With the Stags setting the target of 138, the Bunyips managed to claw their way just 20 runs shy of victory before being bowled out for 118 with three overs to spare.

Stags captain Brad Fitzgerald said the last few overs were as nervous as he’s ever played.

“It went down to the wire,” the captain said.

“We knew 137 was under par so I knew that we just had to bowl well and take our catches. Luckily we did just that.”

“We had them on about 6/50 when we went on drinks and we thought we might have been on our way, but when we got back out their batting pair notched up about 50 runs.”

“It got pretty hairy towards the end. All we needed was to get that one wicket.”

Luckily for the Stags - Daniel Cooper was able to provide.

The experienced paceman claimed a magnificent 5/16 wicket haul in his eight overs in a smart bowling performance. “He’s one of those bowlers who when you need a wicket I look to him,” Fitzgerald said.

The Stags had initially started slow after being sent in by the Bunyips on a soggy pitch.

Controlled bowling saw a number of opportunities for the Bunyips but dropped catches let the Lake George team down.

Opener Chad Cosgrove made a healthy 26, including one six, before being caught out, but it was Aaron Swanson who steadied the ship for the Stags.

“I’m not the biggest hitter,” Swanson said.

“I just knew that I had to play smart and choose my shots.”

The Stags become the first second grade cricket team to win the Rod McCabe Cup, named after the late cricket coach who passed last May.

“At the end of the match we all sat down and had a chat over a few beers and I said there was no finer man to have a trophy named after,” Fitzgerald said.

“He was just an all round good bloke.”

1ST Innings - Workers Stags

J Will lbw b C Kellar..........................................................16

C Cosgrove b C Kellar.......................................................26

J Murdoch ct DJ Boyd b M Waldon.....................................1

D Cooper lbw b M Williams...............................................22

D Maddock lbw b R Adams.................................................4

A Swanson not out ...........................................................27

*B Fitzgerald lbw b N Thivy.................................................0

S McDonald ct DJ Boyd b R Adams ....................................0

M COOK lbw b R Adams ...................................................18

J Winters b N Thivy.............................................................8

J Wilson not out..................................................................8

R Eddy dnb

Extras: (nb 0, w 4, b 2, lb 1) 7

Total: 9/137 (cc)

Bowling O-M-W-R

M Waldon 8-2-1-9, M Williams 8-0-1-36, R Adams 8-1-3-26,

C Kellar 8-0-2-23, N Thivy 8-1-2-40

1ST Innings - Lake George Bunyips

SP Duhigg ct A Swanson b J Will........................................0

G Kelly ct J Murdoch b C Cosgrove.....................................4

N Thivy lbw b J Wilson......................................................12

*DJ Boyd run out (J Murdoch) ............................................9

R Adams lbw b D Cooper....................................................2

M Waldon not out .............................................................38

M Williams ct J Winters b D Cooper..................................13

C Kellar ct J Murdoch b D Cooper.....................................23

A Williams lbw b D Cooper..................................................1

NP Sillis lbw b D Cooper.....................................................0

D Woodford c & b C Cosgrove.............................................1

R Morton dnb

Extras: (nb 2, w 10, b 1, lb 2) 15

Total: 118

Bowling O-M-W-R

J Wilson 8-2-2-16, C Cosgrove 8-0-2-26, D Cooper 8-2-5-

16, S McDonald 2-0-0-13

M COOK 7-0-0-27, B Fitzgerald 2-1-0-6, J Will 2-0-0-11