The Craig Christophers-led Rawhiti Legal OBR won 12 games in a row, lost to Civil Project Solutions Ngatapa Green Caps, then hammered Siteworx Horouta twice.
They went into the last match of the season having played consistently good cricket in the best spirit.
In somewhat of a contrast, HSOB — runners-up in 2020 — took a record of eight wins and seven losses into the final.
HSOB won the toss and chose to bat on a good No.1 pitch at Harry Barker Reserve.
They were on the back foot early when Lloyd van Zyl bowled gloveman Needham for a duck off the last ball of the first over.
Van Zyl (four wickets for 13 runs off 6 overs), new ball partner George Reynolds (1-18 off 6) and left-armer Jannie Jacobs (1-15 off 5) were OBR’s best with the ball.
Christophers conceded 25 runs in his six overs while Amit Vyas (1-34 off 5) completed the five-man seam attack and he and leg-spinner Mana Taumaunu (1-5 off 2) mopped up the tail.
Presidents opener Matt Jefferd made an invaluable 36 from 70 balls and Jeff Chambers, at five, a bright 31 off 43.
These two innings were of incalculable importance to HSOB, who reached 113-8 in their 30 overs.
They looked in deep trouble when they lost their best batsman and most experienced player Glen Udall (bowled by Jacobs for 1) to be 3-25 four balls into the ninth over.
But a 46-run stand for the fourth wicket between Jefferd and the colourful Chambers, the biggest partnership in the match, proved vital.
The Presidents knew the winning or losing of the Hope Cup would come down to breaking up OBR’s right-left opening pair of Christophers and Peter Stewart (7).
Christophers fell leg-before-wicket to HSOB spearhead Jason Lines (1-6 off 6) for what would be the OBR batting line-up’s top score of 16 with the score at 29 in the 11th over.
Four balls later, Stewart was adjudged lbw to Anil Kumar (1-27 off 6) at the same score, 29.
Lines and Kumar bowled through with the new ball to have OBR 2-34 after 12 overs.
From there, seamers Billy Stackhouse (3-12 off 1.3 overs), Yegan Lanka (3-18 off 6) and Nic Armour (2-3 off 2) emerged heroes, alongside Lines’ fine performance.
Presidents backed it up by fielding as if their cricketing lives depended on it.
Armour, fielding at point, caught No.11 Amit Vyas for a first-ball duck off the bowling of Stackhouse to end OBR’s chase at 88 in 26.3 overs.
HSOB captain and wicket-keeper Needham spoke with pride of his outfit’s achievement.
“What a high to finish on,” he said, hailing their “never-say-die team effort when it mattered most”.
“Our bowling unit has been our strength in the last two games especially. We applied pressure through dot balls and made modest totals defendable.
“We believed we could defend 113 if we were able to prize out their quality top-order. In the end it was a very satisfying day and season with lots of smiles on faces.
“That winning feeling will persist through the winter.
“Credit also to OBR. They were the front-runners all season in regards to their high standard and professionalism on and off the field.”
Christophers returned the praise.
“Congratulations to HSOB Presidents on their victory. They showed humility in their win and we appreciated that.
“I’m proud of my team for their effort and attitude this season, with a massive thank you as well to our team sponsor.”
