THE run out of star batsman Steve Phillips proved crucial as Tamworth ended Newcastle's dominance of the SCG Country Cup yesterday in a 53-run win over Stockton at the SCG.Phillips steered Stockton into the final for the first time with an amazing 132 not out in their semi-final victory over Toronto Workers in December and looked set to get them over the line again yesterday.The Seagulls were cruising at 3-110 in pursuit of Tamworth's 7-232, but Phillips was run out for 29 and the Seagulls slumped to be 8-145. They were all out for 179 when Nick Foster was run out for 22."Getting there was the main thing," disappointed Stockton president Ron Hancock said after the match."Winning would have been a bonus, but these guys will never forget playing on the SCG."I guess we have let Newcastle down a bit, being the first team to lose it, but it was just a great day for our club to be a part of."Tamworth, who had lost the past two cup finals to Merewether, won the toss.Ironically, it was a former Newcastle player ex-Lambton-New Lambton left-hander Adam Lole who got Tamworth off to a solid start with a patient 52.NSW Country representative Blake Fitzgerald scored 36, and he and Lole added 70 for the second wicket.Brendan Rixon came to the crease and top-scored with 59 batting at No.4 and Tim Kensell added 23 to lift Tamworth to a competitive total.England A fast bowler Graham Onions, who arrived in Newcastle last week and was rushed straight into the side, took 3-35 off 10 overs and skipper Mark Dries, Darren Whittingham and Terry Crittenden each took a wicket."Steve's run out was pretty critical," Hancock said. "I'd have to say that changed the match because we were going along nicely until then."It's a shame that something like that had to happen in such a big game but that's cricket and that's why we play it."Crittenden got Stockton off to a flying start with 31 and Phillips steadied the innings.Jody Whitehead added 22 but it was all in vain for the Newcastle one-day champions, who defeated Merewether to win the Tom Locker Cup before Christmas.Rising star Josh Hazlewood, who played for NSW against New Zealand at the SCG this season, took the key wickets of Crittenden and Dries but finished with 2-52 off nine overs.Kensell finished with the best figures for Tamworth, taking 2-24 off 10 overs with his off spinners.