ADCA 2025-26: Manypeaks claim B-grade flag as Rory Sutherland earns player-of-the-match honour in close finish

Manypeaks’ rich history of B-grade titles continued with a fifth grand final win in the last eight seasons, prevailing over rivals Royals in a hard-fought contest at Hard North on Saturday. Peaks reached all three senior men’s grand finals in the Albany and Districts Cricket Association competition and their B-grade premiership didn’t come easy. But it was some measure of revenge for Peaks as the Lions stole the A-grade crown in dramatic fashion on the pitch next door. Neil Jones and Rory Sutherland both fell two runs shy of their half-centuries in Peaks’ innings as they set Royals 211 to win in their 45 overs. Jones and Bryce Durack put on 79 for the first wicket before Jones was caught by Angus Thompson off Lorcan McNamara while Owen Smith was next to go, bowled by McNamara for one. Durack fell to a brilliant one-handed catch from Thompson for 33 as Peaks wobbled to 3-91 and then 4-100 when Brent Sheridan went for three, but Rory Sutherland came to the rescue with Aran Tilbury (33) also making a telling contribution. McNamara took 3-13 to be best of the Lions’ attack as Thompson (2-26) and Riley Bessen (2-43) also helped out. Shane Manser and Thompson got the Royals’ reply off to a decent start, putting on 41 runs for the first wicket which came when Manser was caught by Smith off the bowling of Brendan Pollard for 25. Thompson went just one run later, for 12 off 32 balls, to the same double act – Smith catching off Pollard. Ryan Davies (24), Evan Pretorius (26), Matthew Gilfellon (30) and Davey Wignall (31) all made starts but just as they got going Peaks would strike again, disrupting their momentum and slowing their progress. The wicket of Gilfellon, who was bowled by Thomas Sutherland, was probably key as that was the last of the middle order and left the Lions behind the run-rate at 7-160. Owen Pretorius (18) and Cam Newbold (12) raged against the dying of the light in a 26-run stand but Damian Leo’s first-ball duck brought their effort to a close on 193. Thomas Sutherland took 3-38 while Rory Sutherland’s 2-33, plus his 48 with the bat, earned him player of the final honours. Wade Anning (1-24 off nine overs) snared the crucial wicket of Lorcan McNamara for three and Pollard’s 2-25 off eight overs were also vital in the premiership victory.