CITY United have a mountain to climb to reach a rare semi-final, with South Tamworth almost certain to outright Wests and their own run chase in tatters.
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They are 6-23 chasing North Tamworth’s first innings of 156, and needing at least a first innings win to have any hope of keeping Souths out of the four with just a point separating them heading into the final round.
Kris Halloran was the star for North Tamworth.
His resolute 76 off 165 balls held the Redbacks together as they threatened to fall apart against City on a woeful Chaffey Park surface.
Once again, the wicket was way below standard.
The previous game, competition leaders Old Boys had also fallen for 156 in their first innings but bounced back to rout South Tamworth for 65 and 117 and notch a 10 wicket win.
A disappointed City United skipper Simon Toyer was delighted with the bowling but stunned by the batting collapse.
“We just fell to bits,” Toyer said.
“But we won’t go down without a fight.”
He still is to bat and hopes Terry Kampe (3no) and Peter Mead (0no) can give his side a good start next week.
Adam Greentree (1-16) and Brad Redshaw (2-4) did the early damage before Wayne Price came on and claimed wickets with his first two balls and then another with the second ball of his second over to finish with 3-2.
At No 1 Oval, Old Boys are steaming towards the minor premiership after dismissing Bective-East for 157, with skipper Ben Middlebrook claiming 5-15 from his 17.2 overs.
Matt Everett (15), Nick Pearson (15), Adam Jones (11), Jye Paterson (26) and Mark Slack-Smith (9) all got starts for the Bulls while allrounder Brad Jenkinson topscored with an unbeaten 47.
Mitch Swain (1-45), Josh Smith (1-25), Chris Coulton (1-8), Will Chesterfield (1-33) and Will Howard (1-10) all snared a wicket apiece.
At Dick Edwards Oval Souths are steaming towards the outright, with Wests reeling at 4-16 in their second innings.
That was after mustering just 66 earlier in the day.
Sam McHugh (4-21) and Troy Osborne (3-14) were the destroyers for Souths who took just 18 overs to pass the 10-man Wests total, declaring at 8-143.
The top order scored the majority of those, with skipper James Psarakis making a brisk 43 and Nick Leyden 23 to back up openers Osborne (16) and Tom Groth (14).
Jake Everett (1-20) and Toby Fox (1-24) provided the initial inroads for Wests before Mooney chimed in with 3-17 and Adam Cruickshank 2-39.
Angus McNeill then continued the carnage, snaring 4-9 in a rampaging five-over burst to leave Wests with still 61 runs to make to force Souths to bat again.
It was a good fightback from Souths after being outrighted by Old Boys their previous game.
“It was good to come back like that,” Psarakis said.
