TAMWORTH Vets celebrated their first win of the Over 60s Northern Conference Regional competition with a 57-run win over Armidale at No.1 Oval on Friday night.
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Tamworth’s batsmen came to play, posting 7-164 on a deck that wasn’t the easiest to bat on.
“The pitch wasn’t conducive to quick scoring,” Tamworth all-rounder David Head said.
“It was playing slow and low.”
Openers Chris Crowell (27) and Brian Heyman (6) made steady progress early, putting on 34 for the first wicket.
Rob Haling then came in and started hitting it around, making a quick 35 before retiring.
It gave them the platform to really attack in the second half of the innings.
They added 106 in the second 20 overs, with Col Barton making 12, Ron Farrell 27, Mike Morgan 19 and Head 16.
Bruce Coppock and Mike Muldoon were the pick of the Armidale bowlers.
Muldoon returned 2-14 from his four overs, while Coppock struck in each of his two to finish with 2-8.
Bob Kirk and Bob Gaden also chimed in with a wicket each, sharing the opening spoils between them.
Bob Cream was the other successful bowler.
Armidale’s run chase was then in tatters early.
They were 3-14 at one stage and then 4-29.
Coppock top-scored with 32 batting at five, followed by Tony Corcoran (18) and Bronte Reed (12), all three retiring.
But they struggled against some tight bowling from the home side and could only manage 5-107 from their 40.
“The bowling was very tight,” Head said.
Graeme Whitton was great with the new ball and finished with 1-7 from his six.
“He bowled with genuine pace,” Head said.
“It was a blast from the past.”
Morgan (2-13) was the only multiple wicket-taker, with Steve Beaton and Steve Massey nabbing the other wickets.
Massey could have had two, but had one disallowed for a no ball.
“He shows promise as a future strike bowler,” Head said, a bit tongue-in-cheek.
The competition is in its first year and is played on a home and away basis between Tamworth, Armidale, Quirindi and Mid-North Coast.
Tamworth had lost its previous encounters to Quirindi and Mid-North Coast, the latter by just 15 runs two weeks ago.
“It was a comfortable win but a good win as well,” Head said.
“Armidale had quite a good side.”
Friday night completed Tamworth’s home games for the year.
They’ll be away for the remainder of the rounds, which will be played in February and March next year.
