Narrabri District Cricket Association’s 2022/23 season grand final teams are now locked in after preliminary final contests were played on Saturday.
RSL was already guaranteed a spot in the deciders of both grades after it was crowned minor premiers in both, and it was joined by Tourist Hotel in first grade and Tatts Cricket Club in second grade.
Both grand finals will be rematches from the 2021/22 campaign, in which RSL was crowned champions of both grades.
In the first grade preliminary final contested at Leitch Oval on Saturday, Tourist Hotel went head-to-head with Tatts and prevailed by four wickets.
Tatts skipper Jakeb Nipperess won the toss and elected to bat, but as has been the case on a few occasions this season, the side crumbled around its young gun Sid Harvey.
Harvey entered the middle early at number three and scored 56 runs but watched on helplessly as eight of his teammates fell cheaply before he was dismissed last and Tatts ended up all out on 91 runs in 28.1 overs.
Tourist Hotel lost six wickets before reaching the required total in the 21st over of the second innings but it never looked like losing as it set up a grand final rematch against the defending champions and this season’s minor premiers RSL.
All-rounder Hamish Duncan was Tourist Hotel’s best on the day against Tatts as he made key contributions in both innings.
He opened the bowling for his side and took 3-5 in five overs in his first and only spell of the game. He then opened the batting as well and scored 22 runs.
Lachlan Woolford, who captained Tourist Hotel in the absence of Luke Meppem, top-scored for his side with 26, while Matt Conroy (3-37 from nine overs) took three wickets, Jye Manton (2-13 from six overs) took two, and Josh Trindall (1-33 from 8.1 overs) took one and also claimed a runout.
At Hogan Oval, the clubs’ roles were reversed as Tatts batted second and scored an even more convincing win against Tourist Hotel.
Last season’s minor premiers scored a nine-wicket win to cruise into the decider, where they will look to end RSL’s impressive premiership streak that currently stands at four.
Tourist Hotel scored 128 runs in 37 overs in the preliminary final, before Tatts chased down the required total in just 20.2 overs.
Tim Hayne opened the batting for Tourist Hotel and scored an unbeaten 70 runs as he guided his side to what was certainly a defendable total.
However, he was outdone by Tatts’ Chris Hartnett, who also opened the batting and smashed an unbeaten 90 runs to guide Tatts to a comfortable nine-wicket win.
The Wee Waa man struck 15 fours and a six in that impressive innings.
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