Tamworth will once again feature in the NSW Country Cup finals at the end of the year after easily accounting for Terrigal in the Hunter on Sunday.
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While the match was supposed to be a home fixture for Tamworth the two sides met halfway in Scone, although if the heat from the 40 degree day wasn’t enough for the the coasties the heat coming from the Tamworth quicks proved too much as they folded to be all out for just 129 in the 39th over.
Lachie Davidson and Tom O’Neill didn’t take long to open up the Central Coast sides middle order, before Troy Osborne tore them apart for the openers to return and clean up the tail in ruthless fashion.
Davidson finished best with 4-27 from ten, while O’Neill finished with 3-30 and Osborne 3-14 from just seven.
Skipper Tom Groth was slightly disappointed the opposition didn’t put up more of a fight having beaten perennial favourites Merewether earlier in the season, but was none the less over the moon to be heading back to the finals of the prestigious statewide competition.
“I think we have only missed the semis once in the last ten years so it is great to be back again with this new look and young team,” Groth said.
“A lot of these boys wouldn’t have played in the finals of a comp like this before so they are pretty pumped.”
Tamworth stumbled a bit early with the bat, although were never really in doubt as young gun Tom Fitzgerald and veteran Adam Lole helped the side bounce back from being 2-2 and then 3-21 early to be 4-100 when top-scorer Fitzgerald holed out for 53.
Lole went on to finish not out 43 as Tamworth passed the total six down, although that did include three ducks and two ones.
“We lost a couple of early wickets but it was reasonably comfortable,” Groth said.
“Tom (Fitzgerald) and Lole were great with the bat and full credit has to go to the entire team for a good win.”
The skipper and selectors will now sit down next week to figure out which players will be available for the December 29 semifinal in Grafton and will find out their opponents through the week.
The grand final will be played the following day, December 30 at Ellem Oval in Grafton.