RUGBY Union got a much needed injection of competition points on Saturday when posting an outright win over Centennials Bulls at the Sportsground.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Over the first half of the Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade season, 2016-17 grand finalists Rugby Union had managed just one win and sat in last place on the ladder.
However, six wash-outs meant the damage had been limited and the Bulldogs were still very much in contention if they could improve in the longer two-day matches.
On Saturday they took a big step in the right direction as for the second week in a row, the Bulldogs did a job with the ball.
In a match were the batting highlights were few, Bulldogs laid the platform for victory on day when when dismissing Bulls for 56 in reply to their 143.
That gave Bulldogs a lead of 87 and, in search of maximum points, on Saturday they enforced the follow on and sent the Bulls in to bat once more.
With both sides below strength – Bulls missing the likes of Josh Toole and Aaron Seymour while Bulldogs were without Sam Macpherson and Qureshi brothers Imran and Jameel – it shaped as a test of depth.
It was Bulldogs who got the job done, dismissing Bulls for 94 then scoring the eight runs needed for victory in 3.3 overs for the loss of one wicket.
“It should put us in a pretty good spot,” Ryan Peacock, who acted as captain in Macpherson’s absence, said.
“Luke Powell bowled exceptionally well and everyone chipped in really well in a game where we were pretty short on players.”
While Peacock said the wicket “didn’t do a whole lot”, his bowlers certainly dominated on day two.
Aidan McBurney removed Bulls’ skipper Andrew Brown (three) in his second over then backed that up with a wicket-maiden, trapping Ryan Gurney (four) leg before wicket.
Fellow new-ball bowler Powell then sent Troy Kenny (eight) and Nick Bird (duck) on their way to make it 4-18. From there Bulls never recovered.
Chris Albon’s wicket-maiden sent Josh Howarth (seven) on his way, making it 5-36 and seeing Bill Watterson join Dallas Tilley at the crease.
That pair gave the Bulls some hope – Tilley hitting four boundaries and a six – but after a 42-run stand their rivals struck again.
It was Peacock who sent Tilley on his way for 40 with the first ball of his fifth over, the stand-in skipper then striking with the last delivery of the over that followed as Watterson was caught out for 18.
That made it 7-84, with the last three wickets falling for 10 runs.
Peacock (3-27 off seven overs), McBurney (3-16 off seven) and Powell (2-17 off 10) all impressed.