In last season’s Plan B Regional Bash semi-finals at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Wes Giddings was running the drinks for the Orana Outlaws while Marty Jeffrey didn’t bat or bowl in the loss to the Border Bullets.
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Fast forward 12 months and the Outlaws are headed for the finals day at the SCG again, and this time the pair are expected to play key roles.
The Outlaws take on the Wagga Wagga Sloggers in Sunday morning’s Thunder Conference Final, with the winner to take on either the Newcastle Blasters or Northern Rivers Rock in the final on the hallowed turf of the SCG at 6pm.
“It’s very exciting to get the chance to play out on the ground,” Giddings said.
“Hopefully I get a bat and a bowl but if I don’t the experience of being out there with the team will be sensational.”
While Giddings is hopeful of getting a bat and a bowl, he is almost guaranteed to get both.
He has opened the batting in the wins over the Central West Wranglers and South Coast Crew. He was also named man of the match in the win over the Wranglers, taking four wickets and scoring a quickfire 27 in that victory.
Jeffrey has also been a key contributor. After taking two wickets in the first match, he claimed another one with his leg spin against the Crew and also scored a vital 41 not out in a match-winning partnership with Mat Skinner.
“If I get thrown the ball I’ll just try and do the job I do every week and if I’m required to bat I’ll just bat like I do but hopefully I’m not required to bat,” he said.
“We bat to 11 and we showed last game we do that so if we’re ever in trouble we can just stay relaxed and we’ve got the depth there with bat and ball so it’s going to be good.”
Despite the confidence within the camp, the Jason Ryan-coached Outlaws have been dealt a huge blow with speedster Ben Patterson ruled out.
Patterson misses out due to Sydney first grade commitments, with his St George side having to play a Kingsgrove Cup Twenty20 semi-final on the same day.
However, in some good news, destructive opening batsmen Anthony Heraghty has recovered from a broken bone in his hand.
“I look at our squad and we’ve got a really handy squad that, if we play somewhere near our potential, we should go close to winning the thing or at least getting past the first round,” Giddings said. “There’s a lot of confidence in the squad and we believe we can and that’s one of the main things you need to have before you get there, that belief, which I think this squad has.”
Something else the squad has is a strong mix of youth and experience.
While all Regional Bash sides are required to field under-23 players, Orana youngsters like Jeffrey and Jacob McNaught have made the most of their chances.
“Having those few under-23 players is a great rule and we can learn a lot from older guys like Wes and ‘Pilo’ (Nathan Pilon), who is our captain, and having him around has let all us young fellas learn a lot.”
Giddings echoed that sentiment.
“There’s good variety and gives the young blokes a chance to play with the older blokes and those older blokes get the opportunity to play in a different type of competition that wasn’t around many years ago so it’s great,” he said.
Orana take on the Sloggers in the semi-final at 10am.
ORANA OUTLAWS: Nathan Pilon ©, Mitch Bower, Greg Buckley, Wes Giddings, Jacob Harvey, Anthony Heraghty, Marty Jeffrey, Jacob McNaught, Jordan Moran, James O’Brien, Mat Skinner, Ben Strachan
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
