Tamworth Blue powered to another Connolly Cup triumph on Sunday after Tait Jordan trampled Gwydir’s hopes with a devastating spell.
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The City quick claimed 5-19 as the Blues skittled Gwydir for 104 at No.1 Oval.
There was then no repeat of their semi-final wobble with Tom Fitzgerald (63no) and Dan Whale (22no) steering the Blues to victory two wickets down.
“It was a good allround performance. The boys were switched on and played well,” Blues skipper Chris Paterson said.
It was a good allround performance. The boys were switched on and played well
- Tamworth Blues skipper Chris Paterson
They set it up with the ball, Jordan leading the charge as they had Gwydir reeling at 5-10.
He struck in his first over then picked up two in his second on his way to his fourth five-wicket haul this representative season.
“He bowled very well, bowled in good areas,” Paterson said.
Opponents on Saturday, Brad Redshaw bowled well in tandem with Jordan early, the North Tamworth quick following up his own five-for the previous day with 1-22.
All the bowlers finished among the wickets with Gerhard Labuschagne, on debut, taking 1-26, Dave Brannan 1-28, Dan Collinson 1-7 and Jye Paterson 1-1.
If not for Kris Halloran it could have been a lot uglier for Gwydir.
He was responsible for them lasting as long as they did, hitting an unbeaten 61.
Lachlan Butler (14) was the only other batsmen to reach double figures with six failing to trouble the scorers.
“We just didn’t play very well,” Gwydir skipper Luke Smith said.
“A bit of inexperience on turf might have got to us a bit. We didn’t leave the ball well enough early on.”
That wasn’t to take anything away from the Tamworth bowlers. They did bowl well, he said.
Tamworth sides have now won four of the last five Connolly Cups, and hold both Northern Inland trophies after the 1st XI claimed the War Veterans Cup earlier in the season.
They and the Blues will now head to Scone next week to take on their respective Hunter Valley champions.
- SCOREBOARD
- Tamworth Blue 2-105 (Tom Fitzgerald 63no, Dan Whale 22no; Lachlan Butler 1-25) d Gwydir 104 (Kris Halloran 61no, Lachlan Butler 14; Tait Jordan 5-19, Brad Redshaw 1-22, Gerhard Labuschagne 1-26, Dave Brannan 1-28, Dan Collinson 1-7, Jye Paterson 1-1).