DENMAN'S heroic efforts in the Singleton District Cricket Association second grade grand final ended in heartbreak at Civic Park on Saturday.
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Up against the 2017-18 champions, the Upper Hunter outfit was in the box seat early in proceedings, with JPC struggling at 7-72.
But, the defending premiers rallied to amass a further 70 runs, which ended up being a huge blow in the scheme of things.
Denman won the toss and sent its rivals to the crease.
It was a decision that paid immediate dividends, with "danger men" Andrew Knox (0), Ash Borg (17), Gregg Dann (0) and Kye Dann (18) back in the pavilion with just 50 on the scoreboard.
Another smattering of wickets, including the scalp of Andy Thomas (20), left JPC reeling at 7-72.
However, Kyle Thomas (29) and Rakesh Ambati (35) turned the tide with a handy partnership of 48.
Further assistance from Matt Heaver (7 not out) and Harry Moore (3) enabled JPC to post 142.
Steve Andrews was the destroyer with the ball, snaring 3-30.
Shaun Wilkins and Chris Bradford also chipped in, both picking up 2-21 from eight overs.
While Ted Denton (1) and John Apps (6) were early casualties for Denman, Karl Bowd (56) and Andrews (13) rectified the situation.
But, when those two batsmen departed in quick succession, the team struck big trouble.
Denman slipped from 2-85 to 6-95.
Jack Mann (14) and Peter Mills (14) provided some rear-guard action, however the side's campaign ended on 131 - 11 runs shy of the target.
B. Driscall collected 3-13 in an excellent spell of bowling and Andy Thomas snared 2-5.
SDCA second grade grand final
Civic Park, Singleton
JPC
A BORG b Wilkins 17
A KNOX c and b Bradford 0
K DANN b Andrews 18
G DANN c Mann b Wilkins 0
A THOMAS b Baker 20
M COLE c Mann b Andrews 2
A STAFA c B Bowd b Andrews 1
K THOMAS c Apps b B Bowd 29
R AMBATI c Hewitt b Bradford 35
M HEAVER not out 7
H MOORE b K Bowd 3
Extras: 10
Total: 142
Fall of wickets: 4, 22, 24, 50, 55, 71, 72, 120, 138, 142.
Bowling: S. Wilkins 8-1-2-21, C. Bradford 8-2-2-21, P. Mills 8-0-0-32, S. Andrews 7-1-3-30, M. Baker 5-0-1-27, B. Bowd 3-1-1-8, K. Bowd .1-0-1-0.
DENMAN
K BOWD c - b G Dann 56
T DENTON c G Dann b Driscall 1
J APPS c - b Kearney 6
S ANDREWS b Driscall 13
J BALL b Driscall 0
T HEWITT b Moore 7
J MANN run out 14
A MURPHY not out 4
P MILLS c - b Stafa 14
B BOWD b Thomas 0
C BRADFORD b Thomas 1
Extras: 14
Total: 131
Fall of wickets: 7, 37, 85, 85, 85, 95, 112, 129, 131, 131.
Bowling: B. Driscall 8-3-3-13, G. Dann 8-0-1-14, N. Kearney 8-2-1-28, A. Stafa 8-1-1-30, A. Borg 3-0-0-17, R. Ambati 1-0-0-1, H. Moore 1-0-1-12, A. Thomas 3.2-0-2-5.
JPC won by 11 runs
