Old Boys captain Ben Middlebrook has been overheard telling City United players that grand finals are not won in December.
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It was in reference to City's confident gait at this time last season, after a series of impressive wins, and then their struggles in the second half of the season.
No one needs to remind Old Boys when grand finals are won, because they've won five of the past six.
The ladder-leading reigning premiers have gone into the Christmas break with back-to-back T20 wins on the weekend, stretching their winning streak to seven matches - eight if you include their one-day final defeat of North Tamworth.
Their only loss was to Norths, who dropped from second to third on the table after Old Boys beat them by 10 wickets at No 1 Oval on Sunday, and City United beat South Tamworth by 96 runs in a morning clash at the ground, to leapfrog Norths on the table.
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City, who beat West Tamworth by four wickets at Riverside 2 on Saturday, have won six consecutive matches.
The games on the weekend were played in heatwave conditions, although the start times were changed in a bid to reduce the heat blast.
On Saturday at No 1 Oval, Old Boys beat Bective East by four wickets. Sent into bat, the Bulls made 6-91 - with Lachie Barton (29) top-scoring.
Old Boys opening bowler Josh Smith continued his excellent comeback season, taking 3-12 off four overs, while Aaron Hazlewood took 2-10 off four overs.
Old Boys lost seven wickets and passed the total in 19.1 overs. Matt Bryant (22) and Smith (22 not out) top-scored, while Bulls captain Jye Paterson took 3-8 off fours overs.
Old Boys captain Ben Middlebrook brought up arresting figures relating to his side's past two matches against North Tamworth including the one-day final win at No 1 Oval, when Old Boys defended 56 by dismissing the Redbacks for 44.
On Sunday at No 1 Oval, Old Boys routed Norths for 32 and then passed the total in the fourth over without losing a wicket. Hazlewood struck a 12-ball 22.
Norths were 5-0 at one stage, with Smith (4-6 off four overs) and Hazlewood (2-3 off four overs) destroying North Tamworth's top order: Michael Rixon, Nick Farrer, Brendan Rixon, Ben Chick and Jai Tasker all got ducks.
And when captain Pete Waton fell for two, Norths were 6-4 - meaning that Old Boys, at that stage, had taken 14-16 in their past two matches against the Redbacks.
Middlebrook described the figure as "unbelievable". "Smith and Hazlewood had it on a string [on Sunday]," he said, adding that the clash against Bective was "tight".
"They really gave it to us," he said, "and I was proud of the way we fought back and found a way to win. Our bowling this weekend has been top notch."
Elsewhere, Norths beat Souths by three wickets at Riverside I on Saturday. Souths made 8-98 and Norths passed the total in the last over.
At Riverside 1 on Sunday, Bective East beat West Tamworth by 10 wickets. Wests were dismissed for 87 in the 19th over, and then Bulls openers Paterson (49 not out) and Toby Whale (32 not out) passed the total in the 13th over.
