Naden has stuck to a simple game plan towards the end of the season, asking that one player come up with a big score and others bat around that player.
On this occasion, it was the Campion schoolteacher who came up trumps, after sharing an opening partnership of 58 with Richard Briant.
“We asked the kids to try to chip in with double-digit figures, and several of them did,” Naden said.
“The plan was to win the toss, set a target and put pressure on Horouta, and it worked.
“Our leg-spinner Liam Barbier took five wickets for eight runs — he was sensational.
“Max Briant also deserves credit. After his first over went for 20 runs, he came back with his next four costing only six.
“Edward Fili-Weti bowled well for his two wickets.”
Tusha Balat top-scored for Horouta with 47 and shared a fifth-wicket stand of 64 with Keegan Martin (26), but Campion and Barbier had the final say.
The loss was a sad end to Greg Taylor’s time as Horouta club captain.
Taylor, his wife Wendy, son Blake and daughter Phoebe have been the backbone of the club in recent years.
“I told the boys at the start of the season that this would be my last year as club captain,” Greg Taylor said.
He would play if Horouta were short, but he was stepping down as club captain and organiser because he wanted to spend more time with his family, he said.
“It would have been nice to go out a winner in the final, but Campion deserved to win.”
Campion College 183-5 (M Naden 70, R Briant 48; T Balat 3-28, B Taylor 2-24) def Horouta 141 (T Balat 47, K Martin 26, P Malhotra 22; L Barbier 5-8, E Fili-Weti 2-34) by 42 runs.
