Already Friday night’s Twenty20 clash between West Tamworth and South Tamworth has been called off. The decision on whether or not Saturday’s grade games proceed will be made after an inspection on Saturday morning.

Tamworth Regional Council groundsman Adam Jones said they’ll have a look at the fields at probably 7am and make an assessment from there.

“The covers are on all of the first grade and two of the second grade fields,” he said.

Unlike the previous week they were also able to get a fair bit of preparation in before the rain arrived.

It will all though really depend on what happens overnight, and Saturday.

Also the Bective East skipper, Jones said should the games proceed it could be a good toss to win.

His Bulls side face a South Tamworth side that knocked off defending champions Old Boys in the opening round, and with Tom O’Neill and Angus McNeill steaming in will be tough to deal with with a bit of moisture in the deck.

“Those two guys are difficult enough to face at the best at times,” Jones said.

“Obviously the covers have been down all day, and probably will be some of tomorrow.”

Jones rates Souths as probably the strongest all round team.

Their bowling is “very strong” and they bat all the way down, the return of Blake Fitzgerald this season only strengthening their batting.

The Bulls have been bolstered by the availability of Jones and young keeper-batsmen Coby Cornish.

Both were supposed to be in Coffs with the Northern Inland Bolters but their Plan B Regional Big Bash round robin was postponed until December 2 and 3.

“It’s probably a good thing, a few more guys can get a bit more cricket under their belts,” Jones said.

“Most of the guys would have gone in with just one game under their belt.”

James Haling also comes in for the Bulls for Saturday and will open the batting with Cornish. However they will still be without Lachie Davidson, Nick Pearson and Paddy Montgomery. 

Montgomery broke his finger at the U19s State Challenge the week leading into the first round.

As they did in Montgomery and Davidson’s absence then, Cooper Barnes and Gerhard Labuschagne will spearhead the Bulls attack.

“We’ve got a few options with the ball,” Jones said with Lachie Barton and Ben Halliday as medium pace support and Dave Brannan and Aaron Madirazza to bowl spin.

He was happy with how they performed with the ball against City United, their batting was what let them down.

“We don’t turn those starts into bigger scores that’s our issue,” Jones said.

It’s just a lack of concentration. In their defence four of the top six are under 17 and still learning that, he said.

In the other games Old Boys and North Tamworth do battle at Riverside 2 while City meet West Tamworth at No.1 Oval.