OLD Boys are chasing a second successive Tamworth first grade cricket premiership this weekend as well as a historic third cup for the season when they tackle surprise packets South Tamworth at No. 1 Oval tomorrow.
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Old Boys club secretary Scott Abra is delighted with how the season has unfolded regardless of how the grand finals turns out on Sunday.
Three of the four Old Boys grades are in grand finals tomorrow, second grade tackling North Tamworth at Dick Edwards and fourth grade up against City United at Max Sutton Oval.
“It’s a big weekend for us,” Abra told The Leader.
“Unfortunately the third grade side didn’t make it although they were minor premiers after being unbeaten and then losing their last two games.”
However, Old Boys are club champions for the second year running after winning the club championship for the first time in 33 seasons last season.
“It was good to win that again after such a drought,” Abra said.
“Two in a row, you’ve got to be happy with that.
“It shows we have been strong through the grades the last couple of seasons.
“We do have some good young kids coming through all the grades and we aren’t afraid to blood them.”
Will Chesterfield is an example of that, the teenager starring in last season’s grand final success and part of a minor premiership winning first grade side also containing fellow teenagers Jack Richards and Chris Coulton.
Richards captained Farrer to a Ron George Trophy T20 Final win earlier this week and Coulton was man of the final when the Central North Zone Under 19’s won the Country Under 19 Championships on the North Coast earlier this season.
“Will has a great season too,” Abra said.
“He took five wickets in the major semi.”
Richards also claimed three wickets in that game to be part of a strong and versatile bowling lineup.
That starts with opening pair Aaron Hazlewood and Will Howard with the likes of Coulton, Mitch Swain and Josh Smith to bowl seam and Chesterfield, Richards and skipper Ben Middlebrook to take the pace off the ball.
“Our bowling is strong,” Abra said.
“The top order batting is also strong. Ben has been firing (195 in major semi), Soimon (Norvill), Lole (Adam), Abel have all scored good runs this season too.”
Add the striking capacity of star allrounder Aaron HAzlewood and Old Boys go in as deserving favourites.
They also chase a third Cup after becoming the first club side to win both the War Veterans and Coal Board Cups. They will win the Wombramurra Cup on Sunday if they see off the determined challenge of South Tamworth.
OLD BOYS
Ben Middlebrook (capt): Simon Norvill, Adam Lole, Abel Carney, Will Chesterfield, Jack Richards, Will Howard, Chris Coulton, Mitch Swain, Josh Smith, Aaron Hazlewood, Chaise Crough.
