McNamara posted an unbeaten 66 and then snared 5-22 in the 15-run win.

“Paddy was definitely the difference today (Sunday),” Wangaratta Blue coach Carl Norton said.

“He came in early when we’d lost wickets and he had numerous partnerships.

“His effort with the ball when it was tight was pivotal.”

Wangaratta batted first and was in enormous trouble at 4-15.

“He (McNamara) took it away from us, he just batted beautifully,” CAW coach Hamish Mackinlay said.

“He hit the ball on the ground, he hit it hard, he hit the gaps and it was just a very good innings, I don’t think he gave a chance.”

The right-hander combined with Tom Dunstan (25) and Lachie Scales (17) in resurrecting the innings with the visitors finishing with a highly respectable 6-143 from their 40 overs.

Jake Thomas was the pick of the attack with 3-24 from eight overs.

In reply, CAW fell for 128.

Joe Perryman and Luke Heagney posted a 69-run stand with the former posting a superb half-century.

After 27 overs, the home team was 3-89, needing another 55 overs from 13 overs.

“We lost a couple of quick wickets, he (McNamara) went bang, bang and knocked over a couple of good batsmen and that set us on our heels a bit,” Mackinlay said.

Heagney posted 36, while Perryman was unbeaten on 57.

“Joe batted very well, he survived an early appeal on five and went on from there,” Mackinlay said.

CAW had no answer to McNamara’s left-arm medium-pace.

“We were successful last year, this is a slightly different side but the base of our group is Rovers United-Bruck and Mansfield (from the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association),” Norton said.

Wangaratta Blue completed an unbeaten carnival.

It started with a win over CAW Country. 

McNamara showed why he’s one of Wangaratta’s most promising juniors in that game, posting 40 in the middle order as the visitors made 118.

CAW Country was dismissed for 106 from 39.3 overs with McNamara taking a remarkable 4-2 from eight overs with five maidens.

Wangaratta Blue then proved too strong for Wagga on day two.

Friday was abandoned due to the heat with the premiers toppling Wangaratta Gold on Saturday.

Meanwhile, CAW Hume started its campaign with a loss to Wangaratta Gold.

Hume toppled CAW in round two and ended the regular rounds with a win over Wagga, setting up the grand final clash.