also thanked everyone involved with the club off the field for all their hard work and dedication to give their players the best chance of getting the job done on the field.

RSL scored a nail-biting six-run win against Tourist Hotel in the first grade game at Collins Park.

The RSL men batted first after their skipper Tough won the toss and they made 132 runs before their 10th and final wicket fell at the end of the 41st over. Tourist Hotel then reached 126 runs before losing their last wicket in the 36th over.

The chasing side needed 14 runs to win when their ninth wicket fell in the 35th over, and a Dylan Segundo six followed by a Will Ford wide helped their cause at the start of the following over. Ford then responded with three dot balls before trapping Segundo in front LBW as Tourist fell seven runs short.

The victory continued RSL’s era of dominance that dates back to March 13 of 2021 when they downed the Western Razorbacks by eight wickets in the 2020/21 campaign decider. They have won the past four first grade one day comp premierships.

Cooper Brayshaw was named the player-of-the-final after he top-scored with 41 runs from 62 deliveries and then backed up those efforts with the ball as he claimed team-best figures of 3-31 from nine overs.

RSL’s second XI demolished Tourist Hotel by seven wickets in their grand final at Hogan Oval.

Tourist Hotel batted first after their skipper Kaleb Mowle won the toss and they limped their way to 60 runs before losing their final wicket in the 36th over. RSL then cruised to a comfortable victory as they reached the required total in the 14th over of the second innings having lost just three wickets.

The victory saw RSL claim their sixth consecutive NDCA second grade one day premiership as they extended a streak that dates back to March 23 of 2019 when they won the 2018/19 campaign grand final against the Western Razorbacks by 214 runs.

Including T20 grand finals, RSL has played in all of the past 12 second grade grand finals and they have won nine of them, with two being losses and the other being a washed-out draw that saw them retain the one day cup.

RSL’s Luke Baker was named the player-of-the-final for his sensational efforts with the ball as he took 4-13 from eight overs in the game’s first innings. Tyson Gilmore then brought the game home with a match-high score of 38 runs in the second innings.