BEATING Orange - it is something Bathurst District Cricket representatives of all ages like to do, but so far this summer the ledger is squared.
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Last Sunday as the Bathurst opens side extended its winning streak over Orange in the Western Zone Premier League - they've not lost to them in that competition since 2013 - juniors from the two districts did battle as well.
Bathurst's under 14s beat Orange by six wickets in their Central West Cricket Council match, but the 12s and 16s were unable to topple their fierce rivals.
"Orange is our main rival, there's a huge rivalry between Bathurst and Orange," Bathurst District Junior Cricket Association president Steve Cain said.
"it is a bit to and fro as to who wins, it changes.
"Our opens won and two of our better junior graduates played their first game with that opens team, Cooper Brien and Jack Goodsell. So Orange didn't get it all their own way, we won two out of the four. Our 14s have now beaten Orange and Mudgee."
The under 16s needed a win over Orange to book a spot in their grand final against Mudgee. They made a good start to that mission at Morse Park 1 as they dismissed the visitors for 100, but they fell short in the chase.
That result spelt the end of the 16s campaign, but Cain knows many of those players will be in the same age group next season and be better for the experience.
"There are some great little players in that team, they were a relatively young team as well ... so realistically if we'd had a 15s competition this year, we would have been the strongest team," he said.
"The 16s were unlucky against Orange I think, they lost by 24 in the end ... but they bowled excellent and a new guy, Zane Newham from Scots, took four wickets. So the bowling and fielding was excellent."
The under 12s had beaten Mudgee by seven wickets in round one, but against Orange only managed to put 65 runs on the board and could not defend that total.
"They all sort of bounce off each other those kids, so if one kid goes well they all tend too, but if a few of them start off with a bad day then the others tend to have a bad day too, " Cain said.
The under 14s were under pressure in their game against Orange when the visitors were 1-86 after 25 overs.
But momentum switched as Charlie Rendell (3-27 off eight overs) and Mac Hutchings (1-4 off four) struck in consecutive overs then Mark Sheather (2-9 off seven) found success in his spell.
It saw Orange all out for 138, coach Greg Innes saying he was "very pleased but there's still room for improvement."
In reply Bathurst put on 91 for the first wicket as Connor Brown (37) and Hugh Taylor (52) batted the hosts into a position of strength.
Bathurst went on to reach the required total in the 45th over with six wickets still in hand.
The under 12s and 14s will meet Orange again in February and get the chance to give Bathurst's representative program bragging rights.
"Blue Mountains and Lithgow have pulled out of the junior rep competitions, the Lithgow boys because they all play in Bathurst they're in our district teams now, but Dubbo has come in," Cain said.
"It does give them exposure to a different team and different wickets while the 12s and 14s are lucky enough for it to mean their season extends into next year. They'll get the chance to play Orange again."
Meanwhile, a number of Bathurst's talented juniors have been invited to try out for the youth championships in their respective age groups.
Under 13s age players Jayden Brasier, Flynn Waddell, Blayde Bourke, Gilby Glawson, Liam King and Affan Usmani will all be working hard to press their claims while Rupert Begg, Wil Blatch, Connor Brown, Ruben Newton, Charlie Randall, Mark Sheather, Murray Staines and Hugh Taylor will all trial for the under 14s side.
Bathurst's under 15s hopefuls are Liam Cain, Eli Morris, Seth Norris, Jayden Spackman, Robert Spillane and Mitchell Wallace.
