The introduction of the Colts to the War Veterans Cup and the side’s subsequent victory over the Tamworth Blue in the final means Tamworth will rely on its best youngsters in the Coal Board Cup at Scone tomorrow when the two teams battle for Central North supremacy.

Captain Aaron Flaherty typifies that youthful talent and he hopes to bring more silverware back to Tamworth on Sunday.

“Hopefully we can go down there and play like we did the other week,” he said.

“I’m sure everyone’s looking forward to it.

“It’ll be a great way to finish and not just for the Colts but for Tamworth representative cricket.”

The Colts aren’t all kids though.

The experienced foursome of Jeff Cook, Adam Lole, Tim Kensell and Gordon Rae lift the average age and Cook, Lole and Kensell have been part of recent Coal Board Cup successes – Tamworth has won the last two.

Hunter Valley champions Maitland meanwhile have plenty of experienced players of their own, such as the Trappel brothers, Josh and Matt.

“They’ve shown they’re a very strong side,” Flaherty said.

“We’ll be underdogs because it’s the Colts side but that won’t worry us at all.

“We were underdogs the other week anyway.”

And they hammered the Blue side by 145 runs.

Flaherty scored 111 in that game.

He also piled on the runs back in December when the Tamworth First XI faced Maitland in the Country Cup.

His 58 from 52 balls helped Tamworth to a big score of

7-294.

It was big enough but only by 20 runs as Brad Bannister scored 98 for Maitland.

But he said to be out of the team for tomorrow’s game, leaving Matt Trappel to

skipper.

“They were very strong that day,” Flaherty said.

“I’ve heard they’ve got a few out so it’ll be interesting to see who turns up and if they’re full strength.

“But we probably won’t be as strong as we were that day either because this is the Colts side.

“But we’ve got a strong team and hopefully we can continue on from the way we’ve been playing.

“We’ve won our last three games and we’ve really enjoyed each other’s

company.

“I think that’s been the key to our success.”

Cal Roberts and Mitch Holt are the players missing from the one that beat Tamworth Blue.

They are replaced by Jarrard Abra and Mick Rixon.

Rixon’s inclusion gives the Colts some more batting depth and another spin option.

TAMWORTH COLTS: Aaron Flaherty (capt), Adam Lole, Nick Pearson, Jeff Cook, Andrew Harriott, Callum Rowe, Ben Legge, Tim Kensell, Michael Rixon, Gordon Rae, Jarrard Abra, Brendon Reynolds.