The Narrabri District Cricket Association’s representative side discovered their MA Connolly Cup competition finals fate on Sunday when the last match of the regular season was contested in Gunnedah.
Narrabri had already played all three of their Pool A fixtures heading into the weekend, but Gunnedah and Gwydir still had one game to go after their round one clash was rescheduled.
The Pink Slugs and Gwydir were locked on eight points following two wins each, and the Gwydir men managed to lock up first place in the pool as they scored their third consecutive win.
They took down Gunnedah as they successfully chased 153 runs with five overs to spare and four wickets in hand as skipper Tom Groth (44*) guided them home to victory.
That result meant that Narrabri was forced to settle for second place on the Pool A ladder and will now travel to Carroll for this Sunday’s semi-final against Pool B winners Old Boys.
Bizarrely, the Tamworth-based club did not take the field during the regular season rounds as they defeated opponents Quirindi and Tamworth by forfeit in rounds two and three, respectively.
Tamworth’s dominant 108-run victory against Quirindi in round one was enough to see them lock in second place on the Pool B ladder. The defending champs will travel to Bingara this Sunday where they will take on Gwydir in the semi-final as they attempt to return to the decider to defend their 2023/24 season premiership.
The winners of this Sunday’s semi-finals will progress to the grand final, which is scheduled for Sunday, December 15.
It will be hosted by the top-ranked team, and that could be Narrabri if the Pink Slugs and Tamworth both win to set up a grand final rematch.
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