For a while former NRL star Tom Learoyd-Lahrs was shaping as the main plot line from the weekend’s one-day clash between West Tamworth and Bective East, but then the latter did something they hadn’t done this season: win a first-grade match.
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As big Tom trudged off a sun-blasted No.1 Oval on Saturday, having made seven in his first-grade debut, which included a six, last-placed Bective had second-placed Wests in trouble at 6-97.
But unlike their Twenty20 final loss to Old Boys at No.1 Oval eight days earlier, when Old Boys slumped to 5-36 before winning, Bective finished he job.
After Wests made 9-142 off 40 overs, Bective openers Toby Whale and Nick Pearson put on 135 before Pearson fell for a 66-ball 66, highlighted by six fours and a six.
Whale was gone four runs later, his 57 coming from 58 balls and including 11 fours.
Jye Paterson (3) and Dave Brannan (1) finished the job as Bective reached the target in 21 overs and let out a figurative roar.
“It’s been a long time coming … We’ll take it. It was a really good win,” Bective East captain Adam Jones said.
He added: “We’ll definitely take some confidence out of it. Getting that win off our back certainly helps us for early next year.
“We don’t want to get too carried away yet – it’s only one win. But there’s no reason why we can’t, if we continue to play like that, be very competitive in the games to come – if we continue with the same attitude and fight that we had against Wests.”
Both teams were missing players due to Christmas, with Wests’ dismal day starting early when Gerhard Labuschagne removed in-former opener and skipper Dave Mudaliar without a run on the board.
Labuschagne claimed 2-26 off eight overs, while Rod Fensbo took 3-28 off eights overs.
Shaun Stevenson and Adam McGuirk both posted 22 to top score for Wests.
