Onlookers and patrons awaiting the main game initially questioned whether Valley could protect its initial 5/126 when facing Creeks.

Their opponents were no strangers to the setting with a majority of the group having featured in the past title winning sides.

However this would be a day for the boys from Valley as a result of dominant bowling showcased throughout the second innings.

“We had a bunch of new players, a fairly new team and half of our blokes had never played cricket before but we’re all mates so it was good to get them all on the park,” Barry said.

“Elliot (Rees) bowled out of his skin with three wickets and then Joe Shoebridge came out after the first change with four so those two were outstanding.”

“Credit also goes to Brendan Whittington, Mal Davis, Tully Winsor and Tristan Muir all with the bat.”

Rees then added, “I haven’t been bowling well the last few games but the captain gave me the opportunity with the new ball and we came through so I did my job and the team did theirs.”

A dropped catch to Barry late in the piece stirred on his critics watching on the Creeks camp.

Nevertheless the 21-year-old captain continued to rise to the occasion as Will Nieuhouse caught out Creeks’ big hitter Clint Harman (less than 24 hours the Valley fielder starred for Group 21 in the Greater Northern Rugby League trials).

“We had 20 qualify for the final but named 15 so it was a credit to the remaining five as well as the sub fielders because no questions were asked there,” Barry added.

“It goes to show how much of a team we are and also our fielding was great.”

Final result: Valley 5/126 (Tully Winsor 28, Tristan Muir 27, Mal Davis 21, Joe Shoebridge 4/20, Elliot Rees 3/18) defeated Creeks 9/109 (Clinton Harman 26, Jarrod Campbell 21, Dan Tracey 2/11).