North Tamworth might have missed out on the top grade spoils but the Redbacks still tasted some grand final success on the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The club's second and fourth grade sides both went on to claim the silverware, fourth grade after finishing the regular season fourth.
In third grade, Bective-East were crowned champions for the fourth year in-a-row after beating minor premiers South Tamworth.
READ ALSO:
The second grade decider was a thriller, stumps coming in the nick of time for the Redbacks with City on the charge for the outright.
They had the Redbacks 9-52 in their second innings, and 24 runs in arrears of their overall total when time was called, the minor premiers prevailing on first innings.
The bowlers set it up, Robert Ward leading the charge with 5-35, as they rolled City for just 90, Steve Wilson's 33 the top score.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for Norths though in reply, a 42 run partnership for the ninth wicket between Harry Lewington (22) and David Rose (19) getting them to 134 after Glen Lewington (29) had taken them within two of the first innings points.
Oscar Spinks replicated Ward's earlier effort snaring 5-32. He then scored an unbeaten 43 off 46 as City reached 8-120 before declaring and giving themselves just under 40 overs at the Redbacks.
At one stage it looked like they mightn't need that many, Matt Holmes (4-14) sending a few jitters through the Norths camp as they slumped to 5-12. But Luke Gentle and Glenn Simpson steadied things - for a little while anyway.
When Logan Spinks picked up both in quick succession, City were back in the hunt.
But Lewington (4 off 47) with support from dad Donny (8 off 54), dug in and held them off.
There were similarly a few nervous moments for fourth grade as they defended what seemed a very competitive 319.
Skipper Jared Doyle led from the front with 76 opening, Will Aitken also chipping in with 31 and Cooper Sheridan 46no.
But a brilliant unbeaten century from James McMaster (117) that included a 213 run opening stand with Luke Scicluna (79) ensured the game went down to the wire, the Redbacks just managing to restrict Bective-East to 9-309.
Mitchell Beaumont (3-58) and William Fahey (3-46) were pivotal in that while Georgia Davidson was the best of the Bulls bowlers with 2-59.
Third grade was somewhat less dramatic.
Batting first South Tamworth posted 161 with David Bamforth hitting 28, Charlie Stone 31, Jon Stone 23 and Mitch Morley 27.
Mitchell Adams (4-33) and Clive Barton (3-21) did the bulk of the damage for the Bulls, who then recovered from an inauspicious start - they were 3-6 - to reply with 264 and claim first innings points. Paul Fisher (76) and Paul Lawrence (65) did the leg work for the rescue mission sharing a 105-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Chris Aslin (4-40) and Jon Stone (3-46) were the main wicket-takers for Souths.
They were then 6-109 in their second innings when the game was called.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark northerndailyleader.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News