Defending 150, the home side had Newcastle 5-147 with one ball left and five players on the boundary, but the visitors struck a four through mid-off from Charlie Hillier’s bowling for a pulsating win at under 14 level.

“The boys are pretty upset in the room, which is disappointing, but it’s good because it means a lot to them, as it should,” coach Mick Galvin said.

Newcastle’s Josh Cust and Harry Dwyer combined in an unbeaten 36-run stand for the sixth wicket after Riverina fell on the second-last ball to Central Coast on Tuesday.

It’s been the only two losses from the four games.

Riverina’s Hayden Forner again impressed with 34 from 42 balls, while Gundagai’s Tom Ferguson celebrated his 14th birthday by making 31, while Hillier backed up his second-day half century with 29.

Off-spinner Jordan Rhodes opened the bowling and was miserly, with 1-8 from eight straight overs.

“He was superb, we’ve found taking a bit of pace off the ball means they’ve got to make the pace.”