The five things we learned from round eight of the BOIDC 2021-2022 season

The move to make the remainder of the season - including the finals series - one-day fixtures was taken to help clubs better deal with unavailiablities created by COVID-19.

Naturally its a decision that suit some clubs better than others, but all will need to get used to the white ball and wearing colours.

But that's not the only thing we learned this week as Saturday delivered more upsets and individual brilliance.

READ MORE: How your team fared in round eight of Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket

IT'S obvious that season 2021-22 has been a struggle for Centennials Bulls, with constant player unavailabilities a big factor in seeing them go winless through the first seven rounds.

But on Saturday the Bulls got it right. Yes, it might have been against an Orange CYMS side that has had its own struggles, but there was still plenty to like.

In posting their first BOIDC one-day win since bettering City Colts by six wickets on January 23 last year, Bulls had contributions from a number of different players with both bat and ball.

Openers Kyle Aubin and Kurt Toole put on 80 for the first wicket, with skipper Aubin showing some of that attacking style he's displayed in the past with 53 off 47.

Toole went on to make 40 and the contributions kept coming. Tyler Horton put on 44, Pat McCleary hit a run-a-ball 25 and Daniel Bryant a brilliant unbeaten 49 off 21.

While it was a little unfortunate Aubin was the only one to reach 50, Bulls' total of 221 was their biggest of the season across the completed one and two-dayers.

The Bathurst outfit then backed that up with the ball as CYMS was all out for 174. Five of the seven bowlers used took wickets, Dylan Grimmond the most successful with 3-19.

It was the kind of performance which should give Bulls hope they can climb further away from the dreaded wooden spoon position.

READ MORE: BOIDC moves to a one-day format for remainder of 2021-22 season

BEFORE the season started, Cavaliers skipper Matt Corben noted Harry Pearce as a player to watch as he'd recovered from shoulder injuries which had hampered him the previous summer.

From those promising pre-season net sessions, Pearce has indeed gone on to do a job for the currently undefeated Orange side.

Though Pearce's contribution in 2020-21 was still handy as he claimed 12 victims at an average of 15.5 across 56 overs, so far this season he's taken 13 at 11.23 off 50 overs.

It has Pearce sitting on top of the BOIDC's leading wicket-taker tally.

But it's not just the amount of wickets Pearce has taken that has impressed. His economy rate is a miserly 2.92, and many of his victims are top order bats.

That was the case on Saturday as Pearce reduced Orange City to 3-19 with the new ball and four of his eight overs were maidens.

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FOUR completed one-dayers, four wins and with more 50-over-a-side cricket to come, St Pat's Old Boys definitely shape as a threat.

Adam Ryan's men had a stumble before the Christmas break as they lost back-to-back two-dayers, but since the resumption of the season the Saints have been on the march.

Round seven it was an eight-wicket bonus point win over then second-placed Rugby Union - the Saints taking a 15.3 overs to complete their chase. This Saturday in round eight it was a seven-wicket triumph against Centrals.

Though Connor Slattery was the clear standout in the latest win with 5-22 off eight overs and an unbeaten 77 off 87, he's not the only Saint who has performed in the one-day format.

As well as being undefeated in one-dayers this season, the Saints won all of their one-dayers in 2020-21.

It suggests the Saints could be one of the big winners with the changes to the draw.

READ MORE: Slattery claims five wicket and half century for St Pat's Old Boys against Centrals

LAST weekend Dave Henderson enjoyed a very special moment in his cricketing career as he joined the City Colts' bowling 100 club on the back of a five-for.

In taking an impressive 5-35 against Orange City, Henderson took his total tally of scalps for Colts into triple figures. While most of his 51 games for the club since debuting in 2017-18 have been in Bathurst competition, he's a currently a man in form in BOIDC.

On Saturday the seamer claimed 4-26 off eight to help Colts to victory over Bathurst City, his victims including Redbacks' top three.

Henderson now has 12 wickets for the season, but he's not the only Colt ticking along well.

Josh Toole has discovered good form with the bat since the Christmas break and given what a weapon he can be when he's seeing them well, it's certainly a good sign for Colts.

Toole crashed 45 off 47 against Redbacks, backing up on his unbeaten 51 off 57 in the previous week's win over Orange City.

His current average for the season - 37.5 - is better than what he managed the previous two summers in BOIDC.

READ MORE: Rugby Union strengthens hold on top two spot in their Bonnor Cup pool

ALL out for 62 one week, a five-wicket win the next - Rugby Union bounced back in exactly the fashion they had hoped.

While the Bulldogs were not at full strength for the clash against St Pat's Old Boys which marked the resumption of the season last Saturday, they certainly would not have anticipated the comprehensive defeat they copped.

It meant the pressure was on in Saturday's match against an ORC side which had won four in a row and actually sat above them on the ladder.

But Rugby, who most certainly have premiership aspirations, responded.

Promoted from second grade Flynn Taylor was impressive with his 3-11 off six overs, the experienced Jameel Qureshi emulated those figures and Aidan McBurney removed danger man Dave Sellers for a duck.

Rugby was in trouble in the chase as their top four came and went cheaply, but Jameel Qureshi responded by producing his best knock of the season. His previous top score in BODIC for 2021-22 had been just 10, but he put on an unbeaten 44.

There is still certainly room for Rugby to improve, but Saturday's win against a form opponent shows Ryan Peacock's men are still a threat.

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