Speaking ahead of Sunday’s decider against, skipper Mick Kenny conceded when they were “pumped” by reigning champions Tamworth in the opening round he thought “that was it for us”.

While he thought they’d be competitive against the other sides, he never really contemplated being in a position to win their first War Vets Cup since 2003.

But then after a washout against Armidale, they bowled superbly to knock over Narrabri before scratching their way to a thrilling two wicket win over Gunnedah to usurp Gunnedah and finish second on run-rate behind Narrabri.

Both sides will be out to end long silverware droughts with Narrabri last tasting inter-town success in 2002 when they beat Tamworth by three wickets to claim the Nowland Cup. 

They have had the most recent chance to lift the trophy named in honour of the cricketers who served in World War II, and which they last won in 1994, hosting the final two seasons ago.

Thumped by Tamworth, it was a disappointing end to a promising season, yet for skipper Lachlan Cameron it is the hard times that preceded that that is driving him to succeed.

“Probably the thing that has spurred me on the most is the opportunity for success after so many years being the whipping boys,” he said.

“Remembering the hard times. Remembering the years we didn’t win a game.”

Kenny said his side is pretty much unchanged from the one that beat Gunnedah in the final round to secure their finals spot. They are missing Tom Nelson, but welcome back Blake Uebergang.

One of the premier batsmen in Inverell the latter was their top-scorer in their round win over Narrabri and is a big inclusion.

“It just adds a bit more to our top order,” Kenny said.

The bowling attack is the same as they’ve carried into their last two games, and dismantled Narrabri for 103.

Cameron was his sides shining light, and Kenny spoke of the danger he and Nick Smart, particularly, pose.

“They’re both batsmen that are very attacking and always go hard at us,” he said.

“Hopefully we get it straight, get early wickets and can put a bit of pressure on them, and then open up that middle order.”

Someone that “likes to attack and keep attacking”, Kenny believes he has the attack to facilitate that.

“We’ve got a bowling attack that we don’t really have to sit back and try and tie it up. We can keep on attacking.

“We’ve got a bit of pace and got blokes that can swing it,” he said.

Cameron highlighted Kenny, Jai Tasker and Rodney Blair- the three that did the damage last time as the biggest threats with the ball.

In contrast, led by Chris Sargent and Jake Brayshaw, spin looms as one of the home side’s biggest weapons.

“Our spinners have been really good. Hopefully that can continue,” Cameron said, elaborating that the beauty of someone like Sargent - an ex-country spinner - is that he is so versatile and he knows that he can hand him the ball in any situation and he’ll do the job.

He showed that during their round match-up finishing with 0-12 from his seven.

Bowling wasn’t the issue for Narrabri then, it was their batting. Probably their strength, they played some “dumb cricket”.

“We didn’t play the conditions. I was pretty severe on our guys and made it no secret I was disappointed with how dumb we were,” he said.

As he told them afterwards they are “better cricketers than that”, and is confident that if they can “bat smarter” they can win their first districts final at home since 1986.

WAR VETERANS CUP FINALS TEAMS

NARRABRI: Nick Smart, Coby Cornish, Tom Craig, Lachlan Cameron (capt), Chris Sargent, Shane Murphy, Luke Meppem, Jake Brayshaw, Jordyn Mowle, Nathan Trindall, Brock Schwager, Ryan O’Neill.

INVERELL:  M Kenny (capt), J Smith, B Uebergang, T Blake, R Blair, A Smith, J Tasker, T Mitchell,  K Chilcott, M Sparke, J Krauss, A Livingston.