Old Boys being Old Boys, when they get a psychologically advantage over a side they invariably keep their foot to the throat.
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That's why North Tamworth captain Adam Greentree, a veteran of many an Old Boys mauling over the years, felt the need to touch on this subject with his teammates ahead of the Redbacks' two-dayer against first-placed Old Boys at Riverside 1 on Saturday.
In the previous two meetings between the teams, including the one-day final, Old Boys had taken 14-16 in winning both games, as Norths stumbled following an excellent start to the season.
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At the conclusion of play on a miserably hot Saturday, Norths had gone a long way to easing those psychological scars, with opener Lincoln Peters scoring his second century of the season - an 88-ball 100 that propelled the Redbacks to 227 and included 15 boundaries.
Brothers Michael and Brendan Rixon chipped in with 47 and 32, respectively, before Old Boys opener Aaron Hazlewood was removed for a duck as the reigning premiers finished on 1-18.
With three two-dayers remaining before the finals, third-placed North Tamworth are in an ideal position to win their eighth match of the season and get a timely form slingshot.
Greentree said: "Lincoln Peters was absolutely phenomenal opening the batting. He'e been unbelievable opening the batting for us [this season]."
He added: "I spoke to the boys during the week, and obviously before the start of play on Saturday, about trying to make amends for a couple of the last results [against Old Boys].
"Obviously the boys responded very well to that. I was more than pleased with that."
Greentree said Norths, who won the toss, took advantage of a good wicket and Old Boys having to field as the mercury hit 39.
However, he stressed that Norths "still had a lot of work to do".
"If we can get back to our winning ways, it will put us in good stead come finals time," he said.
Old Boys' teenage quick Landan Price took 4-36 off 11 overs.
At No 1 Oval, Brad Smith scored 63 and Callum Henry 52 not out as second-placed City United made 222 against fifth-placed South Tamworth, who are yet to bat.
JD McClymont took 4-25 off 13 overs and James Dunston 3-37 off 17 overs.
At Riverside 2, fourth-placed Bective East removed last-placed West Tamworth for 110, with Adam Jones and Kurt Barton claiming 4-11 and 3-28 respectively, and then declared on 9-115.
Harrison Kelly (4-45) and Stu Irwin (3-10) were Wests' main wicket-takers.
