The match was being used as both a War Veterans Cup fixture, as well as a knockout Country Plate match to make up for last week’s postponed first round.

Gunnedah took a slow and steady approach on a tough and patchy Wolseley track, openers Cameron Milne (16) and Al Hillard (28) cruising at 0-46 before disaster struck.

Brad Redshaw spearheaded the Tamworth attack, finishing with 3-13, as the Tamworth quicks delivered a big collapse to have Gunnedah all out for 110.

The skipper took two wickets in the innings, as did Lachlan Davidson, before it was Gunnedah’s turn to run through the Tamworth top order.

Trent Winsor took Jye Paterson’s stumps in the second over, before Vinnie Winsor did the same to Chris Dobson at the other end.

Darren Cameron caught Abel Carney in front to have the visitors reeling at 3-36, before Shawn Mepham, Chaise Crough, Jack Richards and Mackenzie Morrison offered only four runs between them for Tamworth to be wobbling at 7-47.

Young City batsmen Tom Fitzgerald (37) came in at four and held his nerve while waiting for a partner as the team crumbled around him.

Number nine batsmen Brad Jenkinson (21) proved the man for the job, the pair showing great patience to steer the side home with an unbeaten partnership of 63 runs.

“Tom (Fitzgerald) and Jenko (Jenkinson) held the situation together perfectly,” Semmler said.

“They held their nerve and waited for the bad balls, which is what the top order didn’t do.” 

“We were good with the ball and in the field though.” 

“With the Plate being a knockout and this my first game I am really glad we didn’t lose that.” 

“It was a good team effort to win in the end.”