'It has been a long drought': Brothers celebrate cricket premiership

Brothers (141, 2-72) had a convincing win over Cudgen (109) in the final at Oakes Oval.

The Brethren finished the competition rounds as minor premiers and finished the season with eight straight wins.

Brothers took a strong bowling attack into the season with all-rounder Kaleb Auld taking four wickets in the final while English import Connor Lord finished the game with three scalps.

Captain Brendan Mitchell had nothing but praise for his side after the match.

"I am extremely proud of what we have been able to achieve," Mitchell said.

"It has been a long drought and to be able to be a part of the team that was able to break that drought is really special.

Mitchell, 40, has been at the forefront of Marist Brothers since before a couple of his Brothers teammates were born.

"Every member of the team played a role and without each individual role we would not have been able to achieve what we did," he said.

The team comprised Ashley Simes, Joe Parsons, Kevin Warid, Kaleb Auld, Pat Martin, Zayd Thomas, Luke Hamshaw, Cooper Williams, Jeremy Perkins, Tom Parsons and Brendan Mitchell.

Marist Brothers won the coveted LJ Hooker Trophy in win for the ages.

Marist Brothers Cricket Club (MBCC) overcame a classy Cudgen Hornets at Oakes Oval to win their seventh top-tier trophy at damp Oakes Oval on Sunday.

After a tough season, it took until the final round to finalise the order of the top four, Marist Brothers finishing with an outright victory to pinch the minor premiership from Lismore neighbours, and rivals, Goonellabah Workers Sports.

Marist Brothers then accounted for Casino in the Semi's, while Cudgen defeated last years premiers, Goonellabah Workers Sports Club.

The final was off to a fast start, with Marist batters scoring quickly, however Cudgen struck early taking wickets at regular intervals.

Opener Ash Simes was the key early, but when he was dismissed with the score on 7-85, Marist Brothers were in trouble.

A gritty 48-run partnership between youngster Cooper Williams and Jeremy Perkins moved the score to 131, but once broken Cudgen were quick to wrap up the Brothers innings for 141.

In response Cudgen were in trouble early, thanks to UK talent Connor Lord, taking three quick wickets with some fast, straight bowling (Lord from the Lismore Cathedral end no less), destroying the Hornet top order to have them in trouble at 3-10.

Kaleb Auld chipped in with three wickets, and skipper Brendan Mitchell claimed his first scalp the visiting Hornets were in deep trouble at 7-48.

Day one ended with Cudgen on a fragile 8-63, and Marist Brothers in control of the low scoring final with a 78-run lead overnight.

On the second day, Brothers immediately, with Mitchell striking second ball of the day.

With nine wickets down, there was a feeling of inevitability around the ground.

However Zac Blattner (50) hadn't read the script, and together with youngster Harry Kershler they put on a stoic 40 run final wicket partnership that had the Lismore crowd shifting nervously in their seats.

It took a stunning reflex catch in the slips to remove Blattner, giving Brothers an important 32-run first Innings lead.

In the LJ Hooker competition, a win is awarded on a first innings total if an outright win can't be decided following a second Innings.

Marist Brothers openers Simes and 15 year old Parsons came out with intent scoring quick runs.

Despite losing openers Parsons (21 off 14) and Simes (20 off 29), the scoreboard continued to tick over with Warid and Auld batting positively.

With a lead of 104 and eight wickets in hand at the drinks break, and with Cudgen's hopes of a dramatic upset slipping away, Hornets skipper Alec Williams pulled in his troops and advised the umpires that they were conceding.