MACQUARIE captain Keiran Brien has urged some of the more experienced players in his side to step up next week as the Blues look to overcome Rugby and another Jordan Moran masterclass.
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Rugby captain Moran made 109 as the defending premiers recovered from 3-25 to be bowled out in the final over of the day for 299 in the match up between last season's grand finalists.
While Moran's innings was the highlight, the final-wicket partnership for Rugby could prove to be the most vital with Blake Watmore sticking with the destructive Ben Patterson to add 68 runs.
Patterson made a hard-hitting 74, featuring four sixes, and despite needing 300 for victory next week, Brien believes his side can do it.
"It's a big job, we've got to play out 'Patto' (Patterson) and not lose early wickets and then just respect the bowling and put the bad balls away," he said.
"It's time for some blokes to stand up, the ground is lightning and it's a smaller ground so 300 looks a big score but it's not massive, we think it's about par and we're feeling positive with our line-up."
After Rugby won the toss and batted Macquarie started the better with Nathan Reichelt trapping Mitch Bower in front for nine.
Lee Price went without scoring and when the returning Jeremy Dickson had Jacob Hill caught behind for five, Rugby were in trouble.
Moran and Harry Kempston steadied the ship with a 68-run partnership before Kempston went for 13, while Aidan Bennewith came in and his 40 was another stabling influence on the innings.
At 7-201 Macquarie were still well in the hunt but Patterson was sensible early before opening up once he got himself in to take the innings away from the Blues.
"We didn't really have an answer to him, spin worked well to him early but then he really got stuck in and batted well at the end," Brien said of Patterson before praising Moran's knock.
"He didn't give a chance, he's a good batsman and played out the good balls and hit the bad ones."
Brien gave credit to his bowlers, particularly Nathan Reichelt (1-37 from 14) and Joe Haylock (3-59 off 13.3) but the skipper was well aware his side have a big job to do next week.
Rugby will look to spearhead Patterson to lead the way while the Blues will be relying on their own talisman in Jason Green, as well as Brien and Justin Gavin, as they chase their first win of the season.