ORANGE Public School has finished its NSW Primary Schools Sports Association cricket knockout campaign in fourth following a hot final day’s play at Maitland yesterday.
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Competing against Gladesville in the semi-final, the city-based outfit showed its class to hit 133 before bowling OPS out for 76.
With little to play for in the third-fourth clash, OPS coach Debbie Smith says her side took the chance to give everyone a go and, at the end of the game against Tacking Point Public School, it was the north coast-based school who came out on top to leave Orange in fourth.
Smith said despite the losses, this year’s team can be extremely proud of its achievement, the second year in a row OPS has made it to the knockout semi-finals. They finished third in the same competition last year.
“They’ve played as a team right throughout the competition, and that’s the important thing,” she said.
“It’s not often you get handed a team that is always so positive, and the boys have been so supportive of each other on and off the field, which is great because things haven’t always gone their way.
“I’m very proud.”
Gladesville went on to beat Camden South Public School in the final.
While in the girls’ knockout, a depleted Blayney battled in its first game, going down to Newport in the semi-final after being reduced to 10 players.
Batting first, Blayney made 9-57 but were outplayed in the semi-final chase as Newport won by six wickets.
Blayney then blitzed it in its next game.
Tackling Charlestown in the third-fourth play-off, Blayney bowled out its opposition for just 21 before reaching to total no wickets down in just four overs.
“We played super in the second game,” coach Matt Dunn said.
