IT'S grand final time for Rugby Union marquee man Marty Jeffrey in this Friday night's Royal Hotel Cup clash with Orange City, but you wouldn't know it talking to him.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Dubbo all-rounder, fresh off his team-high score of 49 in the semi-final victory over CYMS, will be treating the final at Wade Park like a fun hit-out.
"It's a relaxed environment. I never look to much into these games. It's a grand final but at the end of the day I'm just there to play what's in front of me," Jeffrey said.
And why would he change that approach, especially when it's worked so well in his two appearance with the Bathurst side this season?
He scored an unbeaten 14 in the opening round and claimed a tidy 1-13 from his maximum four overs.
Jeffrey missed the next two games for Rugby but came back for the semi-final to score an 81-run partnership alongside captain Ryan Peacock for the third wicket.
He said it's been great having the chance to experience something a little different.
"I'm good mates with Ryan Peacock and I was speaking to him at the start of the season and he was wondering whether I wanted to come across and have a couple of games
"I grew up playing junior rep stuff with him so whenever there's a chance to play more cricket with him I jump at it. It's been great to come across and play with some different guys, and those guys at Rugby Union make playing cricket enjoyable.
"To play more cricket with guys like Jameel and Imran [Qureshi], who I played with at Western, has been really good. I've learned a lot off Jameel and the way he goes about his cricket.
"When you're playing against those guys you don't see how they read the game, you're seeing it from the outside in. To play with them and see how they go about their business is really good, and I think the more we can spread this competition around the better."
Jeffrey got his season off to a modest start in the local Dubbo competition with RSL Colts, scoring at an average of 27.1 with the bat over his first nine games.
But he's roared to life with 105 against South Dubbo and an unbeaten 71 last month in Twenty20 against Macquarie.
He brought that same energy into the Royal Hotel Cup semi-final, scoring his 49 off 38 deliveries to help Rugby reach 8-145.
CYMS ran out of overs while 31 runs short.
"I know we back ourselves to defend whatever we get. It a pretty well balanced side. With the bat we have blokes who can go hard early but there's depth in the middle, especially with someone like Jameel batting at six. Guys like that can reel it back," Jeffrey said.
"It's a similar story with our bowling. Our spin can cover through the middle. Our seamers have been great getting those early wickets in the games I've played and that's been crucial for Jameel and myself, with blokes trying to come in against spin.
"I don't know too much about Orange City but know a couple of the guys in the team and they're obviously a great team if they've reached the grand final."
Rugby Union and Orange City face off at Wade Park from 6.30pm.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.westernadvocate.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News