Echuca claims back-to-back flags

Concerns about the pitch and continued rainfall halted play further, and about 2.30pm play was called off.

Echuca’s status as minor premier saw it claim the premiership, its second straight top-grade flag.

“It was a great result by our boys, I honestly think we’ve been the best side all season,” Echuca captain Simon Maddox said.

“It’s just rewards for a great year.

“We said before finals we thought we hadn’t clicked.

“We’ve been one of the better sides all year but we thought we had another few gears.”

And so it was in a demolition job with the bat.

Hinks and James dominated day one of the McMahon Shield decider against Nondies-Cohuna, leaving the reigning premier in the box seat to notch back-to-back flags heading into day two.

Both batters saluted grand final centuries with Hinks belting 108 runs off 189 deliveries and James smashing 116 off 158, powering Echuca to a score of 8-339 at stumps on day one.

Brendan Moyle (49) and Curtis Townrow (29) got Echuca off to a blistering start before Xavier Wishart claimed Nondies’ first wicket of the grand final, bowling Townrow.

Moyle shared a 66-run partnership with Hinks before a mix-up at the crease saw Moyle run out a run short of a deserved half-century.

What looks likely to be the decisive partnership was that of James — who hit his second ton of the season — and Hinks with the two centurions combining for a 181-run third-wicket knock.

James’ innings saw him awarded player-of-the-match honours in the second A-grade premiership for the young batsman.

Maddox said it was a rarity to see two centuries in the same grand final, but also acknowledged the fast start provided by Townrow and Moyle.

“Three hundred and forty in a grand final is huge; two blokes made a hundred and all our bats who went to the crease looked comfortable,” he said.

“I haven’t seen two century-makers in a grand final before, so for those two to front up and do that is great.

“Credit to Curtis and Brendan, we were 1-60 off 10 overs, the field was spread and then Matt and Kobyn came in and batted really well.

“In that partnership, I think there was one half chance.

“The wicket was really good and the outfield was quick. It was conducive to good batting and we cashed in.”

Rhys Bradley had the best figures out of the Nondies-Cohuna bowling attack, claiming 4-80, but in his first A-grade grand final young quick Xavier Wishart ended with three, including the wicket of Townrow for 29.

For Nondies-Cohuna, the result brings to a close a season that saw the men in purple progress to their first decider.

On a pitch conducive to batting, skipper Kyeran Ellery came into the day's play backing his side to get the job done.

“We were pretty confident going in and actually making 340,” Ellery said.

"We thought on another wicket it's probably worth about 250, 260 which is what we made against Moama.

“Ultimately it wasn’t to be with the weather, but Echuca by far were the best side all year.

“As far as we’re concerned it’s well deserved.

“In terms of our season I couldn’t be prouder as a group and as a town to get where we did.

“We’ve had some adversity this year with numerous injuries and player unavailability.

“To actually get to a grand final is impressive as one of the smaller clubs in the competition.”