For most of Gunnedah’s side it is the end of what has been a dominate display across three levels – starting with their under-12 Ross Panton Cup triumph, continuing with victory in the under-14 Tim Grosser Cup and culminating with Sunday’s jubilation.

Gunnedah coach Scott Clarke described this charges as arguably the region’s most dominate assembly of junior rep players in recent years.

He lauded their “excellence” over several years and said it meant a lot to them to win on Sunday – a win he attributed to a patient 92-run opening stand between Adam McGuirk (79) and Kaleb McIlveen (21) and a top fielding effort that included three runouts.

“I said all season that we win these games in the field,” he said. “We’re so lucky that our top order has fired again today … But ultimately, you’ve also got to field well and the guys have chased really hard. 

“I believe things got a little difficult [for Gunnedah] in the middle [of the match] but Zac Turnbull out in the deep has taken quite a good catch, and after that we put on three runouts.”

Tamworth Blue, mauled by Gunnedah in Tamworth on February 11, were travelling okay at 5-118 before collapsing.

For Gunnedah,  McGuirk (2-29 off nine overs) and Braithen Winsor (2-25 off 10 overs) inflicted most damage.

Conrad George top-scored for Tamworth with 46 not out, while Ryan Rogers produced their best bowling return (2-28 off nine overs).

Tamworth coach James Haling said the side dropped catches and lost wickets at critical times.

“You learn from that,” he said. “I guess we’ll just have to put that down to experience.”