Tamworth Blue upstaged minor premiers Gunnedah on their home turf to finish off their junior representative playing days as Northern Inland U16s champions.
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Lachlan Barton was superb with the ball and then the bat in a man of the match performance as the Blues claimed the Ross Taylor Cup in comprehensive fashion.
Despite Saturday’s wet weather the game went ahead on turf.
“The wicket was a bit soggy but Gunnedah won the toss and elected to bat,” Blues’ Casey Baker said.
Trying to build an innings quickly became a salvage mission though, Barton striking in his second over to remove Adam McGuirk for 10.
On 18 at the time, fellow opener Kaleb McIlveen followed seven runs later as the home sides’ innings spiralled, losing 5-3.
Isaac Harris (26) and Desmond Tuckerman (5no) briefly halted the rot but the innings folded quickly when Kyle Jennings picked Harris up.
Six runs later they were all out for 64, Barton fittingly claiming the last wicket to finish with 5-10, which included a couple of caught and bowleds.
Barton was aided by James Austin (1-4) and Jennings (1-6), the Blues at one stage sitting on a team hat-trick.
They then chased the runs down in 11.2 overs.
“We were 1-1 in the first over,” Baker said.
“Then Lachie Barton came out to bat. He took off and scored 53 not out hitting a six off his last ball to get the win and get his 50.”
Hamish Fauchon was up the other end with him on 15no.
The game marked the end of an era for the team after five years playing together, starting in the U12s.
