THE Blue Mountains must be sick of the sight of James Tristram.

The underrated Rugby Union bowler has made it his business to destroy their batting the last two times he has faced them for the Bathurst under 21s, the second of which came last Sunday in Hazelbrook.

During the first match of the new Mitchell colts season, he bagged 5-5 from 3.4 overs, having earlier made a handy 15 not out in his team’s total of 9-302.

His bowling performance saw the Blue Mountains dismissed for just 67.

Twelve months ago he came to the crease with Bathurst in all sorts of strife at 8-45 before scoring 45 during a massive stand with then-captain Blake Aubin, helping Bathurst to 9-227.

He followed it with 5-27, restricting Blue Mountains to 149 all-out.

Today he will be hoping some of that form translates into the Bathurst District Cricket Association scene when his Rugby Union team takes on Blayney Bushrangers at King George VI Oval.

“I think the performance last year was probably better, we were in a heap of trouble and myself and Blake helped us get up to a decent score, and with the bat I think that version of the Blue Mountains were a bit stronger,” Tristram said.

“On Sunday they were missing a few of their better players who were with their opens team. But to get five, with four of them bowled or leg-before, was still pretty satisfying.”

Though he did play some representative cricket during his teenage years, Tristram’s path to first grade hasn’t been the same as many of his contemporaries.

There was no being dropped in at the deep end in first grade and left to develop his bowling while learning how to handle the best batsmen in the competition.

Instead, he has served a long apprenticeship in second grade with the Bulldogs before getting a taste of firsts with six games last season and two the season before.

He is a player who has unequivocally earned his shot, having taken 37 wickets at an average of 11.9 with three five-wicket hauls in the 2012-13 second grade competition.

Last summer in between his six first grade appearances (five wickets at 24), he claimed a further 21 scalps in seconds at 12.43.

“I think playing that much second grade helped me get used to all the pitches around here and just learn gradually where I needed to be bowling, it got me ready for when I did make the step up,” Tristram, who this season boasts eight scalps at an average of 17.9, said.

“The other guys in our attack are a bit quicker than me, but I think we all bowl a fairly similar style and rely on accuracy and doing a bit with the ball rather than pace.

“There are definitely still things I can improve on, I think my cricket has improved already this season, but it can get better. I’ve learned a fair bit and I want to keep that going.”

The Rugby-Blayney matches have had plenty of feeling in the last two seasons with a number of ex-Bulldogs in the Blayney playing ranks, and Tristram said there will still be some bragging rights up for grabs this afternoon.

The match is the last of the one-dayers and so far his side have proven themselves to be a serious contender this summer with four wins from five matches.

“Blayney still have a lot of ex-Rugby boys there and there is still a bit [of feeling] there when the two teams meet,” he said.

“It is important for us to get another win after going down last week, though we can be pretty satisfied with what we’ve done so far to win our first four and only lose one game by a single wicket. The belief and confidence is still right up there.”