Just on 12 months to the day that the sides were scheduled to meet in what was to be a cancelled grand final, the pair will match-up once again will go to battle see who will be crowned champions of a extraordinary Firsts one-day season.

At the weekend, it was pure professionalism from both sides that proved the difference.

Both batted first, both posted scores in excess of 200 and both overcame mid-innings jitters to post solid wins.

Darley's batsmen knew they had to post a solid score if it was to be any chance against Wendouree.

Despite the early loss of openers Danza Hyatt and Anthony Taylor, it was the middle order that produced the goods.

It was the partnership between skipper Brad Barnes and Hasitha Wickramasinghe that brought Darley back into the contest.

Wickramasinghe was sublime in posting 59, anchoring the innings. A late flurry from Madushanka Ekanayaka and Ben Longhurst who added 45 in the last five overs led Darley to 5-225.

In reply, Wendouree got off to the worst possible start, losing star opener Sam Miller in just the second over.

Despite a 60 from opening partner Cole Roscholler, the middle order never really got motoring.

Even still, the Red Caps were not going to die wondering, keeping on top of the run rate despite the steady loss of wickets.

Eventually, it became too much, all out for 191 in the 46^th over.

Darley coach Brian Wheelahan said he was proud of his boys, who continue to find a way when the chips are down.

"Probably externally people think we rely on Danza and Taylor on top, for them to not hit the scoreboard, I was really proud that we posted a solid total," he said.

"We've put ourselves into a position again. Last year it was going to be Darley v Golden Point, so it's great we have an opportunity again. These are two great sides, full of great players

"Our goal was to be like Wendouree and the Mount Clear's of the world, not be a flash in the pan. No matter what happens we've put ourselves in a position where we are up there challenging again."

In an almost eerie similarity, Golden Point's 35-run win was set-up exactly the same way with the batsmen firing early and the bowlers doing the trick late.

Just like he did in last weekend's thrilling win over East Ballarat, young opener Josh Pegg anchored the Golden Point innings. His 42, coupled with 69 from number 3 Josh White gave the Pointees the foundation for a big score.

While they lost their way a little in the last 10 overs, the total of 8-215 looked more than competitive.

Just like it did last week, North Ballarat got off to a scintillating start and at one stage was 1-116.

Mick Nolan's 66 and Leigh Lorenzen's 31 gave their side the perfect start. But when Matthew Zakynthinos batting at three fell for 16, it looked like it would be left to last week's hero Ash McCafferty to get North home, but he wasn't able to repeat the heroics of last week, falling for one, which started a steady stream of wickets.

North fell for 180 in the 47^th over, with Point vice captain Pete Appleton, snaring 2-18 in a 10-over spell which turned the match.

Golden Point Skipper Andrew Warrick said the effort and resilience to get across the line was impressive.

"It means a lot, particularly in the season we've had," he said.

"Notoriously we've been branded not the best one day team in the past.

"Everything we've gone through, lockdowns in training even as far back as September, this is a reward for the hard work the group has put in.

The two sides are one win a piece this year with Darley getting the points in the opening match of the season, while Golden Point scored a big seven-wicket win in January.

A Taylor b JC Sleep 10

DP Hyatt c OI Mahncke b JC Sleep 13

B Barnes run out (JC Sleep) 38

H Wickramasinghe c M Begbie b S Miller 59

RN Khwaja c OI Mahncke b S Miller 36

M Ekanayaka not out 27

B Longhurst not out 18

Extras (nb 2, w 12, b 5, lb 5) 24

Total 5-225 (50 overs)

FOW: 34 (A Taylor) 35 (DP Hyatt) 114 (B Barnes) 173 (RN Khwaja) 180 (H Wickramasinghe)

WENDOUREE BOWLING

J Peeters 3.1-0-0-22

JC Sleep 10-4-2-25

T Maple 10-0-0-23

L Argall 8-0-0-30

S Miller 9-0-2-47

R Simmonds 6.5-0-0-44

TL Le Lievre 3-0-0-24

WENDOUREE INNINGS

C Roscholler c H Wickramasinghe b DP Hyatt 60

S Miller c RN Khwaja b B Longhurst 4

TL Le Lievre b M Ekanayaka 1

M Begbie c BJ Ward b MJ Ward 30

HI Pyke c A Taylor b MJ Ward 39

T Maple c D Hoey b DP Hyatt 0

OI Mahncke c H Wickramasinghe b MJ Ward 21

R Simmonds b M Ekanayaka 2

J Peeters not out 16

L Argall b M Ekanayaka 2

JC Sleep b M Ekanayaka 0

Extras (nb 2, w 10, b 0, lb 4) 16

Total 10-191 (Overs 46)

FOW: 6 (S Miller) 15 (TL Le Lievre) 80 (M Begbie) 116 (C Roscholler) 116 (T Maple) 167 (OI Mahncke) 169 (HI Pyke) 185 (R Simmonds) 191 (L Argall) 191 (JC Sleep)

Darley Bowling

M Ekanayaka 9-1-4-26

B Longhurst 10-1-1-45

RN Khwaja 7-0-0-34

MJ Ward 8-0-0-33

H Wickramasinghe 9-0-0-43

DP Hyatt 3-0-2-6

J Pegg c MJ Nicholson b V Dabra 42

S Ogilvie lbw b L Lorenzen 13

J White b AS McCafferty 69

M De Zoysa c L Lorenzen b S Jackson 27

S Tung not out 28

A Warrick c J Coxall b V Dabra 1

J Lewis b AS McCafferty 1

D McDonald c M Nolan b AS McCafferty 7

D White c DL Achison b MJ Nicholson 1

Extras (nb 1, w 15, b 6, lb 4) 26

Total 8/215 (Overs 50)

FOW: 50 (S Ogilvie) 80 (J Pegg) 153 (M De Zoysa) 190 (J White) 197 (A Warrick) 199 (J Lewis) 211 (D McDonald) 215 (D White)

NORTH BALLARAT BOWLING

AS McCafferty 10-1-3-40

J Coxall 4-1-0-16

J Healey 3-0-012

MJ Nicholson 7-0-1-20

L Lorenzen 10-2-1-30

V Dabra 10-0-2-49

S Jackson 6-0-1-38

NORTH BALLARAT INNINGS

L Lorenzen c A Warrick b S Ogilvie 31

M Nolan c T McKenzie b P Appleton 66

MP Zakynithinos c D McDonald b M De Zoysa 16

AS McCafferty b P Appleton 1

JF Healey c M De Zoysa b S Ogilvie 20

SA Vanderwert run out (S Tung) 13

V Dabra c A Warrick b D McDonald 14

DL Achison b A Warrick 4

S Jackson run out (A Warrick) 10

J Coxall c & b M De Zoysa 0

MJ Nicholson not out 1

Extras (nb 2, w 2, b 0, lb 0) 4

Total 180 (overs 47.1)

FOW: 50 (L Lorenzen) 116 (MP Zakynthinos) 116 (M Nolan) 121 (AS McCafferty) 145 (JF Healey) 153 (SA Vanderwert) 160 (DL Achison) 179 (V Dabra) 179 (J Coxall) 180 (S Jackson)

GOLDEN POINT BOWLING

A Warrick 8.1-0-1-36

D McDonald 9-2-1-44

S Ogilvie 9-1-2-38

D White 4-0-0-21

M De Zoysa 8-0-2-23

P Appleton 10-3-2-18