Two big wins have Tatts feeling confident as the finals approach

2018 was the most recent year that Tatts Cricket Club won first and second grade premierships on the same day, and this year is starting to feel like their best chance since then to do it again.

Following dominant victories in both grades on Saturday, Tatts are currently on top of the ladder by nine points with just three matches remaining in second grade, and they are two wins back in second place in first grade.

A club championship seems almost a given at this point, and if Saturday’s results were anything to go by, both teams are going to take stopping come finals time in March.

The first grade side took on the Boggabri Colts in a battle for second place in round 12 of their competition and they registered an eight-wicket victory at Hogan Oval.

The Colts batted first and were limited to just 39 runs in 18.1 overs by a Tatts side who then needed just 10.2 overs to successfully chase the required total after only losing two wickets.

Club veteran Rod Kirk starred in that match with 5-4 from five overs following a devastating spell that included three maidens.

Tatts’ second grade side challenged the Sign Print Stitch Narrabri Colts in their round nine contest at Cooma Oval and they demolished the defending champions by 168 runs.

Tatts batted first in that match and made 6-185 in their 40 overs, inspired by their captain Jesse Packer’s second ton of the season as he blasted 133 runs from 102 deliveries.

Dillon Hutton then delivered with the ball as he took 7-9 from eight overs to help limit the Colts to just 17 runs in 15.1 overs.

Club president Brendon Ward told The Courier that he thought Tatts’ players were impressing both on and off the field in the 2025/26 season.

“It’s been a pretty good season all round so far, which I think can be attributed to the increase in numbers and more interest in the social side of the club too,” Ward said.

“The two wins on the weekend were great.

“We’ve recruited a few new players, one of which has been Tom Groth, who has a wealth of experience and has been great with helping a few of the younger players in the first grade team and also helping out our captain Josh Campbell.

“A couple of experienced guys returning to play full seasons has also been instrumental.

“One thing we’ve found is that it’s been tough some weeks for our captains to pick 24 players, not because we’ve been short, but because we have 26 or 27 available, which is a good problem to have.

“In terms of the camaraderie, it’s been really building over the past few years, but there’s been a definite step-up this year.

“Each week after cricket there are at least 20 players plus family members at the pub for the raffles, and that really bookends the week after training and the match, and it’s creating a pretty good environment and club morale.

“This has the vibes of the 2016 and 17 and 18 seasons, where Tatts were pretty successful with premierships and club championships.

“That’s what it feels like at this point, but there is still a long way to go yet.”