THE pointscoring system employed in this season’s RSL-Whitney Cup competition continues to conspire against CYMS.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Cougars scored their fourth win of the season when they beat Newtown by 37 runs at No.2 Oval on Saturday, but despite the win they still sit in second last spot on the ladder.
That is in spite of the fact they have won more games than both Rugby and Souths, who sit above them.
An outright loss to RSL-Colts in the opening two-day match of the season has hurt the Cougars, who continue to impress despite the obstacle in front of them.
While the effort isn’t being represented on the ladder so far, the improvement shown by Ryan Medley’s men has been noticeable in 2016/17, with their victory backing up earlier successes against last season’s grand finalists Macquarie and South Dubbo.
On Saturday it was the side’s youngest player who stole the show, with 15-year-old Brock Larance going agonisingly close to scoring a maiden first grade ton.
The opener batted beyond his years to make 93 and such was the dominance of his performance that when he was the fifth wicket to fall, in the 26th over, the score was on just 126.
But at the same time as Larance was exiting the field, Ben O’Donnell had come to the crease and the former skipper helped his side to reach 9/240.
O’Donnell blasted an unbeaten 62, and with Ben Knaggs and Nick Guthrie each making 18 it enabled the Cougars to reach a defendable total.
Troy Tracey was the best of the Newtown bowlers as he took 4/42 off his seven overs, including the key wicket of Larance.
Mat Skinner also took multiple wickets, finishing with 2/49 off his eight-over spell.
Needing to go at a run a ball, Newtown came out hard with the bat.
Openers Charlie Kempston (15) and Dan Holland (46) blasted a 70-run opening partnership that ended in just the 10th over and had them in front of the required run rate.
But the introduction of Englishman Lewis Matthews into the bowling attack not only slowed the scoring but also brought about key wickets.
He nabbed Holland and then Kempston, before also claiming the vital wicket of Steve Skinner (39) to leave the Tigers on 3/126 just after drinks.
From that point on Newtown never really got a roll on, with CYMS always able to find wickets at key times.
Tom Barber (18), Mat Skinner (15) and Dan French (4) all fell in quick succession, with James Nelson doing the damage through the middle order.
Backing up the work he did with the bat, Larance came on and took 1/24 off eight overs in a tidy spell while Ben Knaggs also got a wicket as Newtown could muster just 9/203 from their 40 overs.
Both CYMS and Newtown face tricky assignments in their final match before the Christmas break.
Newtown will take on Rugby, with both sides set to be missing players due to the Orana Outlaws Plan B Regional Bash clash with Wagga Wagga at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
CYMS are scheduled to meet Macquarie, who have lost five straight matches and will be looking for a confidence-boosting win in order to stay in contention with the top three.