Tatts cruise to top-of-the-table clash victory against the Wilga Hotel Razorbacks

Tatts Cricket Club kept their pursuit of Narrabri District Cricket Association’s 2025/26 campaign first grade one day minor premiership alive on Saturday after defeating Wilga Hotel Razorbacks by seven wickets at Collins Park.

The top-of-the-table round 13 clash saw the Razorbacks lose their first regular season one day match in two seasons after they batted first and were bowled out for 53 runs in 29.5 overs, which Tatts then chased down in just 13.1 overs, having only lost three wickets.

The victory saw Tatts lock in a top-two finish and keep their pursuit of first place alive as they moved within five points of the Razorbacks with just two rounds remaining.

However, with Tatts sitting out with the bye in the final round, they can at best finish level on 57 points with the Razorbacks, and that can only occur if they win in round 14 this Saturday and the top-ranked side loses both of its final two fixtures. Even then, runs scored and conceded and wickets taken and lost would determine who finishes on top.

Tatts’ victory in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash was inspired by the competition’s two form bowlers as Jonty Schwager and Rod Kirk combined for seven wickets after they produced eight in round 12 and five in round 11.

Schwager opened the bowling and ripped through the top order as he knocked over Greg Melton (0), Matt Bradshaw (3) and Clay Hoffman (0) inside his first four overs while conceding just one run from 24 deliveries as the Razorbacks found themselves struggling at 3-4 after eight.

The quick then conceded just six more singles from his next three overs before he was replaced by skipper Josh Campbell in the 17th, just after Tom Craig had made it 4-18 with the wicket of Jack Maunder (9).

Tatts then secured their fifth wicket of the game in the 17th over as Kirk ran out Angus Galagher (1) to make the score 5-24, which left Wilga’s skipper Jack Tate at the crease with Steve Phelps, who combined for their side’s best partnership of the day as they put on 22 runs together.

Campbell threw the ball to Kirk in the 24th over and he delivered immediately as he removed Phelps (7) with the assistance of a Dillon Hutton catch from the first ball of a wicket-maiden to bring that dangerous partnership to an end.

The Razorbacks’ innings continued to destruct during the next over as Brodie Heron dismissed Tate for a team-best score of 22 runs, and Kirk produced another wicket-maiden in the 26th when he took a brilliant reflex catch off his own bowling to send Dylan Smith on his way for a duck.

That made the score 8-46, and it was all over in the 30th over as Kirk bowled Nathan Hamblin (1) and Dean Hamblin (0) to finish with 4-3 from 3.5 overs and end the weekend as the first grade competition’s top wicket-taker with 19 scalps from eight matches, one of which he did not bowl in, at an average of 4.37.

Schwager finished with 3-7 from eight overs, which included four maidens, to end the round just two wickets behind Kirk with 17.

RSL’s Nathan Trindall is next best with 15 after his side had the round 13 bye.

Tatts then cruised to a simple victory as they required just 13.1 overs to chase down the 54 runs that were set for them by the Razorbacks, with Craig Gleeson bringing up the win with a six for the second time in three matches.

Jacob Nichols (11) and Tom Craig (20) got the chasing side off to a positive start before the two openers were dismissed by Smith and Melton, respectively, and Smith struck once more when he trapped Tom Groth (4) in front LBW to make the score 3-40 in the 10th over.

Gleeson (9*) and Campbell (6*) then guided the Tatts to a seven-wicket win that kept their minor premiership hopes alive.

They will continue that pursuit this Saturday when they challenge RSL at Hogan Oval in round 14, while the Razorbacks look to lock in top spot when they meet Boggabri Colts at Collins Park.