THEY might not have been at their best on Sunday, but the Bathurst District Junior Cricket Association under 14s representative side still managed to extend their unbeaten run this season.
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After opening their campaign with a three-from-three record in the Max Shepherd Shield, the under 14s have gone on to win their first three games in the annual Central West Cricket Council competition.
Their latest success was a five-wicket win over Dubbo, that result adding to victories against Mudgee and fierce rivals Orange.
In warm conditions and with a number of players battling illness - including captain Hugh Taylor - it was not the slickest of performances, but coach Greg Innes was still pleased to see them get the win.
"It wasn't our best game but to win when you're not playing at your best, it was still a good effort by the boys," Innes said
"We'd played them [Dubbo] in the Max Shepherd Shield, they had two sides in our draw and we beat them both fairly convincingly, but what they then did was pick the best out of both sides for this.
"They are not a bad bowling side, they're not a bad little side and have got a couple of good cricketers."
With Taylor, who not only shares wicket-keeping duties with Connor Brown but is Bathurst's sole spin option, only able to field for a minimal period, Innes had "a bit of rejigging to do".
Bathurst won the toss and elected to field first. They did a reasonable job in restricting their rivals as 14 from opener Angus Boland was the top score from the hosts.
Though giving away 36 extras, Bathurst still managed to have Dubbo all out in the 37th over.
Mark Sheather (2-10 off seven overs) and Mac Hutchings (2-21 off 7.6) were the most successful of the Bathurst bowlers.
"We got them out for 102 which was really good, we fielded good, caught well and bowled okay," Innes said.
"So I was happy to get them out, but then we had to rejig our batting order a bit as a couple of other kids had been crook during the week too ... we didn't get the runs in the end until the 48th over.
"Hugh ended coming on after about 35 overs and fielded, but he still couldn't bat until number six. He was seven not out when we passed it and I think they said he slept all the way home and slept all day Monday."
Brown made 17 opening the batting and Murray Staines put on 20 to have the chase on track before Taylor and Rueben Newton (20 not out) steered their side home.
It means Bathurst currently holds a four-point buffer over Orange on the competition ladder.
Meanwhile, Jayden Brasier provided a highlight for the Bathurst under 12s side even though they went down to Dubbo, scoring an impressive 89.
Dubbo batted first and showed their quality as they put on 224 runs for the loss of four wickets from their 40 overs.
Needing to score at more than five runs an over for victory proved too big task for Bathurst, but Brasier made sure his side went down fighting.
Coming in at number four as Bathurst found itself in trouble at 2-3, he went on to occupy the crease for more than two hours.
Brasier faced 120 deliveries, 10 of which he sent to the boundary on his way to an impressive 89.
He and Callum Munns (nine) put on 80 runs for the fourth wicket and while Bathurst managed to bat out its 40 overs, it fell 85 runs short.
Still, the under 12s are sitting in second place on the ladder behind Orange and are in contention for the final.
The under 14s and under 12s will resume their Central West Cricket Council campaign on January 31 when hosting Mudgee.
