IT’S not often that a third grade century isn’t followed by a win but that was the unlucky fate of Jordan Murphy on Saturday.

Murphy made a brilliant 106 for Souths Gold in their Kelly Cup match against Rugby but had to watch on as their opponents ran down the target of 208 with two overs to spare.

It was a thrilling contest from the start, with Murphy’s knock the highlight for Souths Gold.

Thomas Stimpson (22) and Mat Wakely (38) each chipped in with the bat but for Rugby, their chase was a big team effort.

Dale Watmore made 46 at the top of the order, while Mitch Smith (55) and Simon Peddle (68) also got among the runs.

o o o

Rugby Red also made a winning start to their campaign, beating CYMS by 17 runs at John McGrath 1.

Batting first, the Reds made 5-167 from their 40 overs, led by scores of 37 from Brett Paul and 37no from Ben Wheeler, as well as 33 from Mitch Rosenbaum.

Scott Russell was the best of the CYMS bowlers with 2-8 from eight overs.

In reply the Cougars could only muster 150, but they would have taken some confidence from Jerose Joseph’s innings of 56.

Rugby Red’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Rosenbaum, Paul, Will Grant and Wayne Munro each bagging a double.

o o o

An unbeaten 75 from Josh Battishell helped Newtown Gold to a five-wicket win over Macquarie on Saturday.

Batting first, the Blues were bowled out in the 33rd over for 148, and their inability to bat out their overs proved costly in the end.

Brayth Stevenson made 30 batting at number three while captain Ray Cusack and Nilesh Solanki each made 19 to help Macquarie to a defendable total.

In the end though, it wasn’t enough as Battishall scored half of the Gold’s runs in reply as they ran down the target with 13 overs to go.

Andy Blake was the best of Macquarie’s bowlers with 2-22.

o o o

Dubbo District Cricket Association president Mick Davis made a hard-hitting 71 for RSL-Colts YDs on Saturday but his efforts were bettered by Souths Green’s Brian McKinnon.

The Greens comfortably ran down the YDs total of 6-185, which was set up by Davis and Connor Albert (58).

McKinnon wasted no time at the crease, peppering the boundaries his side ran down the target in just 24 overs.

o o o

The news was no better for the RSL-Colts side in third grade, as they were beaten by 41 runs by Newtown Black.

Batting first, Newtown Black made 7-192 from their 40 overs, with opener David Brown (57) and number eight Andrew Gardiner (39) the pick of the batsmen.

In reply Colts mustered 151, with Pat Cuskelly scoring 32 to top-score. A number of his teammates made starts but couldn’t go in with it as Mitchell Lincoln (3-23 off four) and Aeddan Todhunter (3-12 off 6.3) did the damage with the ball for Newtown Black.