It wasn’t perfect but Newtown captain Mat Skinner feels his side will gain a huge amount of belief from Saturday’s victory over RSL-Colts.
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The loss was Colts’ first of the season and, according to Skinner, is just one of “handful” of wins the Tigers have had over the men in red for during the last decade.
The result, combined with CYMS’ bonus point win over Souths, means the top three sides are incredibly all on the same amount of points heading into the Christmas and New Years break.
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“It was a really good result for us and we talked about it before the game, we wanted to the win so we could potentially go top at Christmas. That’s what we wanted,” Skinner said.
“We didn’t want them to be that extra game ahead and also it’s just a monkey off our back. It proves we can beat them.”
The likes of Skinner and his brother Steve, Wayne Dunlop, and Dan French have all been playing against Colts side for years and the captain said they benefit from the victory as much as the newcomers to the side.
“The older fellas have only beaten Colts a handful of times in the last 10 years or so,” he said.
“It’s good to know we can mix it with them.”
While the result was a massive one for Newtown, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Skinner said the batting still has “the same old problems” and his side collapsed in the middle order after Wayne Dunlop and Dan Holland made a fine start at the top.
The pair made a flying start and reached 75 in the 13th over before Holland fell to Rhys Beauchamp for 40.
That sparked a collapse of 6-29, as Wes Giddings ripped through the middle order.
Giddings, shrewdly brought on at first change, went on to claim 5-31 from his eight overs but while Dunlop remained at the crease the scoreboard kept ticking over.
The veteran opening bat went on to make 81 before being run out while Trent Smith (16), Ben Patterson (14), and Skinner (11) helped Newtown reach 180.
Giddings couldn’t continue his heroics when batting as he departed early in the chase as Colts slipped to 2-25 early on.
The middle session was where Newtown really lifted, bowling tight channels and making run scoring tricky for Colts.
Ket batsmen Brad Cox and Greg Buckley were building a key partnership before the former was dismissed by Trent Smith on 68.
The Colts tail offered little resistance and Buckley was the last man out for 48, his side falling short for the first time this season.
“We all bowled to plans and put the squeeze on in those middle overs,” Skinner said, before speaking about a potential minor premiership crack in the New Year.
“We’d like the minor premiership and each of top three teams would. We’ve accepted we’re going to be there (in finals) now so that would be the next goal.”
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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.
