The Narrabri District Cricket Association first grade 45-over grand final will be contested at Collins Park on Saturday afternoon from 12.30pm between the two sides which went head-to-head in last season’s big dance.
For the fifth consecutive season the Tatts first XI will line up on NDCA grand final day.
This year the club is determined to win its fourth first grade premiership in that period, but to do that it will need to win a grand final rematch against a determined Western Imperial Razorbacks outfit.
In the 2018-19 season the Razorbacks finished on top of the table but went down to the third-placed Tatts in the decider.
In that game Tatts batted first and made 168 from 45 overs before knocking over the Razorbacks for just 76 runs in the 31st over to be crowned back-to-back champions after defeating Civeo in the decider the year before.
This year Tatts built on that grand final success to win the first grade one day minor premiership which earned it automatic qualification into the decider.
It scored six wins and only lost four times during the campaign.
Tatts skipper Tom Craig said that his side would be without the competition’s leading wicket-taker Michael Cain this weekend but his side had enough depth to produce a grand final-winning performance.
He said that the Tatts men would continue to play aggressively with the ball.
“It changes our approach having such a quality bowler out,” Craig said.
“But in saying that he’s been carrying injuries this year and he didn’t even bowl until a few games before Christmas due to a shoulder injury from football.
“We will keep playing with the same mentality, we will still try and be quite aggressive for the first few overs.
“The Schwager boys (brothers Brock and Jonty Schwager) bowl really well which will definitely help. Brock took 6-8 this season which is crazy and he has performed in grand finals before and Jonty is bowling better and better every week.
“Really, our bowling stock is still strong enough, but it would still be great to have Cainy.”
Tatts’ predicted grand final team: Tom Craig (c), Eben Botha, Waldo Botha, Craig Gleeson, Alistair Hillard, Daniel Kahl, Luke Morgan, Jacob Nichols (wk), Jakeb Nipperess, Ryan O’Neill, Brock Schwager, Jonty Schwager.
Razorbacks’ predicted grand final team: Justin Knight (c), Ty Baker, Tim Cameron, Zack Doring, Angus Galagher, Toby Nancarrow, Steve Phelps, Toby Reynolds, Hadley Sevil (wk), Brendon Smith, Dylan Smith, Josh Trindall.
Craig said that his side’s approach to run-scoring on Saturday would again focus on a combined effort from the top six.
“The top six is always a group effort for us,” Craig said.
“It’s a team sport made up of individual performances so if we get a few good performances from our top six it will relieve some pressure off the tail and allow them to do their job which is pinch hitting.
“Batting in grand finals is not easy, no matter what your position is.
“There’s a history of small totals in grand finals so ideally we will bat first and put a decent total on the board.”
Craig said that it was “hard at times” to keep motivated a side which has been so dominant in recent years.
However, he said that the Tatts first XI was a tight-knit group which was determined to win on Saturday.
As well as Cain the defending champs will be without Chase Magner and Jake Packer who have been replaced by second grade duo Eben and Waldo Botha.
Jacob Nichols will take the gloves behind the stumps in the absence of regular wicketkeeper Magner.
The Waa Waa-based Razorbacks have enjoyed great success in their first two seasons in the Narrabri competition.
The club was formed in 2018 when the Pilliga District Cricket Association decided it would disband its competition.
The Razorbacks include players from former PDCA teams Burren Junction, Wee Waa, Pilliga, Yarrie Lake and Merah North.
The side finished first on the 45-over competition ladder last year just weeks after defeating Tatts by 26 runs in the T20 final in February 2019.
This year the Razorbacks finished third following four wins and six losses, then defeated second-placed Civeo in the preliminary final last week.
Razorbacks co-captain Justin Knight said that his men let the occasion get the best of them last season but they had learned from that experience.
“You could definitely say we were nervous last year,” Knight said.
“Especially being our first year [in the NDCA competition] there was a fair bit of hype making the grand final in the first year.
“I think the nerves got to us and we crumbled.
“But last year we didn’t know a lot of the other guys and what we needed to do, and we do now.”
Knight said that the Razorbacks had lacked runs in season 2019-20 and that the team’s senior players would need to stand up with the bat on Saturday.
“We are lacking runs this year,” Knight said.
“We scored a few more runs last year but I think this year we are behind the eight ball.
“Our main goal going into the grand final is to bat well, and a few of our senior players are going to have to stand up and take control and lead the way.”
On Saturday the Razorbacks are expecting to welcome back Steve Phelps who missed the preliminary final, but opening bowler and co-captain Jay Hall is unavailable while both Daniel Hamilton and Toby Nancarrow are in doubt.
Saturday’s decider will see Tatts and the Razorbacks meet for a fourth time in the 2019-20 season after the two sides went head-to-head three times in the regular season which were all game of the season contenders.
They kicked off the campaign in round one when Tatts scored a one-run win at Collins Park.
In that game back on Saturday, October 12, Tatts batted first and made 102 from 33.4 overs before
restricting the Razorbacks to 101 when Daniel Kahl threw a match-winning runout in the 32nd over to start Tatts’ premiership defence on the front foot.
The sides met for the second time in round seven back on Saturday, November 23, which saw the Razorbacks claim a one-wicket win after chasing down the 149-run total set by Tatts in 43 overs for the loss of nine wickets.
In the 11th round of the season on Saturday, February 22, Tatts fought back to escape from what seemed like an inevitable defeat to beat the Razorbacks by one run again.
Tatts batted first in that game and scored just 73 runs before losing its final wicket.
The Razorbacks were then cruising at 5-56 but lost their remaining wickets while scoring just 16 runs to fall agonisingly short.
And so, recent history would suggest that Saturday’s NDCA first grade one day grand final between the two sides will be another close encounter.
Narrabri District Cricket Association premiers during the past six years:
2018-19:
First grade premiers – Tatts (minor premiers – Razorbacks).
Second grade premiers – RSL (minor premiers – RSL).
2017-18:
First grade premiers – Tatts (minor premiers – Tatts).
Second grade premiers – Tatts (minor premiers – Civeo).
2016-17:
First grade premiers – Crossroads Hotel (minor premiers –
Crossroads Hotel).
Second grade premiers – Crossroads Hotel (minor premiers –
Crossroads Hotel).
2015-16:
First grade premiers – Tatts (minor premiers – Golf Club).
Second grade premiers – RSL (minor premiers – RSL).
2014-15:
First grade premiers – Golf Club (minor premiers – Golf Club).
Second grade premiers – Tatts (minor premiers – Tatts).
2013-14:
First grade premiers – Golf Club (minor premiers – Golf Club).
Second grade premiers – RSL (minor premiers – Tatts).
