Its SCG Country Cup campaign over, the Narrabri First XI will be shifting its sole focus to the War Veterans’ Cup where it currently sits on a win and a loss.

That loss came just last weekend at the hands of defending champions Tamworth in the match that also cut them from Country Cup contention.

It was a crushing loss – 10 wickets – for Rod Kirk and his side but they are eager to bounce back and prove that they are a better side than the result indicated in what looms as not only a big test but a crucial contest in the context of their WVC finals

aspirations.

“We’ve got to beat Armidale to really have any chance of making the finals,” Kirk said.

“And if you take Tamworth out, they’re probably one of our hardest games.”

Their batting effort was what, on the surface, appeared to be their downfall on Sunday, but Kirk felt it was more the Hazlewood (Josh) factor than anything else.

“Josh’s five wickets were five of the top six bats,” Kirk said.

“If you take him out we probably would have posted a lot better score.”

He expected their batting to also be a bit stronger for Armidale, with Jarrod Lyons coming back into the middle order.

Sam Bullen also returns and will add to a bowling attack that was disappointing, with the bowling where they will need the biggest improvement.

“I was a bit disappointed in the way that we bowled,” Kirk said.

“100 was always going to be hard to defend but when you bowl 23 extras that almost takes a quarter of the score straight off.

“You can’t win any games doing that.”

18 of those extras were from wides and Kirk will be looking to his attack to bowl better line and length.

Narrabri will have a dual representative investment on Sunday with their seconds also in action, and Rob Packer’s side also needing a victory over traditional rivals Pilliga to continue its prominent position at the top of the ladder.