RSL-COLTS put Rugby into a spin on Saturday with all 10 wickets taken by slow bowlers in the high-profile clash at No. 2 Oval.
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The ball dominated the match between the two most successful Whitney Cup sides of the past decade as Colts rolled Rugby for 159 before finishing the day at 2-34 in reply.
Off-spinners Wes Giddings and Greg Buckley starred for the men in red with Giddings finishing with 6-57 while Buckley claimed the other four after Rugby, missing captain Jordan Moran, had begun well after winning the toss and batting.
The defending premiers were 1-88 at one stage but after losing their final nine wickets for just 71 runs Giddings admitted his side had a successful day.
"After the start they got it was a good fightback from our boys but they've got a good bowling attack so it's no foregone conclusion that we're going to win next week, that first session will be crucial," he said.
Ben Patterson claimed both Rugby's wickets late in the day, including the big wicket of Paul Hulthen in the final over.
Earlier in the day, Mitch Bower's 60 had got Rugby off to a solid start but Buckley picked up the powerful right-hander when he was caught in the deep by Chris Morton.
The English off-spinner then combined with Giddings to rip through the middle order.
Nathan Munro and Jacob Hill each made 21 but number 11 Jacob Bruce was the only other to make double figures as he also made 21 late on.
"We started almost the best we have with our medium bowlers," Giddings said of his side's bowling effort.
"Sean Mason was a bit unlucky and then Greg and I came on and tightened it up, the wicket was a little inconsistent which helped us and we just bowled to our field.
"It was a nice day out, everything went my way with no dropped catches so I just bowled at the stumps and things happened from there."
With eight wickets in hand and 126 further runs needed for victory Giddings said his side was confident about their chances but with Rugby's bowling attack featuring Patterson, Ben Taylor, Jacob Bruce, Zac Murphy and spinner Adrian Carey nothing was a certainty.
"We'll be very disappointed if we don't get them, we're expecting to but they've got a good attack so if we can get through the first session we should be able to do it," he said.
Buckley and Jason Ryan, both on one, will resume the run chase next week.