ARMIDALE and Tamworth will be chasing two Northern Inland Junior Cricket titles tomorrow.
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Armidale’s Under 12s head to Moree to tackle Moree in their Under 12 Final while the Armidale Under 14s are at home to the Tamworth Gold Under 13s in their NIJC Under 14 Final.
The Tamworth Golds Under 15 side also hosts Inverell in tomorrow’s Under 16 Final in Tamworth.
It makes for an intriguing day and the culmination to a good reprepsentative season which saw Tamworth Blues’ Under 12 and 14 sides win Hunter Valley Junior Cricket Under 12 and 16 finals a few weeks ago.
Armidale Junior Cricket Association president Michael Dennis is excited for the two Armidale sides.
The Armidale Under 12s played Moree in Armidale last Sunday but lost a close game to the visitors.
A win would have earned them a home final
Moree played well, making a decent score (134) and then bowling out the home side for 116.
“It is interesting to note Moree will host the Under 12 Final for the third year in a row on Sunday,” Dennis said.
“They’ve lost the last two to Armidale and Gunnedah.”
Dennis is also the coach of the Armidale Under 14s who had a nine wicket win over Moree last Sunday.
Henry Sindel (5-7) and Callum Ferguson (3-6) spearheaded a good bowling attack that routed Moree for 58.
Henry Smith (31) then steered the side to 1-59 off 12 overs and a comfortable win.
“We play Tamworth in the final,” Dennis said.
“We beat them in the first round but they haven’t lost a game since.
“They are in red-hot form and have some very good young players.
“We had a few players in the Northern Razorbacks Under 14s and so did they.
“It’s also interesting to see two brothers will play each other.
“Henry Smith plays for us and goes to TAS.
“Toby Smith is playing for them and has just started at TAS.
“They have both had very good seasons.”
Tamworth Golds, coached by James Haling, are also coming off a good win.
They beat Gunnedah in their final game at Dick Edwards Oval last Sunday, bowling them out for 93 in the 38th over.
The pick of the Tamworth bowlers were Will Meyers and Ryan Rogers.
Meyers claimed 3-14 off 7 overs including a great caught and bowled and Rogers took 3-11 off eight overs.
Tamworth followed up the great bowling with some solid partnerships, with the pick of the batsmen being Thomas Haling who opened and grafted out a solid 18 and Noah Pitt who helped bring them home with an unbeaten 15 in the 32nd over.
Toby Smith also chipped in with 14 before falling to a great one-handed catch by Gunnedah fielder Kristy Tuckerman.
James Haling was elated with the solid performance and is looking forward to the boys continuing to improve and show their potential in tomorrow’s final.