IT WAS business as usual for hosts Bathurst City, as they continued their impressive form in the Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade competition.
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The Redbacks tackled bottom place St Pat’s Old Boys at the Scots School on Saturday, with Saints still looking to register their first win of the season.
The youthful Saints team are the side with the most to prove and they improved from their opening round defeat to the Redbacks, being bowled out for 105, 19 runs better then their previous defeat to Saturday’s opponents
The Redbacks scored 3-107 off 23, cruising to a seven wicket win to hold on to top spot.
Redbacks captain Matt Willis said he was impressed with the improvement the Saints have made, but it is a work in progress for the team.
“St Pats are a young team and if they hold their players together, they’re going to be a good team in the future,” Willis said.
“If they get their best team out on the field they might even surprise a few teams.”
Redbacks bowlers Trent Hemsworth (4-27 off eight overs) and Michael Waldren (3-20 off four overs) were both in devastating form, as they “ripped” through the Saint’s middle order.
When the Redbacks had dismissed Saints for 105, the home time attempted to change the batting order up, but Joey Coughlan was lost early for the hosts.
Yet the Redbacks bounced back thanks to a strong partnership from Greg Adams (38) and Mark Day (40 not out), which helped them on the way to victory.
16 year-old Rory Daburger was also given his chance to shine, coming it at number three in the batting order and scoring one run.
Daburger has been struggling to get game time, but Willis said it was good experience for the youngster.
Alessandro Poynton topped scored for the Saints scoring 27, while Shane Broes was the next best batsmen with 20.
Matthew Fearnley was the best with the ball for the Saints, bowling for 1-19 off eight overs and scoring a maiden.
Bathurst City come up against ORC at the Bathurst Sportsground on November 26 and Willis is unsure what to expect from their opponents.
“We haven’t played them because of the wash-out, so it’s hard to know what to expect from them,” Willis said.
“We’ll just set up plans around the players we know and go from there.”
Willis is hopeful the Redbacks can continue their form and there on grand final day, but is focused on taking each game at a time.
Willis also said he sees it unlikely for the top four – Bathurst City, Rugby Union, City Colts and Centennial Bulls – to change before the end of the season.