By Steve Doble

Despite Grand Final fixtures usually being assigned to neutral grounds Muddies C grade accepted Mareeba receiving a home ground advantage that otherwise may have seen a washed out fixture on the coast. 

Both sides were beneficiaries of fielding players that had not played all season and in both cases had very strong teams for Sunday's match. 

Doble again won the toss for Muddies, choosing to bat and opened the innings with Darlington. 

The pair faced Adam Roy for the first time at a pace not previously witnessed during the season but it was Wallace at the other end that Darlington took to in his typical style, 12 off his first over. 

Darlington skied one delivery that hit overhead powerlines to deflect from a certain boundary into the hands of mid off but the delivery was called dead and re-bowled. 

But the big hitter fell just a few balls later for a dashing 17.

Two balls Troy Shepherd was deemed out LBW for a duck, despite the umpire instructing him to mark the wrong stump at his crease. 

Top scorer from the semi final Sheldon Walz (0) soon followed bowled around his legs, Muddies poorly placed at 3/38 with three quality bats back n the shade. 

An otherwise out of form Julian Harrold arrived at the crease waiting just five deliveries to hit his first boundary. 

He found himself 13 off 11 deliveries before pushing Doble too hard for a second run, the skipper run out again, this time for just three. 

Late call up and past skipper Nathan King partnered with Harrold who had clearly broken his shackles to take the team to drinks at 4/60 off 15 overs. 

Soon after, King, on on 18 runs from 23 deliveries, hit the ball straight to mid off, leaving the Muddies precariously positioned with 13 overs and five wickets in hand. 

Darren Wall (13) rose to the occasion, regularly turning the strike over as Harrold plundered numerous boundaries including 21 runs from one Brewer over before being caught on the boundary for a valuable 48. 

Redfern (11 off 7) and Ryan (15 off 11) played well against the fast pace of a returning Roy who hit Barnes on the shoulder.

Schulz made a duck and blamed his mum for watching. 

The Muddies notched a respectable 145 by the innings' conclusion.

Schulz (1/39 off five overs) bowled in his first spell better than he batted despite his mum still being in attendance breaking through to dismiss Mareeba's quality opener, Taylor in the first over. 

Troy Shepherd's tough day continued when bowling and it was not until King (1/12 off for four overs) was introduced into the attack that Mareeba lost their second wicket. 

Bowlers were switched with regularity, Redfern (1/25 off five overs) at one point managing three overs for just three runs.

Bronson Ryan (0/17 off three overs) bowled five good balls only to be hit for a boundary off his final delivery in the over. 

Number one bowler for the season, Barnes (0/24) went wicketless as Mareeba's captain delivered pain rocking onto the back foot for lusty pull shots to the boundary on his way to a match winning 67 not out. 

Thanks to all our generous sponsors and supporters. 

Muddies were outplayed by a better batting side and did not really get their line and length correct as they had otherwise consistently done all season. 

Schiesser was out injured and perhaps his consistency was missed too. 

This didn't stop the lads from enjoying a celebration for finishing second.

Everyone is welcome back to the club for next season.