Unfortunately the chance of a premiership for the mighty under-12s slipped out of the side's despairing grasp in a closely contested grand final played against West Maitland at Maitland.

West batted first and made 104 runs, which was competitive but not unassailable. Wicket takers for the Sharkies were Cole Johnson, Nathan Katz and Zac Watts.

Ben Woolard and Cole Johnson did excellent work in the field, creating runouts to help restrict West's total.

In the Sharks' innings wickets fell but the target was in sight and the probable close result kept everyone the edge of their seats.

Cole Johnson enjoyed the pressure, scoring 22 with support from Will Markham, Lucas Barry and Jordan Barry, who held the later innings together.

In the end the Sharkies fell only 10 runs short. At the start of the season who would have thought this team would contest the GF.

There was great support for coach Graeme Johnson and manager Mark Woolard by all parents and the team bonded throughout the season for an excellent result even though they didn't win.

C Grade

C Grade went into its clash with settlers not have beaten them during the season but confident after a close result last time they met.

Unfortunately for the Sharks the toss did not go their way and they were sent in on a pitch with moisture.

Had the toss gone the other way the Sharks would have sent Settlers in to bat.

All batsmen struggled with the conditions and partnerships were hard to come by. Mark Woolard was best with 23 and was supported by Arron Olderholtz and Brent Johnson.

Their total of 81 did not look like enough and so it proved.

The Sharks took three early wickets to have a glimmer but some excellent bowling failed to get edges and catches went out of reach.

A Grade

The Sharks live to fight on in the Grand Final at Bennett Park Dungog next week after a four-wicket victory over Paterson. Paterson posted 128 in its innings, with Mark Johnson (four wickets) revelling in the conditions and Rod Berry (three wickets) helping to do the damage.

The early Shark batsmen were slow to get going in their effort to consolidate the top of the innings. Brent Bills took 12 overs to score 8 runs. Normally in 12 overs he would have 50.

The ploy seemed to work as although a few wickets were lost the edge was taken off the attack and the middle order of Dave Foot and Mark Bills set about the bowling attack in an unfinished partnership yielding close to a century.

Bills was punishing on anything loose. Hitting a number of big sixes he and Foot both finished on 46 not out to see the Sharks into next week's decider.