They work together at Gunnedah Automotive and they both play for Court House but on Friday evening Blake Small and Brodie Cleal will be on opposing sides.
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Small will turn out for the Sign Print Stitch Stars while Cleal will suit up for the Tamba Industrial Bulls in the Gunnedah Premier League final.
One eager viewer of the game will be Gunnedah Automotive’s – who are the major sponsor of the GPL – Craig Turner.
"I have been keeping up with it. I have been up there a few times to have a look and of course you listen to the boys talk about it on Monday mornings,” Turner said.
"The both like to brag about being better than one another so Friday night will be interesting to see who wins and who has the bragging rights on Monday."
Friday won’t be the first time the two have clashed, though.
"We have played against each other in junior cricket and other years in Twenty20s as well,” Small said.
"I started off in second grade with Albion and played one year there before the last six years in first grade with Court House.
"There isn't any side bets going on at work, I'm just glad to be playing really.
“It's good to play against each other. Especially with the business we work for being a major sponsor,it's good to see two of us in the grand final."
Likewise, Cleal is pumped to be turning out in the grand final.
"I'd say the highlight of my year has been making it into the grand final,” Cleal said.
“My side won it last year so it would be great to go back to back and make it two from two.”
The Bulls and the Stars met last week in a prelude to the grand final.
Cleal was in at the death and helped his side score a two-wicket win with just one ball to spare.
The Tamba Industrial player said his side could improve on last week as well.
"We dropped a few catches against them last week, so I think if we can hold our catches and bowl the right lines and lengths, I reckon we can put up a strong showing,” Cleal said.
Small said the Stars had “the side to win” on Friday night.
"We have Ben Irwin and his express pace back this week and of course of the form Farran Lamb has been in has been unreal,” Small said.
Turner said the competition had been good for the town. "This is the third year we have been on board as a major sponsor and we have been really happy with it and we are happy to stay on board with it in the future,” he said.
Gunnedah District Cricket Association secretary James Mack has also been happy with how the year’s panned out.
“It’s been really good. It’s been fairly even – a couple teams didn’t win many games but that was just the way the games went – not because they weren't in it,” Mack said.
A gold coin donation will get you through the gate at Kitchener Park to watch the final which starts at 6.30pm.
The association will be donating Friday night’s gate takings – as well as a portion from other gate takings throughout the season – to Ronald McDonald House. GDCA also thanked Gunnedah Automotive, McDonalds, Imperial Hotel, Sign Print Stitch, LR Golf & Sports, SED Spinnerbaits and Tamba Industrial for their sponsorship.
