IN what has already been a season of firsts for St Pat’s Old Boys, the Saints can now boast another milestone as they head into the Christmas/new year break as the Bathurst District Cricket Association as competition leaders.
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At this stage in the season 12 months ago the Saints were struggling with just two wins, but on Saturday at The Scots School they made it four for 2017-18 as they downed Rugby Union by 39 runs.
Having made 285 last Saturday to put themselves in a solid position to win the two-day contest, five overs into the second day the Saints had reduced Rugby to 3-5.
While the likes of Jameel Qureshi (87) and Rugby skipper Sam Macpherson (57) fought hard to get their side back in the contest, the Bulldogs were all out for 246.
Though Macpherson wanted the win to lift his side off the bottom of the ladder, he had nothing but praise for his victorious rivals.
“Well done to the Pat’s boys, they played hard for the whole day. They took some great catches, had a good run-out and they were all game-changers,” he said.
“It was a great game to play, both teams had some really good sessions and we both had some tough sessions.
“There were times when we were in really good match-winning moments, and then [were hurt by] a lapse in concentration.
“To be honest, Jameel and myself should’ve both gone on with bigger scores. But it was always going to be hard at 3-5.”
Bulldogs’ chase got off to a horror start when Chris Albon (one) was trapped leg before wicket by Matt Fearnley, Ryan Peacock was run-out for a duck then Imran Qureshi (four) fell to Fearnley as well.
Tyler Horton made a handy 24 before he departed, but at that stage Bulldogs were still in trouble at 4-53. They needed a big partnership and they got it.
Jameel Qureshi and Macpherson put on an 80-run fifth wicket stand to haul their side back into the contest, the partnership finally ending when Nic Broes removed the skipper.
Broes also removed new bastman in Ben Hurford (nine) and when Connor Slattery trapped Scott Johnson leg before for seven, the game swung back in Pat’s favour with Bulldogs at 7-183.
Slattery also got the key wicket of Jameel Quershi, putting Pat’s two scalps away from victory while Bulldogs needed 82 runs.
Jeremy Thackray offered some fight as he came in at number nine, but Bailey Webber bowled him for 35 then ended it by dismissing Luke Powell (14).
The Saints attack shared the wickets with Fearnley (2-36 off 11), Webber (2-26 off nine), Broes (2-40 off 16) and Slattery (2-69 off 13) all making good contributions.
