Both teams were at full strength with Eagles having lost just one match during the season, while Hawks had battled through a tough preliminary final.

Hawks batted first and were facing Eagles’ pitcher Matt Austin.

Matt Smith got their first hit, stole second and came home on Michael Wade’s safe hit to score the opening run.

Smith was then on the mound for Hawks and shut Eagles down in order to end the first stanza.

Hawks then stunned everybody and blew the match wide open in the second dig to put the hot favourites on the back foot.

Safe hits to Mitch McGlashan, Tony Probert, Clint Williams and Smith helped Hawks pile on five runs to take a big lead.

A shell-shocked Eagles’ outfit could not respond and although Brad Jones in the second, Austin in the third and Jedd Miller in the fourth hit safely, they couldn’t put a run on the scoreboard.

Austin regained his composure to shut Hawks down in the third, fourth and fifth digs but it was a long road back for Eagles.

They opened their account in the bottom of the fifth innings as Ben Harris hit safely and came around to score.

Williams and Smith both hit well in the top of the sixth to reply for Hawks and regain their 7-1 lead.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Tuesday’s Sunraysia Daily 07/09/2010.