THE Castlereagh Hornets will be out to build on their impressive last-start win when they meet Rugby in the McDonald's Megahit at No. 3 Oval tonight.
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Both sides come into tonight's match having won one of their first two Twenty20 matches this season but the Hornets, South Dubbo's short-form team, proved far too strong for CYMS Cougars in their last match, winning by 65 runs.
The Hornets' bowling was the key in the game, despite the absence of leading all-rounder Tim Berry, as they restricted the Cougars to 9-91 from 20 overs in reply to their own 6-156.
Rugby come into the match having bounced back from their opening loss to Christie's Crackerjacks by defeating Newtown and confidence is high in the camp after handing the Tigers their first loss in this season's first grade competition.
The prowess of the Rugby batting line-up is well-known with powerful hitters like Jordan Moran, Mitch Bower, Ben Taylor and Ben Patterson ably supported by Nathan Munro, Aidan Bennewith, Lee Price, Jacob Hill and Harry Kempston.
The battle between the Hornets bowlers and Rugby batsmen will go a long way to deciding the match.
Patterson's position in tonight's line-up is in doubt with the opening bowler in Sydney this week with the NSW Country under-19s side but Rugby still have bowling firepower in the shape of Taylor and Blake Watmore.
Asher Robins will be the key at the top of the order for the Hornets despite his lean run of form lately while the firepower will provided by Wells brothers Adam and Kyle.
Hornets skipper Berry is yet to play a Twenty20 match this season and his inclusion would further boost a side which has already shown its pedigree in the short form of the game but they will have their hands full tonight against the defending premiers.
Another key factor in tonight's match will be the pitch with last weekend's Whitney Cup match between CYMS and Rugby at No. 3 proving the wet deck is incredibly difficult to bat on early and the rain this week will be certain to affect things again tonight.
A $100 prize courtesy of Dubbo Sports World will also be up for grabs again tonight with the first player during the match to execute a direct hit runout taking home the cash.
The match between the Castlereagh Hornets and Rugby begins at 6pm.
