That was how the polling went when the Northern Inland Credit Union Tamworth first grade competition continued with a round of one-day cricket on Saturday.

Crowe and Kensell both polled the three points to remain top of the table on 14 points, four ahead of Bective’s Adam Jones

Lole moved up to five points, equal with his North Tamworth skipper Michael Rixon and three points behind teammate and fourth-placed Leo Steyn (8pts).

Kensell was the hero for his West Tamworth side, struggling in both the one-day and first grade premierships.

He took 3-18 from his eight overs with the ball to help restrict Old Boys to 8-189 and then made 74. 

His run out turned the tide and left his side one run behind at 7-188. 

Julian McGovern was then bowled by Simon Norvill for Old Boys to win.

 Crowe had a better day. He was stand-in skipper for stand-in captain Richard Rowlings  (with regular skipper Tom Groth away) who played after all but left it to Crowe to run proceedings in what became a game Bective-East threw away.

1-104 at one stage chasing South’s 188, the Bulls  lost 9-62 to lose by 22 runs.

Crowe’s 5-25 off seven overs helped dismantle the Bective run chase along with James Psarakis’s 3-35.

Crowe bowled both Bulls dangermen – Nick Pearson (52) and Adam Jones (8).

“Crowie has matured a lot as a cricketer this year,”  Rowlings said.

“He is contributing with bat and ball.”

Crowe was the the sixth South bowler used and was something of an afterthought after Col Smyth, Sam McHugh, Chris Skilton and Angus McNeil had all bowled tight spells.

“He said he didn’t get any runs so he’d better get some wickets,”  Rowlings laughed.

Crowe left the ground pretty quickly on Saturday to attend a party but joked about his effort on Sunday during Tamworth’s loss to Gunnedah in the War Veterans Cup loss.

“Bective were doing it easy,”  Crowe said.

“Grothy rang after the game and nearly fell over when they told him I took five. 

“He said I wouldn’t have got a bowl if he’d have been 

captain.”

Crowe nearly didn’t bowl himself as well, coming on as sixth and, with Psarakis, mopping up a disappointing and misfiring Bulls.

“Angus bowled real well and Col was not as good as he can be but he hasn’t bowled much,” Crowe said.

“And Skilts was amazing. That was the first time he’d picked up a bat this season and he smashed them. 

“He hit one of the best cover drives I’ve seen and then hit two big slog sweeps over the pavilion at No 1. 

“Jimmie (Psarakis) smacked a quick 50 too. 

“I couldn’t believe they gave me the three points.”

Lole would have received points too if they were awarding WVC B&F points on Sunday.

He polled the three on Saturday when he smacked 48 off 46 balls to help North to a 3-119 total in just 18.1 overs and earn a bonus point for the Redbacks.

On Sunday he smacked 80 off 123 , including eight fours and a six in Tamworth’s WVC loss to Gunnedah.

“I nicked and nudged it again,”  Lole said.

“Bored the crap  out of people again. While they’re asleep I can hit a few boundaries.

“That’s the tried and tested formula.”

He was joking but ever the realist about his unexciting style which has no big-hitting weaponry in his batting armour.

“We lost wickets early and I just tried to build a few partnerships,” he said.

“I thought Ben (Semmler) and Jackie Cameron batted well. 

“Crowie got a few up top but we were always 20 or 30 short of where we should have been.

“However it was a very young side. Just one of those things. 

“We could have won but in the field we just lacked a bit .”

As for North Tamworth, he is delighted with how well the side is going.

It leads both the one-dDay and first grade premiership.

“At the start of the year Donnie (Lewington) and I were talking about our lack of depth but all these young kids have come through and stepped up.

“Hamish (Batley) is batting and bowling well, Jack (Cameron)  is keeping well and Leo (Steyn) has done a bit with both and ball. 

“The young guys are keeping us going.”