Connolly Cup final: Gunnedah beat Inverell by five wickets at Wolseley Oval

That was now Gunnedah captain Blake Small summed up the side's five-wicket defeat of Inverell in the Connolly Cup final at Wolseley Oval on Sunday.

He was comparing the victory to Gunnedah's last triumph in the venerable, annual competition - when he led them to glory in 2018.

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Small rates this season's achievement higher than the one in 2018 because he said the opposition was tougher this time around, given the War Veterans Cup was cancelled.

"To have First XI players playing against us in the Connolly Cup this year, it makes it even bigger - it's the only [rep] cricket going around," he said.

"It's pretty much like winning a War Vets Cup, to be honest."

The star performer on Sunday was Gunnedah opening bowler Garry Briggs, whose 6-19 off 10 overs resulted in Inverell being dismissed for 106 in the 34th over.

He was named man of the match.

Inverell No 3 Blake Uebergang gave the visitors a sniff of a chance after compiling a match-high 39.

But Gunnedah were steady in the run chase, finishing on 5-110 in the 42nd over.

Small and Mitchell Swain both made 24, to ensure there were no heart palpitations for the home side.

Small said: "The town will be stoked for us ... It's just great."

Captaining the side to the title "means everything" to him, he added.

"It's pretty much what I've looked forward to all year - put all the hard yards in."

Small said Briggs "led from the front".