Gilgandra won the toss and elected to bat first, and while Forbes' opening bowlers Thompson Hurford (0/5 off four overs) and Marcus Hardy (1/12 off five overs) contained their run rate there were a couple of near-misses that had the local supporters on edge.

It was the introduction of the in-form Max Hazell who took his second four-wicket haul for the month - that broke open the Gilgandra attach.

He took four for 16 to have the visitors at 4/34 and then Dempsey O'Connell claimed another to shift the momentum Forbes' way.

A strong partnership between R Mason (who top scored with 22) and L White progressed Gilgandra past 60.

The pressure of some tight bowling by Mac Glasson (2/7 off six) and O'Connell saw Gilgandra from 5/60 to 7/70.

Forbes' other bowlers were Metzeling (0/21 off six) and Jackson Brown (0/8 off one).

However Gilgandra's tail wagged a little and remained stubborn, seeing out their 32 overs to finish on 9/87, a total that in cricket circles creates a lot of nerves.

Forbes' innings then began disastrously with Thompson Hurford run out without facing a ball after an excellent throw side-on by a Gilgandra fielder.

His opening partner Cameron Gordon followed and Forbes was 2/0 - a position this team has not been in before and a real test of character.

The good-sized crowd at South Circle became very quiet, very quickly.

It was the captain Glasson (26) and the more experienced Hardy (41) who put on a partnership of 70 to have Forbes in a dominant position with some 12 overs still to face.

But the Gilgandra Wellington side wasn't going to give up.

Once Glasson was dismissed, O'Connell followed the very next ball and the tension returned to the Forbes camp.

First Metzeling and Hardy, then Hardy and Kennedy, inched the score closer to the required total. But at 77 Forbes lost two wickets and were all of a sudden 6/77.

There was still plenty of time and Forbes' mantra has always been to bat out their overs.

Forbes lost Kennedy on 78 and Field on 81 to be eight wickets down, however the resistance provided by these players saw off Gilgandra / Wellington's more experienced bowlers and Bryce Tandy (0 not out) and Hazell (10 not out) became the heroes of the day, inching Forbes to 8/88 and a victory that was a great relief.

There's no doubt that it was the innings of Glasson and Hardy that put Forbes in the position to be able to win, but Hazell instigated some defining moments in the game and his four over cover to win the game was cheered all the way to the boundary.

Hardy was named Man of the Match and well deserve for his 41 runs, one wicket, two catches and a run-out.

A truly grand, grand final and a great day of cricket at the Forbes grounds.

And watch this space, because the majority of this team will be eligible to defend this premiership title again next summer.

A huge congratulations is extended to both the team and their back-room staff on a new first for Forbes Junior Cricket.