Blayney captain Nathan Wells, did what good captains do, he “dug deep”... wasting no time, hitting the phones hard, dispatching an urgent S.O.S., to past and present players to collect and find, “The Best of the Rest”!

Xavier Gosewich was instantly called back into the side, Jack Dixon was keen for a game, Ryan Simmons made himself available, with Damon Taylor, putting his good hand up.

Still a player down, young Tom Dixon, playing his first game for President’s Cup, helped in the field and did a spectacular job. (Very Cool Stuff!!!)

After losing the toss um...yet again? (And with players starting to wonder if Wellsy could flip an egg?)... Blayney found themselves in the field, which actually and fortunately, had been the plan.

On a day where the boundaries were short set, opening bowlers Jack Garrity (1/34 off 14 overs) and Nathan Wells (0/30 off 12), had no other option, than to bowl well, tight and on the mark, and that they did, with both delivering impressive spells.

Following our openers, Alex Kinghorne (1/41 off 11), “hot on the heels”, of sensational bowling, in the under 14’s, where “Angry” Alex captured five wickets for (I think?) three runs, collecting himself, a “Hat-trick” in the process.

In his second over a “Happy” Alex grabbed a fantastic wicket, his sixth, a top effort and a very nice day’s work. 

Harry Taylor (1/31 off 11) bowled perfectly, baffling simultaneously, batsman and two different wicket keepers, three clear stumping chances missed, simply as Harry, pitched and turned the ball, equal to any spell, (Youi or Curls) bowled last year, until the usual combination of Harry bowling and Jack Garrity catching struck, yet again!

Mic Garrity (3/47 off 11) was consistent... “Consistently, hit over the boundary”, however, he finished with three wickets after sleek keeping from Madison taking two great catches.

With wickets falling and batsman eager to score, Xavier Gosewich (1/36 off 5) had St Pat’s hitting catches, Jack snaring the second of his three for the day.

Ryan Simmons (0/15 off 2) and Jack Dixon (1/12 off 2) had assorted days...late inclusion “Simmo” fighting off some bowling “rust”, yet absolutely brilliant fielding.

Jack Dixon took his usual wicket plus a stunning run out, dumbfounding everyone on the field.

Blayney, performing admirably restricting, St Pats (Blue) to a moderate total (all out) for 260 runs. 

However, the story of the day and game ball, goes to Madison Marmion (1/8 off 2), who earlier had made an unbeaten fifty in under 14’s, then stepped into Jordan’s shoes at keeper to pocket three catches.

Called upon to bowl, “Maddy” in only her second over, received a ball back from deep field, on the full and without a word said, walked back to her mark, bowled again, with Ryan taking a terrific catch.

High fiving was put on hold upon the realisation “Maddy” had on the previous ball, ripped open the webbing on her finger/hand, spilling “Blood on the Wicket”, (Highly Regarded as a badge of honour by those who have gone before)... yet, to bowl again, after injuring herself, and to get a wicket on that ball, is exceptionally rare and tremendously courageous!

After three overs, Blayney are (0/3) with Damon Taylor and Jack Garrity, still at the crease for next week. 

“We were good out there today, especially that first session” said captain Nathan Wells. “We are in a decent position now and if everyone bats to their ability, the 261 run target is definitely achievable!”

Don’t Forget – Friday Night Raffles @ The Royal.

Players from the two cities filled all but two of the spots on the squad following the weekend’s Western Zone Colts Carnival.

A St Pat’s Old Boys quintet of Nic Broes, Ben Mitchell, Tanvir Singh, Mitch Taylor and Ethan Ivory were the Bathurst players to make the squad.