![Valiant effort: The Tamworth over-70s fell just short of the state championships silverware. Valiant effort: The Tamworth over-70s fell just short of the state championships silverware.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/ingYyB85ps4jmG9t8mfsHP/c7aaab0a-2a3d-4e58-85d7-fb85ad920af6.jpg/r3_0_1149_611_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
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The Tamworth over-70s have stumbled at the final hurdle at the state championships in Port Macquarie
Facing Port Jackson in the final, the Tamworth side were outclassed.
Batting first, it was tough going for Tamworth as they made 4-61 from their first 20 overs.
The Sydney side replied with 4-121, putting Tamworth well behind the eight ball. Things didn't improve in their second 20 overs as they struggled to 7-100 at the end of their 40.
The Tamworth scorecard didn't make pretty reading.
Ron Radford was the shining light with the bat, the Australian representative retiring for the third successive game for 29.
Hailing from Tottenham, Radford has played with Tamworth for a few years now.
Mike Cashman was the best with the ball for 2-19.
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The Tamworth over-70s are through to the final at the state championships in Port Macquarie after a nine wicket win over Mid North Coast on Tuesday.
As a precaution for the predicted rain, the game was split into two 20-over innings.
Mid North Coast batted first and were 3-76 after their first 20 overs. In reply Tamworth made 1-91, which stood them in good stead to chase down the final total of 9-145.
Col Barton (2) was the only Tamworth batsmen dismissed as they achieved victory with five overs to spare.
Ron Radford top-scored with 31 (ret) while Peter Boyd made 29 (ret) and Arthur Yates (22 (ret).
Boyd and Mick Watkins led the charge with the ball with two wickets apiece, Ian Kitching, Terry Murphy, Russell Gill, Lindsay Nott and Barton all chiming in with a wicket.
The win followed a convincing win over Central Coast on Monday.
As storms were forecast for the late afternoon the 40 overs were split.
Batting first Central Coast were 3-105 after their first part with Boyd picking up two wickets.
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Tamworth were 1-120 from their allotted 20 overs. Barton (18), and Mike Cashman (retired 21) gave the team a great start, with the first wicket fell at 39 in the seventh over. Radford 33 (ret) and Peter Boyd 22 (ret) continued the onslaught.
Central Coast returned to the crease, to be dismissed for 196. Boyd finished with 3-14 from his six overs while Cashman claimed 2-38, Nott 1-33, Gill 1-10 and Murphy 2-19.
Kitching (24), Murphy (24) and Gill (19 not out) then saw the Tamworth team home in the 36th over.
The over-60s didn't fare as well against Hunter Lord's Taveners going down in the last over in Tamworth on Sunday.
Greg Kellett, who confirmed his selection in the Division 1 State of Origin team (33 not out), Tom Kellett (27 not out) and Steve Wilson (19) were the main contributors to the small Tamworth total of 126. Hunter scored the winning runs off the first ball of the last over.
David Amos 1-9, Mark Falkenmire 2-9, Greg Kellett 2-18, Tom Kellett 2-24 and Wilson 2-13 were the wicket takers. Gary Budden (39 not out), Rick Sampson (24) and Ian Spruce were the main run getters for Hunter.
The teams will clash again in a fortnight in Newcastle, with Tamworth hoping to turn the tables.