Coastal Warriors B-Grade captain Michael Magagnotti accepts the Nutrien Ag Solutions B-Grade Premiers Shield for season 2024-25. Photos: Geoff Vivian.
Coastal Warriors reign as the dominant club in the Esperance Cricket Association was confirmed on Saturday afternoon as its A-Grade side completed a premiership hat-trick and its B-Grade side broke a title drought that had lasted 18 seasons.
The Warriors marched to an eleventh A-Grade premiership at the Multisports Ground after restricting Ports to only 113 from 42.2 overs, after the Blues captain Hayden Smith elected to bat first.
In reply, despite losing captain Jack Gilbert for four in the first over, the pairing of Luke Rosher (43n.o) and David Macleay (63n.o) had an unbeaten 112 run partnership to see the Warriors victorious.
Macleay was particularly brutal in a Man of the Match performance smashing ten fours and two sixes from only 36 balls faced.
In the B-Grade grand final played at Ports Oval, Coastal Warriors totally outclassed the underdogs Newtown winning by ten wickets.
Despite the best efforts of Jake Labuscagne (60 n.o), who carried his bat for the entire Newtown innings, the Demons were restricted to a below par 9/105 from its 40 overs.
Veterans Brendon Tyrrell (39 n.o) and Jon-Paul Adams (57 n.o) then completed an unbeaten 109 run stand inside 26 overs to end the Warriors premiership drought.
It was fitting that Man of the Match Jon-Paul Adams brought up the winning runs with a four, which sparked wild scenes between both Coastal Warriors sides.
