Hibo Gold won the toss and captain Brad Smith elected to bat first. The team, which had placed third in the pre-finals competition, had not won the toss much leading up to the finals, but in this their luck was with them.

Jim Armstrong and Tom Pender opened for Hibo Gold. Armstrong would go on to score 29 before he was dismissed. Pender made 73. The first innings rolled along with the run rate not quite what Smith was hoping for, but the scoreboard was steadily ticking over.

It was well into the innings before the first wicket fell, but consistent tight bowling by the Stags kept the run rate down. It was lower than Smith wanted, hence his pacing and agitation from the other side of the fence. The fast wicket and outfield meant both teams were, given their player line up, capable of high scores.

At the end of their innings, Hibo was four wickets down for 210 runs, an achievable target, particularly with the Stags normally strong batting line up and the fast playing surface.

Opening for Stags were Jack Murdoch and captain Daniel Cooper.

Knowing the capability of these two batsmen, Smith at the northern end paired up with Mik Webber at the south for a pace attack. 

Unbelievably, Cooper’s wicket fell first ball with a knock to the elbow and onto the stumps off Smith’s bowling.

Murdoch went shortly after, caught by Will Croker. The Stags were soon three wickets down with only a handful of runs on the board.

The considerable spectator turnout was stunned, as were players still to bat.

On what should have been a good batting wicket, the favourites to win the premiership were in trouble.

When big hitter Josh Ryrie came in to bat, Smith put himself back on and sent him packing in one over.

The Stags tail end fell quickly, leaving them all out for 58.

The runners up and winners were presented by association president Tim Price, who thanked everyone involved in the season.