REACHING the Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket mid-season break undefeated - it's a record which St Pat's Old Boys captain Adam Ryan is certainly proud of.
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After seven rounds of cricket the Saints find themselves sitting third on the ladder, two points behind current leaders Orange City, while second-placed Cavaliers hold a one-point buffer over Ryan's men.
"As like most seasons the rain always comes and impacts games in ways you don't really want, but this year to have nine points from three wash-outs instead of three has helped keep us in a good position," Ryan said.
"To not drop a game yet, we're really happy."
Connor Slattery (117 versus City Colts) is one of the six men to have made a century thus far while Matt Fearnley (6-9 versus Kinross) and Jack Goodsell (5-27 versus Orange CYMS) are both in the bowling hall of fame for the 2020-21 season.
With three one-dayers to resume their campaign then three two-day contests leading into the finals, Ryan and his men are determined to build on the platform they have laid.
Here is how Ryan views the Saints' season to date and what lies ahead.
OVERALL PROGRESS
HAD it not been for three games where rain prevented an outcome, the Saints could find themselves sitting higher than third on the ladder.
Yet it has been in two of those draws - against frontrunners Orange City and currently fourth placed City Colts - that Ryan has seen the sort of cricket he feels makes his side a title threat.
They batted for 89.4 overs to make 297 against City Colts, while in the fixture with CYMS, the Saints showed good focus in the field on a day when wickets did not come easily.
"The close draws we've had with those wash-outs, we've tested ourselves against City and Colts just before the break too," Ryan said.
"Unfortunately we didn't get to play those games out to see how they would end, but they're the games that give the boys the hunger to get better.
"We're a young squad so each game we are taking points away which we can learn from and we are continuing to improve our cricket. What we've done is a good MO for later in the year when we've got to play that hard style of cricket."
BATTING
CONNOR Slattery has been the undoubted star for St Pat's Old Boys this season as indicated by his current average of 121.5.
But his efforts at number four - he's finished undefeated three times in five knocks - are not the only batting highlights for St Pat's.
Ryan has also been pleased with openers Bailey Brien (239 runs at 47.8) and Andrew Brown (162 runs at 27).
With that trio in good touch, the Saints skipper is also making a conscious effort to give other players time at the crease by shuffling the batting order. He knows that will be important for what lies ahead.
"I think Bailey and Con are obviously the standouts so far and Browny at the top has been a rock as well, they've done a really good job in setting up our games," Ryan said.
"We've sort of tried to swap our order around a little bit because we don't want it to come to the end of the season and have nothing in the sheds when we need 10 bats, just not that top three or four.
"Because they've done such a good job up the top we've had a little bit of rotation there and we'll continue to do that to make sure everyone is match fit come finals.
"The boys are doing a really good job at putting cases forward, each week it gives me a headache trying to think what to do, they're all putting their hands up to bat."
BOWLING
THE Saints bowling attack has benefitted from the inclusion of two young talents in Jack Goodsell and Hamish Siegert this season, while proven performers Matt Fearnley and Mitch Taylor have continued to do a job as well.
"Mitch and Jack have really been a great opening partnership this year, they're doing a great job and compliment each other right-arm, left-arm, which is really good," Ryan said.
"Fearnz was just sitting pretty until that Kinross game when we needed him and he just stepped up.
"I think we're a really well balanced side, young Hamish coming in this year has given us an extra spin option like when we had Nic Broes. We had Nic and Connor and now we have Connor and Hamish which is really good.
"We're spoilt for choice in that area, the big job is just putting the performances together on the right days."
PLAYERS READY TO FIRE
THERE have been a number of Saints show good form already this season, but as finals approach Ryan is tipping Mitch Taylor, Connor Slattery and Bailey Brien to be the trio that fire.
"I think after the Western carnival, the three that came back from that really brought a lot of maturity back with them and are keen to go forward," Ryan said.
"Mitch has come back pretty fresh and ready to rock'n'roll for us. With these young fellas it's just about giving them that experience and if we keep a few of them together instead of heading away it will be great.
"Those are our core three that we need to keep doing well."
FINALS CHANCES
IT'S not just a top four position that Ryan wants his Saints to lock in over the coming weeks, he is also aiming at becoming BOIDC minor premiers.
Beating Cavaliers in this Saturday's one-dayer is the first step towards doing that.
"With COVID coming back and rain and everything, that top spot is the main priority if you can get it because it gives you so much flexibility in the finals," he said.
"Even the way you bat, you can bat for two days and still win with the way the rules are set up. We're quietly confident we'll get into the finals, we've just got to keep putting it in."
