The rain was always expected on Saturday but before the downpour it was the CYMS Cougars who made the most of the time in the middle.
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The first day of the RSL-Whitney Cup’s second round fixtures were cut short by thunderstorms around the region on Saturday, but the Cougars still managed to inflict some damage on Rugby in the 7.1 overs they managed to play.
After winning the toss and bowling, the decision from CYMS skipper Ben Knaggs to open the bowling with Ben O’Donnell proved a masterstroke as he removed Campbell Rose (4) in the fourth over.
Ben Wheeler was handling Ben Strachan well at the other end but the same couldn’t be said for Baye Wallace, who misjudged a short ball and when trying to veer out of the way hit a simple catch to wicket-keeper Tom Coady.
The rain set in at that point and while both sides stayed at No. 2 Oval until roughly 3pm in the hope the clouds would clear, another downpour signalled the end of the match.
Rugby finished at 2/25 with Wheeler (16 not out) to be joined at the crease by Aidan Bennewith next week.
Rugby will be boosted by the return of Jacob Hill after he missed Saturday through Orana Outlaws commitments while Bailey Edmunds and Stuart Naden return for the Cougars after also featuring in the Plan B Regional Bash on the weekend.
Elsewhere in first grade, South Dubbo and Newtown both got through the much-shortened day unscatched.
South Dubbo were 0/24 when the rain came in, with Josh Williams (13 not out) and Angus Norton (8 not out) the men in the middle taking on the RSL-Colts bowling attack.
A massive Wayne Dunlop six which resulted in plenty of time searching for the bowl highlighted the action between Newtown and Macquarie at No. 1 Oval. Dunlop (7 not out) and Mitch Russo (4 not out) helped the Tigers to 0/11 early.