Bathurst juniors looking for a trifecta of wins in deciders on Sunday

Bathurst have already won grand finals in the under 16s Challenge Shield and Presidents Cup in seniors, while Colts under 19s play their decider on March 10, making it possible for Bathurst to win six representative deciders. 

Will Bathurst prevail in all three grades on Sunday and bring home a trifecta?

Phil Newton's under 12s is yet to lose a game all summer, having won all five of their games, with a draw against Blue Mountains which resulted in a washout the only time Bathurst didn't manage to win one of their scheduled matches. 

But they come up against an Orange side that has caused them plenty of headaches throughout the competition, with Bathurst only coming away with narrow wins against the boys from the colour city.

Bathurst recorded a three-wicket win against Orange on October 28, the first round of the under 12s competition, at Brooke Moore Oval, the field for Sunday's final.

The clashed again at Orange's Jack Brabham Park 1 on February 17, with Bathurst once again claiming a win, holding on for a nervy 18-run win.

"It'll be a very close game, in my personal opinion," he said.

"I think we've both improved since the first time we played and it showed in the last game two weeks ago when we got the 18-run win. It went right down to the wire and it could've went either way.

"Our boys have won all five games and they've had a good year. Hopefully we can get one more and that'll be the icing on the cake. It'd be disappointing if we didn't but cricket, like most other sports, is a funny game."

Newton signalled out Orange's bowling as something Bathurst will have to overcome if they want to win.

"Last time we played them, I thought Orange bowled exceptionally well," he said.

"They bowled a really good line and length and bowled at the stumps. They gave us very little opportunities to score runs, making us work really hard to get what we did.

"Orange are a good team and we'll have to be at our best if we want to get the win on Sunday."

Sunday's game at Brooke Moore Oval will get underway at 10am. 

Bathurst progressed to Sunday's decider after overcoming Blue Mountains in the semi-final on February 24.

Played on a frustrating Bathurst Sportsground wicket, Bathurst batted out their entire 50 overs, posting a score of 7-132, before they dismissed Blue Mountains for just 40 runs and, in turn, setting up a date with Orange in the decider.

Bathurst have had a solid summer, having won all four regular season matches and winning the minor premiership with ease, ahead of Orange, Mudgee and Blue Mountains, all three tied on 26 points and winning and losing two games each. 

The only time Bathurst and Orange have played each other in under 14s this summer was on October 28, during the first round of the competition.

Bathurst made light work of Orange that day, at Morse Park 2, bowling the boys from the colour city out for just 62, off 36 overs, the wickets shared around by six Bathurst bowlers. 

Bathurst won by catching Orange's total with a score of 2-66 off just 19 overs. 

"If we can post a good score and bowl tight, we should be able to restrict Orange," coach Craig Windus said.

"It's really pleasing to be in final. We've only really been tested by Mudgee, on what was a good wicket."

The game Windus is referring to is Bathurst's game against Mudgee on November 25, where they won by one wicket.

Mudgee had posted a score of 118 not out, before Bathurst caught Mudgee's total with a score of 9-120 off 31 overs. 

Sunday's game starts at 10am from George Park 1. 

The under 16s is Bathurst's only team that won't be playing at home on Sunday, as they'll travel to Peter Carroll Field in Leura to face an unbeaten Blue Mountains side.

The only meeting between the two sides came back on February 10, when Bathurst lost by six wickets. 

Bathurst had posted a quite winnable 8-202 off 50 overs, but thanks to an unbeaten hit of 90 runs from skipper Charlie Griffith, Blue Mountains railed to hit 4-203 off 49 overs. 

The two sides were also meant to play each other on February 3 at Katoomba Falls Oval, however, the match was washed out. 

Bathurst coach David Currie understands it'll be difficult against Blue Mountains.

"We played them about a fortnight ago and it was really close. We scored 202 runs, which I thought would be really good, but we leaked runs," he said.

"To win the game we'll need to bowl well and not leak the runs like we did last time.

"I'll speak to them at training about how we set our field and how we bowl. They've certainly have what it takes to win, but it'll just depend on what happens on the day."  

Currie said the under 16s side will be at full strength heading into the decider.

"We've had 12 boys available for every game. It's been amazing and they're all very keen," he said.

The game starts at 10am.