Colts claim premiership in memorable debut season

Saturday was a momentous occasion for cricket in Narrabri as the Sign Print Stitch Colts won the second grade one day premiership in their debut campaign.

The Colts were formed in the lead-up to the 2024/25 season last year and saw several veteran players from the local clubs team up with local junior cricketers who were looking to make the step up into the senior arena.

They did so in style this season as the Colts placed third on the NDCA’s second grade one day competition ladder and then knocked off the T20 champions Tourist Hotel to qualify for the decider.

Their opponents on grand final day were Narrabri RSL Cricket Club, who entered the contest off the back of six straight premierships.

However, their quest for a seventh fell well short as RSL club legend and 2024/25 season Colts captain Mick Dowdell guided his side to a 61-run victory at Hogan Oval.

The Colts batted first after being sent in by RSL skipper Justin Saunders and Dowdell top-scored with 60 runs from 89 deliveries as his side reached 6-144 in their 40 overs. They then rolled RSL for 83 runs in 28.4 overs to secure the premiership victory in style.

It was the glory that the club well and truly deserved after those who worked hard in the background to get it up and running, most notably Mick and Jess Dowdell, not only gave young cricketers in Narrabri a club to feel comfortable stepping up into senior cricket with, but also ensured the second grade competition would return to a competitive four-team comp and would no longer be a three-team comp with a bye.

The premiership was not the only measure of success though, with local cricketing stalwart and Colts bowler Gareth Lamond telling The Courier after the game that the young players’ improvement as individuals and as team players from round one through to the decider was substantial.

The Colts got off to a flying start to the grand final as opener Steve Hallett set the tone by smashing Saunders for a four and a six in the first over.

Saunders responded with five dot balls in his second over, and fellow opening bowler Rowan Keeler bowled a wicket-maiden in the fourth over of the match as Lucas Duff took a catch at gully to dismiss Brock Allen (3).

That brought Dowdell to the crease and the multiple-time NDCA cricketer of the year combined for a 34-run partnership with Hallett (28) and a 64-run partnership with Lamond to take the side past 100.

Dowdell departed for 60 in the 34th over but Lamond went on to finish unbeaten on 29, and Brendan Jenkins (12) was the only other Colts batsman to reach double digits.

RSL’s best with the ball was Keeler as he took a match-best 4-29 from eight overs, and Luke Baker (2-17 from eight overs) was the only other wicket-taker in the first innings.

The defending champs never really got going in the second innings as the Colts bowled and fielded well. Beau Tomlinson (18) was the only top-order batsman to reach double digits, and the side’s best score came from Neil Brayshaw with 25.

The largest partnership of the day for RSL was only 20, which Brayshaw and Craig O’Connor (12) put on. O’Connor was the only other RSL batsman besides Tomlinson and Brayshaw to hit double digits.

All six bowlers used by the Colts took wickets. Dowdell (3-16 from eight overs) was the Colts’ best with the ball, openers David McInnes (2-17 from six overs) and Kyne Allen (2-16 from six overs) took two each, and the other three were shared between George Barton (1-14 from three overs), Michael Harris-Clayton (1-15 from three overs) and Lamond (1-4 from 2.4 overs).