After Gwydir beat Tamworth in a final-round Connolly Cup clash to remain undefeated, there seemed to be a sense of destiny about the side.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And on Sunday on their home synthetic wicket, Gwydir saved their best for last: a 115-run win over Moree in the final. It is their first Connolly Cup triumph.
It was fitting that Gwydir captain Tom Groth starred with the bat. The Bingara born-and-bred wicketkeeper ceased playing rep cricket for Tamworth and took charge of Gwydir's Connolly Cup side two seasons ago. The side failed to win a match last season; this season they were undefeated.
Read also:
Groth top-scored for Gwydir with a 110-ball 68. The veteran has won titles with NSW Country, Tamworth and South Tamworth. He described wining the Connolly Cup title as "really special" given it was with his hometown team.
"It's up there, it really is," he said of the win's importance to him.
The Bush Blues veteran - the national country championships' most capped player - said "everything went to plan, right from the toss" on Sunday.
Batting first, Gwydir made 9-179 off 50 overs, and then former Central North quick Brendan Reynolds tore through Moree's top order in claiming 5-10 off six overs.
Clayton Daley (3-16) and Angus McNeill (2-29) took the other wickets, as Moree were dismissed for 64 in the 20th over.
Groth was "really happy to win a trophy in my hometown".
"I think we were in control of the game the whole way through, I felt," he said, adding: "It's really special. It's been a really long time since we've got silverware out here.
"We really wanted to win today. It was really good: really good for the town, and good for the game out here.
"We're extremely proud out here. It's not every day that you get a district representative cricket title out here."
On Friday, Groth spoke about how satisfied he was that Gwydir had been able to assemble a strong squad by players consistently making themselves available for selection.
"Just having the same group of players available every week ... You know, they all put their hand up, and they go out of their way to make themselves available, which I think is outstanding," he said.
"The commitment that I've seen this year from the Gwydir guys: it doesn't happen in Sunday rep cricket these days."
Groth said Reynolds "showed his class" in the final. "He's still got it," the skipper said.
Gwydir's catching was the "difference in the end" between the two sides, he added.
Ben Day (14) and Jack Montgomery (2-26) were best with bat and ball for Moree.
