Saturday’s Narrabri District Cricket Association second grade 40-over grand final will see minor premiers RSL take on third-placed Tatts at Hogan Oval.
RSL has been the team to beat in the past two second grade one day seasons and it enters Saturday’s grand final as the favourites.
The side won eight of the 11 matches it played this season in the 40-over campaign.
It lost just three games and combined with three byes and a draw, the club finished on 84 points, 12 ahead of the third-placed Tatts.
However Tatts finished the season as the form team, winning its last three games of the regular season before making it four straight wins with a 60-run preliminary final victory against the Western Imperial Razorbacks at Leitch Oval last weekend.
That set up a grand final with an all too familiar opponent.
While the last time that RSL and Tatts contested a 40-over grand final was back in the 2015-16 season when RSL won by seven wickets after chasing down 164 for the loss of just three wickets, the two teams have gone head-to-head in the past two T20 deciders.
Tatts won the 2018-19 encounter then RSL was victorious this season back on Saturday, February 1.
This Saturday’s 40-over decider will be another enthralling chapter in the rivalry between the two teams.
RSL will enter the match at near full strength, with 14 players to choose from and only Rod Tomlinson out with injury.
Tatts will be without brothers Eben and Waldo Botha who have been selected in Tatts’ first grade grand final team.
Two of RSL’s three 40-over losses this season were inflicted by Tatts.
In round four Tatts downed RSL by eight runs after making 126 before bowling RSL out for 114.
In round nine RSL bounced back to smash Tatts by 167 runs after batting first and scoring 244 before knocking the losing side over for just 77.
In round 14 Tatts beat RSL by 44 runs after batting first and scoring 127 before restricting RSL to 83.
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).
