After taking the cup off Wagga in the last challenge of last season, Holbrook put on a more emphatic display the defend the prize at Holbrook Sports Complex.

Perryman led the way with the teenage leg spinner claiming 4-51 before scoring an unbeaten 44 as Holbrook chased down the 151 needed for victory with eight wickets in hand and nine overs to spare.

Captain Darren Howard was thrilled to take the win.

“It was great and I’m really proud of the boys,” Howard said.

“It’s a bit of uncharted territory as it is the first time we’ve held it over the winter and to defend it against Wagga and win consecutively over Wagga is something I don’t think we’ve done before.”

Perryman was also involved in the run out of Wagga captain Sam Perry (0) off his own bowling.

Batting first, Wagga struggled to build partnerships before crucial efforts from Warren Clunes (32), Joel Robinson (31) and James Richards (24) in the middle order saw them bowled out for 150.

Howard thought it would be a competitive total but Perryman and Todd Hannam (37) led the way as they sustained early pressure from Wagga’s bowlers.

“We talked during the week and knew if you made 150 on this wicket it would be pretty tough and it would be a competitive game,” he said.

“Wagga made that but we picked a pretty strong batting line up and Ed Perryman was absolutely sensational.

“Toddy Hannam came in about mid innings and played a very nice knock too.”

Perry was disappointed the result didn’t go his side’s way.

He thought losing wickets in clumps really hurt his side.

“At the end of the day we didn't score enough runs and they batted pretty well,” Perry said.

Holbrook now tackles Griffith on Sunday with the victor to take on Albury in the association’s first O’Farrell Cup challenge in 13 years.

Despite the loss Wagga’s O’Farrell Cup campaign isn’t over and they will have the last challenge of the season on February 24.

READ MORE