Gunnedah captain Blake Small is "very confident" he can steer the side to another Connolly Cup triumph after they secured top spot on the ladder for the semi-finals with a 24-run defeat of Narrabri Gold at Wolseley Oval on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Undefeated Gunnedah will host Moree in a semi-final clash on February 14, as they search for their first Connolly Cup conquest since Small led them to glory in 2017-18.
Read also:
Inverell and Narrabri Blue will clash in the other semi-final.
"I'm very happy," Small said. "All I said to the boys was, 'I wanna go out with one [the trophy] this year.'"
He added: "To be honest, I'm very confident with the side we have."
Small praised the performance of young Gunnedah opener Oscar King, who top-scored against Narrabri Gold with a 57-ball 66.
The home side were dismissed for 146 in the 38th over, then removed Narrabri for 122 in the 46th over. Gunnedah's Vinnie Winsor and Narrabri's Cody Kember took 3-28 and 3-23 off 10 overs respectively.
Narrabri Gold and Narrabri Blue both finished on 20 points but the latter - who beat Quirindi by 65 runs in Quirindi on Sunday - advanced to the semi-finals due to having a superior net run rate.
Tamworth finished on 19 points after thumping Peel Valley by 282 runs at No 1 Oval on Sunday.
In the Gwydir Conference, Inverell and Moree finished first and second respectively. On Sunday, Inverell beat Walcha by 208 runs, while Gwydir beat Armidale by 56 runs.
