Josh Attard: South Tamworth quick talks soccer refereeing, cricket and his German fascination

As the 18-year-old referee's legs cramped, on a night of torrential rain, lightning and a long delay in play, he dug deep to ensure he would complete his first ever top-grade finale.

"I was always gonna finish the game," said the youngest person to ref Tamworth's showpiece clash, adding that he got himself into better positions so he did not have to run as much.

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After graduating from Carinya Christian School last year, Attard is now positioning himself to attack life.

Currently in a gap year and working full-time at Red Rooster, he will attend the University of Newcastle next year and do an arts degree, majoring in German. He hopes to further his refereeing in Newcastle and eventually officiate A-League matches.

He taught himself German for about a year, before studying the language the past two years via distance education.

Working as a translator or teaching English in Germany are post-uni career options for him - his fascination with the country sparked by a longstanding interest in languages and a friends who visited the European powerhouse and raved about it.

"I was suppose to go over there [Germany] two years ago, but stuff changed and I wasn't able to go," Attard said. "Hopefully I can get over there after this pandemic settles down a little bit."

Attard will line up for fourth-placed South Tamworth against first-placed Old Boys on day one of two-dayer at Riverside 2 on Saturday.

The right-arm quick has only played three first-grade games this season, but is coming off his best performance of the year: 3-10 in a narrow loss to North Tamworth at Riverside 2 last round.

A mainstay in junior rep teams over the years, Attard said that cricket did not get him "too fussed". "I just play it as it comes, and I don't really feel too much pressure with it, and it's good to have a relaxing time playing cricket."

With only three rounds remaining before the semi-finals, Souths would get a timely boost by beating the reigning premiers.

Attard's teammate, Mitch Smith, is having another good season with the bat. The opener's battle with in-form Old Boys quick Aaron Hazlewood shapes as a highlight of the clash.

"When you come up against a class competitor, whether it's bat or ball, you've always got to be on your a-game," Smith said, adding that the destructive allrounder's bowling was "super consistent".

He continued: "You know that all you're gonna get is balls on the spot that make you play and test your patience. So we've got to be ready for that."

Elsewhere on Saturday, the two bottom teams, Wests Tamworth and Bective East, meet at No 1 Oval. While third-placed North Tamworth and second-placed City United clash at Riverside 1.