After a regular season of frustration, South Tamworth are now aglow with that most prized sporting desire, winning momentum, as they dispatched West Tamworth at No.1 Oval this weekend to make a seventh straight grand final.
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Waiting for Souths at No.1 Oval on Saturday will be their nemesis, Old Boys, who have beaten them in the past four grand finals. In all, Souths have lost five consecutive season finales, after winning the title in 2011-12.
Souths captain Mitch Smith, whose cheerfully optimistic demeanour seems to filter through the side, beamed with satisfaction after the comfortable first innings defeat of Wests on Sunday. The side have strung together three strong wins in succession, beginning with a final-round defeat of North Tamworth, followed by a minor semi-final win over City United and the preliminary final defeat of Wests.
But of course, it is the grand final that counts. Souths wicketkeeper Tom Groth, who bludgeoned Wests on Sunday in scoring 62 not out, recently said the grand final losses to Old Boys stung.
Post-match on Sunday, Smith said Souths went into this season determined not to let that happen again. “That was our goal at the start of the season, to go one better,” he said. “So we’ve got there [the grand final]. We’ve just got to keep that momentum going that we’ve built over the last three weeks.
“We’re just sort of getting batsmen in form at the right time. It’s really good. We're batting out two lots of 90 overs [against City and Wests], so we’re shaping up well.”
Smith admitted that he took a gamble putting Wests in after winning the toss on Saturday. But it was an astute decision given that Wests were dismissed for 37 in their major semi-final loss to Old Boys the previous weekend.
Souths veteran Troy Osborne, who along with Groth are the sole survivors of all five grand final losses, took 4-33 off 12.5 overs as Wests were dismissed for 123 in the 41st over. No.7 Michael Moffitt top-scored with 30.
In reply, Souths finished on 9-287 after the maximum 90 overs, with Groth’s 62 not out the top score. Conrad George and Osbrone made 44 and 43 respectively.
Wests left-arm spinner Harrison Kelly claimed 8-138 off 45 overs.
Perhaps surprisingly, Wests batted again. The match finished with them at 8-102.
Angus McNeill claimed 4-41 off seven overs and George bagged 3-7 off 1.4 overs.
