OBR opening bowlers Hudson and Jimmy Holden vindicated Purcell’s call. Hudson’s first four overs cost only five runs, while Holden’s first three overs went for 12 runs.
They didn’t take any wickets but then Purcell introduced seamer Timoti Weir into the attack and he bowled David Salmon (14) with a beauty, with the score at 25.
Seven runs later, Weir sent Salmon’s opening partner, Carl Shaw, back to the pavilion, caught by Matt Cook for 11.
Hudson’s countryman Bruce Kerr and Robbie Tallott revived the innings before Kerr (11) snicked a good delivery from Craig Christophers to Purcell, and HSOB were 57-3.
Co-captain Scott Tallott joined his younger brother, but not for long. The elder Tallott was trapped leg before wicket by Christophers for a second-ball duck. HSOB were in trouble at 57-4.
Just before drinks, Nick Greeks pulled off what could prove to be the catch of the season.Greeks was fielding at first slip when Hudson, brought back into the attack, found the edge of Robbie Tallott’s bat. The ball flew hard and low to the right of Greeks, who dived full length and held on to the ball millimetres from the ground.
It was an unbelievable catch from the big fella to dismiss Tallott for 28. In the context of the game, it was a huge wicket as Tallott top-scored for HSOB.
After drinks, Hudson and Hamish Evans (3-16 off 6.5 overs) returned to mop up the tail, leaving their side 98 to win.
With the wicket still favouring the bowlers, it was the turn of the HSOB opening pair of co-captain Jak Rowe and Inder Singh to shine.
Faced with having to bowl out OBR to win, both bowled long spells and captured two wickets apiece, reducing OBR to 35-4.
Unfortunately for HSOB, the pitch started to lose some of its movement. That was when Hudson showed his class and Loffler, his experience.
Loffler fed Hudson the strike while keeping the scoreboard ticking over, and OBR made it four successive trophies — three from last seaon and this, the first of the new season.
“It was a good toss to win and a good way to go into Christmas,” Purcell said.
“Even though we lost early wickets to Jak (Rowe) and Inder (Singh), who bowled well, we knew we just had to see them off and bat for around 30 overs to have a good chance of winning.
“Graham applied himself superbly, all the while talking to Ian at the end of each over.”
Purcell said he never expected the final to be so one-sided.
“I was expecting a high-scoring game from two batting teams.
“One of the things I am really pleased about is that we did it using about 25 players, so it really was a squad effort, with different players coming in to play since the season started.
“Now we’ll get a break and look forward to the Walker Shied and DJ Barry Cup games after Christmas.”
Scott Tallott could have been forgiven for staying in the sheds, then getting into his car and heading straight home after the game. Instead, he fronted up for an interview.
“We could make excuses about the pitch and losing the toss, but at the end of the day, OBR won.
“We didn’t choke. It just wasn’t our day as a team. Sometimes that happens and there’s nothing you can do about it.
“Personally, it was probably the most frustrating game of cricket I’ve ever played . . . out to a second-ball duck. But it was a good ball.
“It would have been the same decision on any other day. It was plumb and there was nothing I could do about it.”
OBR 100-4 (G Hudson 45 not out, I Loffler 16no; J Rowe 2-11, I Singh 2-22) def HSOB 97 (R Tallott 28; G Hudson 3-14, H Evans 3-16, T Weir 2-22, C Christophers 2-4) by six wickets.
