OLD Boys won back-to -back Tamworth first grade premierships at No. 1 Oval yesterday, despite a stuttering start that realised just 109 runs on Saturday.
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Stung by an ordinary batting effort, they lifted to dismiss South Tamworth for just 74 in reply and then bat Souths out of the game with 7-141 in their second innings.
Winning the Wombramurra Cup for the first grade premiership was a historic third cup success in a season that had already seen them become the first club side to win War Veterans and Coal Board cups.
“We were pretty ordinary in the first innings,” Old Boys skipper Ben Middlebrook admitted.
“But they (Souths) did bowl well and showed why they had won their finals matches (to get to the grand final).
We knew it was going to be a tough game.”
While Souths bowled well Old Boys went one better, reducing Souths to 4-2 on day one through some electric bowling by Aaron Hazlewood and Will Howard followed by some flight and natural variation from talented young off-spinner Will Chesterfield.
Old Boys started solidly enough and were 2-58 at one stage after Angus McNeill had made two big breakthroughs early on, trapping Simon Norvill (6) leg before and having Old Boys’ skipper Ben Middlebrook caught behind by Tom Groth for 18.
Middlebrook and Adam Lole (19) figured in the biggest partnership of the innings (29) but when Lole chopped a James Psarakis delivery on it signalled the start of an 8-51 slide.
Souths stalwart James Hammond helped ignite that rout, claiming 3-16 in his seven over stint while Angus McNeill returned for a second spell.
The young paceman captured 4-33 in his 18 overs (six maidens) when he had last man, Howard, well caught by Groth.
It was Groth’s third catch and he then became the lynchpin for the South batting.
With the previous week’s opening pair, Bryce Natty and Josh Crowe both away at Blake Fitzgerald’s wedding, Souths opened up with James Maltby and Sam McHugh.
Old Boys pacemen Aaron Hazlewood and Will Howard had Souths on their knees at 4-4 in a stunning six over spell.
Hazlewood, stirred up by a terrible mishap and run out for 13 with young spinner Will Chesterfield, was
electric.
He claimed Maltby’s scalp with the last ball of his first over and then took wickets with second and sixth balls of his second over to leave the South batting in ruins.
Those second over wickets included Nick Leyden (0) and skipper Psarakis (0).
Worse was to follow with Will Howard then having Sam McHugh (2) caught behind by Abel Carney with the third ball of his third over.
South had lost 4-4 in 28 balls.
Groth and Troy Osborne (6) edged the side to drinks but not long after Osborne threw his wicket away when he tried to loft Wil Chesterfield over mid on.
Chris Massey had more luck hitting out, his 26 including a big six but he was beaten in flight by Chesterfield to be stumped by Carney and leave Groth (12no) and Isaac Dufficy (0no) to reach stumps at 6-50.
Hazlewood finished the day with 3-28 from 14 overs (5 maidens), Howard had 1-6 at stumps and Chesterfield 2-14 from his seven overs.
They had to wait 20 minutes before making a break through Sunday morning but Howard struck to have Tom Groth caught behind without adding to his overnight score.
Two balls later Aaron Hazlewood bowled Isaac Dufficy (3) before Howard and then Chesterfield struck to knock over Souths for 74.
Howard finished with 3-15 from his 13 overs (five maidens), Chesterfield claimed 3-14 from his 7.2 overs and Hazlewood captured 4-44 from 21 overs (seven maidens).
Old Boys went to lunch at 2-57 off 27 overs, losing Simon Norvill (33) and Abel Carney (1) to McNeill and Osborne, but the fireworks erupted again after the break, Old Boys losing four wickets for just 16 runs.
That’s when Mitch Swain (38) and Josh Smith (21no) got together and batted Souths out of the game, soaking up overs and putting on 61 for the seventh wicket.
It earned Swain the man of the match award.
“They (Old Boys) bowled too well,” South skipper Psarakis said.
“I was very happy with the way we bowled and fielded in that first dig.
“The top order let us down.”
Losing 4-2 after routing Old Boys for 109 was a killer.
“Getting Chris Massey just before stumps was a key,” Middlebrook said.