BOTH City Colts and Rugby Union have reason to feel victory is within their reach following Saturday's opening day of Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade action at Loco Oval.
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Rugby Union are currently 3-76 in their pursuit of Colts' 240 but the loss of two wickets in the final two overs of the day - crucial dismissals in the form of Qureshi brothers Imran and Jameel - have put some pressure back on the blue and golds.
Wayne Sellers was given the job of opener alongside Henry Shoemark after Colts lost the toss and were sent into bat and he made the most of the move.
Sellers took little time to reach 88, running between the wicket for just 10 of those runs.
By the time Shoemark (14) was caught off Tim McKinnon's bowling in the fourth over the score had already reached 1-41.
Aiden McBurney and Chris Albon claimed the scalps of Jaden Ekert (2) and Pat Hill (4) while Sellers continued to dispatch boundaries.
Jeremy Thackray had looked the most likely bowler in the early stages to snare a wicket and he got the big one of Sellers in the 16th over, stopping what would have been a quickfire century.
The run rate naturally took a step back once Sellers departed at 4-118 but Dan Casey (46) and Matt Stephen (48) helped Colts reach 200.
It was a strong day in the field for Rugby with nine of the 10 wickets being catches.
Albon's bowling had taken some blows during the early overs but he remained consistent throughout the day to record Rugby's best figures of 3-61.
All six Rugby bowlers came away with at least one wicket.
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Horton picked up 2-2 from his two overs while Sam Macpherson finished with 2-32, picking up Stephen's wicket in the process.
Albon then went out to open the batting alongside Imran Qureshi but was only there for five overs before he was dismissed for eight runs, trapped in front off Stephen's bowling.
Imran and Jameel Qureshi looked to be set at the crease before the brothers fell in the space of three balls.
Casey had Imran out for 38, clean bowled with the last ball of his over, before Hill also sent the bails flying when Jameel was sent packing for 28.
McKinnon and Horton, both yet to score, will be out in the middle next Saturday.
Rugby captain Macpherson said the late wickets definitely sting but there's still plenty of time up the sleeve to chase the remaining runs.
"Wayne came out and blasted us away in the first 10 and we probably didn't bowl to our plan as much as we should as first graders," he said.
"It was great to see that we took our catches and got off to a great start with the bat. It was just two small lapses of concentration with the bat that could define our season unfortunately.
"We have 165 to get with seven wickets in hand. We know we can get there and do the job. Just a matter of patience and respecting of bowling and our own wicket."
Rugby must take a first innings victory to keep their finals hopes alive.
Colts can't miss finals regardless of the result but need what looks like a very unlikely outright win if they're to earn direct passage through to the grand final.