Rugby in control after Goodman's five wickets

By NICK GUTHRIE

RUGBY took the honours on day one of the Pinnington Cup top-of-the-ladder clash with CYMS Cougars, with Bart Goodman's five-wicket haul having them well placed for next week.

Goodman took the first three wickets of the day to have CYMS 3-27 and the competition leaders never recovered from there as they could only manage to post 143.

Cougars skipper Darryl Thompson did manage to dismiss young gun Charlie Kempston before stumps but the men in sky blue will feel confident leading into next week with the score at 1-39.

After CYMS had earlier won the toss and batted things began poorly with the in-form Dave McAlister (2), Thompson (8) and Brandon Dodd (1) all departing early.

Jaspal Bansal and Trot Tracey added 61 runs before Bansal (42), Salmon Rasool (2) and Tom Nelson (0) all departed quickly.

Glenn Shepherd picked up Tracey for 37 and despite Brodie Parkinson hitting a late 20, Goodman came back into the attack and knocked over the tail to finish with the hugely impressive figures of 5-15 from 11 overs.

Jason Coyle (2-17) and Shepherd (2-18) were the other multiple wicket-takers.

Rugby lost Kempston (10) shortly before stumps but last season's runners-up will be confident next week when Dale Watmore (22 not out) and Shepherd (1 not out) chase the remaining 104 runs needed for first innings points.

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South Dubbo junior Henry Railz has been showing plenty of promise in the senior grades this season and that form was rewarded on Saturday as he made a century for the Hornets against RSL-Colts.

Railz made 106 in his side's total of 236 as the Hornets were bowled out in the 63rd over, the final over of the day in honour of Phillip Hughes.

Left-hander Railz came to the crease with his side in need of someone to stabilise the innings with the score at 4-58. He added 68 for the next wicket with Matt Knudsen (32) while fellow youngster Sam Fraser (27) also provided support.

Railz showed maturity beyond his years as he held the innings together and brought up his century with a two before smashing a six with his last scoring shot.

Jakke Gardiner toiled hard all day, finishing with 2-97 from 20 overs while Glen Wheeler (2-17 from 15), Mitch Ashford (2-21 from seven) and Ryan Davis (2-68 off 14.1) also got through plenty of work.

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Newtown have given themselves the chance to move off the bottom of the Pinnington Cup ladder after posting 7-206 on day one of their clash with Macquarie at Lady Cutler 2.

Junior Ben Knaggs made an unbeaten 65 to anchor the innings while veteran Don Skinner chipped in with 49.

Brant Mann took 2-36 from 17 overs for the Blues, who maintained pressure for long parts of their time in the field.

Things began well for Macquarie when they reduced the Tigers to 2-8 early on but Knaggs patiently worked himself into the game and set the platform for his side to pass 200.

Both sides have only won one match each this season and the Blues will look to their senior players next week as they look to chase a top three spot.