Rain might have washed away any chance of play on Day 3 of the under 15s NSW Youth Championships northern carnival in Tamworth but it hasn't dampened the Northern Inland Bolters' hopes of being crowned country champions.
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The top-placed side at the completion of the carnival will progress on to play the southern winners in Sydney some time in the new year.
The Bolters head into Thursday's final day on top, by a point, from Central Coast, who they were due to play on Wednesday.
But the weather put pay to that with all matches abandoned.
The signs weren't looking promising for getting on on Thursday either with rain persisting throughout the day.
Bolters coach Damian Henry told the Leader there will be a meeting at 7am with council ground staff to determine whether games go ahead or not.
Three-from-three for the carnival, one of the stars of the show for the Bolters has been Sam Davis.
After scoring an unbeaten 59 to help guide them to an eight wicket win over Far North Coast on Monday, the Tamworth allrounder top-scored with 33 and claimed three wickets as they defeated Lake Mac in the first of their Twenty 20s on Tuesday.
It was a bit of a battle with the bat for the Bolters, who at one stage lost 5-16.
"We didn't bat well.. we only made 102 (they finished on 6-102) and played some dumb shots," Henry said.
But they bowled "really well" to roll the Attack for 92 in the 18th over, Davis fittingly wrapping up the win.
It was almost the opposite to the first day with their efforts with the ball against Far North Coast marred by some wayward bowling.
Much to Henry's frustration they bowled 56 extras, 47 of which were wides.
It meant that rather than chasing something around 120 their target was 173.
But they were relatively unencumbered in getting the runs with Davis and regular partner-in-crime, Archie McMaster (60no), sharing an unbroken 114-run stand to steer them to 2-174 in the 41st over.
"They bowled pretty well, Far North Coast, and made us work for a while but once the boys got in and got their groove going they ran really well between the wickets and so we didn't get tested down the batting order," Henry said.
McMaster was unable to back up on Tuesday falling for a duck in the first over.
Davis though picked up where he left off.
"He batted well, he did what he had to, consolidated," Henry said.
"Unfortunately he got out at the wrong time. But that's cricket isn't it."
Leopold Eastwood also chipped in with 12 at the top of the order and Sinclair Little an unbeaten 16.
Henry said all the bowlers did well but noted particularly the performance of Lachlan Mason. He took four wickets to follow up his three from the first day.
Charley Pickens also grabbed three against Far North Coast.
Showing he's also pretty handy with the bat, Pickens was the Bolters' top-scorer in the second of their Twenty20's on Tuesday. He made 30no as they chased down Hunter's 4-90 to claim their fifth win for the tournament.
The Bolters 13s and 14s have also been in action over the week.
Playing up in Armidale, the 13s have had a tougher time of it, losing all three of their games.
The under 14s meanwhile have picked up a win and a loss (their second game on Tuesday was abandoned mid-game), Max Judd starring with the bat against Far North Coast with an unbeaten 61.
