Newcastle's experienced campaigners stood up when it mattered most on Sunday with Nathan Price and Nick Foster helping the visitors claim a fourth NSW Country Championships title in seven seasons.
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Price, in his second representative game back from suspension, scored an unbeaten 113 chasing down Greater Illawarra's 221 at Keira Oval on Sunday after captain Foster took 5-40 from his 8.5 overs.
Newcastle, adding to recent successes in 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18, reached the required target four wickets down with 26 balls to spare in the 50-over decider.
"They [Price, Foster] are our two most experienced guys and they really stood up today," Newcastle coach Shane Burley said.
"They're really good cricketers and already achieved a lot throughout their careers, but it was good to see how much it meant to both of them. To play like that in a final for Newcastle."
Price received the Mark Curry Medal as player of the final.
His innings was made from 112 deliveries, including 15 fours and one six, and he was out in the middle for all of Newcastle's runs.
Batting at No.3, the Wallsend skipper arrived at the crease at 1-0 after opener Daniel Arms was dismissed for a duck.
Price put on a partnership of 46 with Aaron Wivell (33), 77 with Jeff Goninan (19) and 17 with clubmate Jacob Montgomery (eight) before getting the job done alongside Jed Dickson (42 not out).
He and Charlestown leader Dickson combined for an unbroken stand of 83 in the closing stages.
Greater Illawarra's only wicket takers were opener Dale Scifleet (2-37) and Mitchell Hearn (1-32).
Earlier, it was Foster that struck with his off-spinners by dismissing centurion Adam Berwick (105) to leave Greater Illawarra 6-198.
Foster, captaining Newcastle for the first time in a NSW Country Championships final, triggered a collapse of 5-23 and he clinched each of the last five wickets.
Josh Geary (2-43), Aaron Bills (2-44) and Brad Aldous (1-31) also chipped in for Newcastle. Andrew Somerville took three catches.
"There's a lot of hard work that's gone into this," Burley said. "Last year we didn't achieve what we wanted to achieve [missed the final] and we were determined to make amends for that. So it's quite satisfying."
The NSW Country squad for the 2019-20 national championships, being held in Toowoomba from January 3, is expected to be named this week.
"We've had a pretty dominant campaign so hopefully that translates to a strong representation [in the Bush Blues]," Burley said.
"It would be great to see a few of the guys rewarded."
GREATER ILLAWARRA 221 (Adam Berwick 105, Mitchell Hearn 51; Nick Foster 5-40, Josh Geary 2-43, Aaron Bills 2-44) defeated by NEWCASTLE (Nathan Price 113 not out, Jed Dickson 42 not out, Aaron Wivell 33; Dale Scifleet 2-37) at Keira Oval on Sunday.
