A SECOND Royal Hotel Cup half century at better than a run-a-ball and his fourth of the season as a whole - on any other night that sort of form from Centennials Bulls batsman Blake Aubin would have been celebrated.
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Instead Aubin's efforts were overshadowed by Orange CYMS duo Mick Delaney and Sam Dwyer, who launched their side to a 57-run win over Bulls at Wade Park on Friday night.
We just said 'we need to go hard early and we'll see if it comes off', fortunately it did.
- CYMS' Sam Dwyer
In an aggressive display Delaney and Dwyer belted their way to an incredible, 12-over, 139-run opening stand to inspire CYMS - to a monstrous total of 3-220.
Led by Aubin's 67 off 45 deliveries the Bulls were admirable in reply as they finished with 5-163, but it was well short of the necessary. Delaney and Dwyer had taken the game away from the visiting Bathurst side before they started their chase.
Dwyer belted 71 from just 32 balls before being the first man dismissed for CYMS and Delaney finished with a hard-hitting 111 from just 61. The duo combined to wallop 16 boundaries and nine maximums along the way.
"The wicket there at Wade Park was doing nothing so we just said 'We need to go hard early and we'll see if it comes off', fortunately it did," Dwyer said.
"We were both pretty simple with it, although I did keep telling myself to play straight, you give yourself the best chance if you're doing that.
"Pup [Delaney] was good to watch, I get past 50 and my mental capacity goes out the window but he's got this ability to grind it out and keep batting, and go big.
"The Centennials boys did pretty well in the chase, if they're batting first and post 170-odd they'd be feeling pretty confident, but I guess with the wicket the way it is you need more and more runs this summer."
Delaney and Dwyer's effort is made all the more impressive considering neither is playing regularly this summer, between them they've played just five games this summer.
Tyler Horton was the lone Bulls bowler who finished with respectable figures as he took 2-24 from his four overs. He was also solid in the chase as he cracked four boundaries on his way to 42 off 31 deliveries.
Aubin, who had hit 53 in the Bulls' round one loss to Orange City, tried hard to give his side a chance after it was reduced to 2-9 early on. His knock featured seven boundaries and one maximum, while his third-wicket stand with Horton was worth 85 runs.
But ultimately his effort was not enough as Bulls fell well short. The defeat leaves them on the bottom ladder.
The Royal Hotel Cup continues on Friday night when Cavaliers and reigning champions St Pat's Old Boys square-up, with both sides all-but playing to keep their finals hopes alive.
CYMS' final preliminary game of the tournament is against Orange City on January 24, a side Dwyer nominated as a 'genuine contender', especially considering their effort the week prior in running down 164 with eight wickets and four overs to spare.
He also pointed to how valuable the Warriors' marquee player Mick Curtale could be, in turn with Delaney and Bathurst City's Ben Patterson. Delaney's ton followed Curtale's unbeaten 63 while Patterson belted 95 not out the week prior, in Redbacks' win over Cavaliers.
"It does seem like the marquee players are really living up to their reputation's this summer, it's good, it must be pretty entertaining to watch," Dwyer said.
"Orange City have won their two games so far and from what I'm told look the goods, so that might be a preview of the finals to come when we play them."
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
