Ben Middlebrook and Adam Greentree's recollections of their first-ever encounter on a cricket field are wildly different to the point of bemusement.
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Old Boys captain Middlebrook believes that it was an under-16 school game.
"I was playing for Farrer and he was playing for McCarthy, or someone," Middlebrook said, "and he gave me a serve as a young fast bowler."
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He added: "I was the batter up the other end trying to play him out."
North Tamworth captain Greentree said he would "never forget" the incident.
"I was playing for Norths in first grade, but I was still at school," he said. "It was Ben's first year playing in Tamworth for Old Boys."
Given Middlebrook is 43 and Greentree 36, Middlebrook's account can't be right: put it down to the fog of time.
Both men, however, were on the same page when it came to the wicket celebration. "Yeah, I give him a send-off," Greentree said. "I'm not proud of that."
He added: "Coming up against him, I was a lot younger and a fair bit more aggressive than I am now. We had a bit of a battle, and I was lucky enough to get him out."
Yeah, I give him a send-off. I'm not proud of that.
- Adam Greentree
The veteran quick said the clash was at No 1 Oval, the setting for this weekend's grand final between North Tamworth and Old Boys.
Greentree will lead the minor premiers, while Middlebrook will lead the two-time reigning premiers.
Saturday will mark the resumption of a two-decades-long rivalry between two of Tamworth cricket's most durable talents.
"Over the years I've had some success against Ben," Greentree said. "But at the same time, he's scored a lot of runs against us as well."
Norths advanced to the grand final after their major semi-final against City United was washed out.
Old Boys' minor semi-final against South Tamworth was also washed out. They then beat City in the preliminary final.
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