The 19-year-old played for North Tamworth last season but found it tough breaking into a first grade side which won the Wombramurra Rose Bowl.

So, heeding some advice from his former teachers at Oxley High, Gordon Rae and Richard Rowlings, he switched to their South Tamworth club over winter.

Now in a GAP year, and working at Baiada before he goes to university next year, he’s been given his chance at Souths.

He opened the bowling last Saturday and claimed 4-78 off 25 overs.

What was it like playing against his old clubmates?

“Not too bad,” he said at stumps last Saturday.

“They (Souths) gave me an opportunity. Gordy and Richard were at me. Enjoying it though.”

North skipper Don Lewington thought he bowled well and worked hard. So too did South skipper Tom Groth, who described his effort as “massive” and “awesome”.

“Good having him here,” Groth said.

“Gave him an opportunity and he’s taken it.”

Giving him 25 overs was something that might happen regularly and a joking Groth thought it well earned.

“He might have only got 25 overs in first grade with Norths all last season,” he said.

Now it’s up to Groth and his batsmen to back up the hard work of Holt and off-spinner Josh Crowe, who took 2-78 from 26 overs, by chasing down North’s 8-270 at Scully 2 today.

To do it he reckons the side might have to bat like Kris Halloran.

“He’s been in good form hasn’t he,” Groth said of the North allrounder who belted a century in the Emu Colts trials in Tamworth and who has been scoring runs and taking wickets in Twenty20 cricket and representative cricket.

“He batted very patiently,” he said.