Plenty is on the line this weekend, when St Pat’s Old Boys take on Rugby Union in the Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade major semi-final at the Bathurst Sportsground.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It’s a simple equation for the winner – win and you’re into the grand final.
However, it’s not all over for the loser, as they have a second chance on March 17 and 18 against the winner of the Bathurst City and City Colts game.
Not since the 2012-13 first grade season has Saints played such an important game, when they finished second but got knocked out of grand final contention in straight sets.
In fact it’s been 22 years since the team has won a first grade premiership, in 1995-96 during the old Bathurst-Orange Inter District Cricket days.
St Pat’s skipper Adam Ryan said it’s a really exciting time at his club.
He’s hoping that St Pat’s is Rugby Union’s bogey side, with half of Rugby Union’s four losses coming against St Pat’s.
We’re in a fortunate position and I’m hoping we’re their bogey side,” he said.
“We’ve beaten them twice this season, so hopefully there’s something there in the waters to give us an advantage.
“They’re definitely a good side and to me, if you looked at the paper before the season started, they were the side to beat.
“I thought they had the strongest line-up when they’re full strength but halfway through, I thought you’ve got to be kidding.
“They’ve done well to get back up to the top and it’s going to be a tough game.”
While Ryan didn’t want to give away to much away, in terms of his squad, he did say both teams will be affected by school cricket.
Ben Mitchell, Ben Parsons and Bailey Brien will miss the the first day of play for St Pat’s on Saturday, due to their commitments with their schools but could make a return on the second day on Sunday.
Rugby Union skipper Sam Macpherson said there is a good mood at his club.
“We had a good training session on Thursday night. We’re all keen to get out there like it’s any normal game,” he said.
“Our top four batsmen have to do the job. We just need to be patient with bat.”
Amazingly, Rugby Union were dead last at Christmas, with four rounds remaining but turned it around to win the minor premiership.
At that stage, Macpherson said the side was just aiming to get two or three wins in their remaining matches but an outright win and victories over grand final contenders helped steer the minor premiership in Rugby Union’s direction.
“We were last at Christmas and we didn’t expect to get the wins we did. We won outright against Bulls and then knocked off Colts and Redbacks,” he said.
“We were thinking about winning two or three more games.
“Aidan McBurney grabbed six-for during that time and everyone has bowled really well and taking the catches we normally wouldn’t have.”
Regardless, Macpherson knows the game will be a tough one but he’s side should almost be at full strength.
This weekend’s game will be played at the Bathurst Sportsground, with play starting at 1.30pm on both Saturday and Sunday.