IF the previous match between Centennials Bulls and Rugby Union is anything to go by then Saturday’s second Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade meeting between the two teams at Morse Park 1 could be a cracker.
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Back in the opening round Rugby Union successfully chased down the Bulls total of 210 at the Sportsground with just seven balls to spare in one of the closest matches this season thus far.
Each side will this time have to go without their leading batsmen, both of whom scored centuries in their previous outings.
Bulls’ Josh Toole (179 v St Pat’s Old Boys) and the Bulldogs’ Ryan Peacock (100 not out v ORC) will both be absent on Country Championships duty for Western Zone in Shellharbour.
It makes Saturday’s game a test of who copes better with the loss of their strongest players.
Bulls opener Andrew Brown said the round one clash was one that got away from his side.
“Tooley’s out but they’re missing Peakers [Peacock] as well so I guess it’s like for like,” he said.
“I thought we had a pretty good game against them before but we let ourselves down with the batting in the last 10 overs, and our fielding wasn’t great as well.
“We felt like our score was enough but our fielding wasn’t strong enough.”
In a boost for the Bulls they will still have all-rounder Aaron Seymour available for the match.
Seymour was originally selected in the Country Championships side but ruled himself out due to an Achiles strain.
The in-form Seymour brings an average of 244 into the game thanks to finishing on unbeaten tallies of 79 and 118 in his last two BDCA matches.
Rugby Union have two players who, like Seymour, are coming into Saturday’s match at Morse Park off the back of Bathurst’s Country Cup win over Parkes.
Jameel and Imran Qureshi will be eager to get some runs under the belt after falling for just 1 and 2 respectively in the Cup clash.
Bulldogs have won three of their four matches this season and Brown said they’re a force this season.
“They’ve got a pretty good team together this year with the Qureshi boys. They’re both very handy with the bat,” he said.
“They also give them a lot of experience out in the field as well.
“With myself and Josh Kitchner hopefully we can put on a few runs. Kyle Aubin and Brett Archer are handy with the bat as well.
“Billy [Seymour] is there with the ball, but so is Lisa Griffith, who took four wickets for us last week.”
A win for the Bulls can help them gain a stronger position inside the top four, and potentially increase the five point gap back to ORC in fifth.
