St Pat’s Old Boys will take on City Colts on Saturday, as both teams look to secure its place in the Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade semi-finals.
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Showing just how close the competition has been this year, a win for either team could see them finish as high as second, depending on other results.
However, a loss could see Saints or Colts finish as low as fifth, depending on results in other games.
Colts are regulars in the finals, having qualified for the past three seasons and having won the premiership in the 2014-15 season.
Yet it’s been a long time between drinks for Saints, who haven’t qualified for the finals since the 2012-13 season.
Knowing that second is as high as Saints can reach, skipper Adam Ryan said getting that second place finish would be desirable for the second-chance.
“Finals was our goal at the start of the season,” he said.
“If we can get first or second, it’ll give us a second crack at the finals. That’s definitely a positive.
“I would be super happy if we could land a top two spot. We’ve just got to do everything in our power this week to win. We’ll treat it like it’s a final, or like the first week of the finals.
“We’ll definitely be going strong. You want to be winning your games of cricket this time of year. You don’t want to be losing.”
Ryan said he’s keen to bring an end to Saints’ long finals drought, considering there’s only a “few” left from that finals campaign from five years ago.
“It’s been a long time since getting a taste,” he said.
“With the juniors coming through, they’ll be going straight into the finals not having a go before.
“It’ll be a good feeling if we are in the mix.”
Saints are expected to be full strength with the team that have regularly had this year, with their usual three school stars – Ben Parsons, Ben Mitchell and Bailey Brien – still expected to missing due to their commitments to All Saints’ College and St Stanislaus’ College.
However, Saints have managed to adapt well to the student absentees.
“We’re almost a squad of 14. With the three boys that play school cricket, come finals it’ll depend on who’s available and who’s not,” he said.
“The three that fill in for them for the school kids are Brendon Cutmore, Fazian Ali, Derryn Clayton. They’ll give us a selectors nightmare if they’re all available come finals,” he said.
“Besides the schools kids, we’ve got no other players out at the moment. So we’re full strength.”
While Saints may be a team full of talent juniors, Ryan is weary of a capable Colts team that is spearheaded by skipper Matt Stephen.
“Obviously, he’s [Stephen] the strike bowler in the competition at the moment. Also, he’s batting of late has been great with 90 and 100 from his last few batting performances,” he said.
“He’s an all-rounder that we definitely have to contain.
“Colts are pretty good all over the park. They’ve been a top four side. They’re there for a reason. They’ve been playing good cricket all season long.”
Saints are currently third, with 45.630 points, 4.83 points of second placed Rugby Union.
Colts are in fourth, with 43.050, 8.05 points clear of fifth and 7.41 off second placed Rugby Union.
The game between Saints and Colts will be played at George Park, at 1.30pm.