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An incredible performance by Rochester Tigers star Adam Ward was the cornerstone to the Tigers’ outright victory in yesterday’s Goulburn Murray Cricket A grand final against Rochester United.

Ward took six wickets, including a hat-trick, and made 80 runs in a day one cameo which will go down in GMC and Tigers folklore.

United won the toss and elected to bat, but captain Dylan Cuttriss might have been second-guessing the decision when he entered the middle with his side at 3/12.

Tim Bubb (1) was the first to fall when he hit a Brad Major delivery to Andrew Good.

Ward took care of Liam Ringin (0) and Elliot Bowen (2) not long after and the Tigers were roaring with excitement.

Cuttriss and opener Jake Perry went about pulling the momentum back in United’s favour, piling on a match-high partnership of 92 for the fourth wicket.

Tigers captain Grant Wachter said he was becoming nervous as Cuttriss upped the run rate, but was relieved when he and Daniel Major combined to remove the United captain for 60.

‘‘We were bowling very average at one stage, so it was a big relief to see (Cuttriss) go away after we put him down a couple of times,’’ Wachter said.

Cuttriss’ wicket brought brother Jesse to the crease, but a classic Ward run out ensured his impact was minimal, dismissing the number six for five runs.

Ward backed up his run out with the prized wicket of Perry (29), only to bowl Brad Sommerville the next ball.

He then claimed the hat-trick when Hamish Hooppell sent a delivery to Brad Major at second slip.

Ward single-handedly rattled United, the visitors collapsing from 3/104 to 8/112 in a flash.

United’s Sam Frawley (19) was the third player to hit double digits as the visitors were dismissed for 137 in the 41st over.

Ward (6/49), Brad Major (2/27) and Wachter (1/16) were the wicket-takers.

The Tigers’ run chase started promisingly as Daniel Major and Tim Maxfield took the score to 37 until Major was trapped lbw for 28.

‘‘We knew chasing 138 was going to be tough,’’ Wachter said.

‘‘Daniel Major set the tone for us and played really positively early on.

‘‘From there we kept building partnerships and won the day.’’

Major’s wicket brought Ward to the crease, who combined with Maxfield to confirm the pair’s reputation as the association’s strongest batting duo.

The pair added 67 runs before Maxfield (44) fell shy of a half-century.

After Brad Major (3) failed with the bat, Ward and Sean Williams added 59 runs until Ward finally came unstuck on 80, the Tigers finishing the day at 6/206.

United’s Colin Griggs started day two in devastating fashion to remove Andrew Good (4) and Patrick Ward in consecutive deliveries.

Wachter survived the hat-trick ball, but had no answer for a Dylan Cuttriss delivery, which trapped him lbw for three.

Williams remained unbeaten at the crease on 47 as the Tigers finished all out 219 in the 65th over, winning the first innings and setting up an 82-run lead.

In its second innings, United pushed the score to 35, but then the wickets began to tumble.

Partnerships were hard to come by as Perry (24) and Bowen (23) were the only players to make starts for the visitors.

Ward (3/44) again wrecked havoc, but it was the experience of Brad Major (4/30) which shone at Windridge Oval.

Fellow veteran Justin Cleary turned back the clock with a run out and Maxfield claimed a wicket as United finished all out for 115, setting the Tigers 34 for victory.

Despite Daniel Major falling for a duck on Cuttriss’ second delivery, Williams (20 not out) and Maxfield (12 not out) got the job done to wrap up the premiership.

Wachter said the plan on day two was to bat as long as the side could, not to lose 5/13 like it did.

‘‘Griggs came out on fire and got some early wickets,’’ he said.

‘‘We were pretty comfortable 80 runs ahead, but the game was far from won.

‘‘We just had to bowl good lines, get early wickets and that’s what we did.’’

The captain praised the efforts of Major on day two, saying his 12 overs helped seal the game for the Tigers.

The win means the Tigers remained unbeaten in the finals, despite entering the series with two straight losses.

The team is the first to have its name engraved on the new trophy and will enter the 2013-14 season as the hunted.