North Tamworth have their work cut out for them this Saturday as they prepare to face premiers and ladder leaders Old Boys as the district marks the halfway point of the regular season with a run of eight one day matches.
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This is the second week of the eight one dayers and after recording a solid victory over West Tamworth last weekend the Redbacks have their backs up and are looking to climb back up the table after a slow start to the season.
Skipper Brendan Rixon said that while they might have let the two day table get away from them a bit the team is now focused on cementing a place at the top of the one day ladder.
Norths currently sit fifth on the overall table, over ten points behind West Tamworth, with South Tamworth just ahead of Bective in the battle for second while the Old Boys sit over 13 points clear at the top.
On the one day table however the Redbacks are right in the mix, sitting in third place only two points behind Old Boys in second with the Adam Jones led Bective Bulls seven points clear on top, while West Tamworth are in fourth, one point ahead of South Tamworth with the winless City United in sixth.
“We need to keep winning the big games,” Rixon said.
“Old Boys will be a real test for us.”
“We really need to be on our game if we want to give it a good shake.”
The side is confident after last weeks win, which saw Michael Rixon very unlucky not to notch up another milestone as his stellar season continued with both bat and ball.
Rixon was stranded on 49 with Norths needing 12 runs to reach Wests revised total of 166.
“Josh Fourez was on debut down the other end and just smacked three fours straight to finish it off.”
“Mick just had to watch from the other end.”
In the other games this weekend City will be up against it as they face Bective at No 1, while Souths meet Wests at Dick Edwards.
While the Rixon boys might be the key wickets for Old Boys at Riverside 2 on Saturday, the brothers will first face off in the short form game on Friday night, with a spot in the grand final on the line.
Brendan skipper’s new franchise Sportspower, while Michael will line up for defending premiers the TPW Tigers in a play-off for second, with Steggles already assured a spot in the grand final regardless of the result of their match against McDonalds in the final round.
“We need to beat TPW to pul even with them and then it will go to how many sixes each side has hit through the competition,” Rixon said.
“We have hit a couple although (Adam) Jonesy and Mick (Rixon) have launched a few for them this year.”
“They are the key wickets and getting them cheaply will be the key.”
The T20 grand final will be played next Friday night.
