After posting what skipper Tom Groth thought was an under-par 184, the defending champions rolled Armidale for 130. 

It could have been a lot less but for some rearguard action from James Maloney and Andrew Skinner.

They put on 54 for the last wicket to delay what seemed inevitable at 9-76 after Lachie Davidson (3-11), Tait Jordan (3-46) and Tom O’Neill (2-32) had derailed the Armidale run chase.

Kyle Taylor (17) and skipper Matt Baillie (10) were the only batsmen outside of Maloney (35no) and Skinner (27) to reach double figures, as from 1-33 they lost 8-43.

Groth found it hard to go past the three quicks as their best.

“The pleasing thing about Lachie was, he just bowled in good areas,” he said.

He bowled three maidens in his eight overs and really built the pressure. Jordan similarly bowled in good areas, the three bowling well in partnerships.

Groth had given the new ball to Harrison Kelly and O’Neill thinking they had about 10 minutes to bowl at Armidale before lunch and wanting to try and sneak in a few overs with Kelly’s spin. As it turned out they had half an hour and after four overs he abandoned that plan, bringing on Davidson.

He struck almost immediately, having Aaron Whackett caught behind in his second over, and the second last over before lunch.

“We said when we walked out, let’s try and get a wicket, have them minimum one-for,” Groth said.

Earlier they had had their own batting woes. 

From a blistering start, with Brad Smith taking to his former team-mates and clubbing 21 inside the first three overs, they found themselves 5-73. 

Brendan Rixon (44) and the Groth (28) began to turn the balance back their way with a 39-run stand. Rixon and Dan Collinson (30) then followed with a 37-run partnership to ensure the bowlers had something to bowl at, O’Neill also chipping in with 13 as he and Davidson (5no) put on 21 for the last wicket.

“It was probably a bit below what we would have liked. After the first drinks we were thinking 220,” Groth said.

“We just kept losing wickets and didn’t bat our 50, which is a schoolboy error.”