Myles Smith may only be available for a handful of Macquarie's RSL-Whitney Cup matches this season but he could prove to be the difference in the race for the minor premiership.
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Smith made an immediate impact with the Blues on Saturday.
The Parkes all-rounder scored 40 as his side posted 180 against CYMS at No. 1 Oval before taking 5/33 from eight overs as Macquarie won by 27 runs and leap-frogged the Cougars into top spot on the ladder.
Macquarie and Parkes have had a strong relationship for a number of years and Smith is one of a number of players who has come across to feature in the McDonald's Megahit Twenty20 competition this season.
With his regular club side, the Parkes Colts, currently enjoying a number of weeks off in the Lachlan Premier Cricket competition he became free on Saturdays as well.
"It was good to contribute," Western Zone all-rounder Smith said.
"They [Macquarie] got a really strong side and all those boys can play. I hadn't seen some of them before I came here but I'm very impressed."
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With the top two well clear of the chasing pack in the RSL-Whitney Cup the results of their meetings may well decide who finishes in top spot and moves straight through to the decider.
The Blues have now won both meetings against CYMS and Smith was the standout on Saturday.
He firstly got his side, without the injured Jason Green, back on track with the bat after things had slowed in the middle order.
Medway brothers Dan and Ricky had, as has regularly been the case this season, got their side off to a flying start and were 0/33 after just four overs.
Dan (13) fell shortly after but Ricky carried on, passing 50 for the second time this season.
But CYMS spinners Brock Larance and Yogi Chawla put the brakes on for a period and when the former removed Ricky Medway for 63 to make it 4/105 after 23 overs the Cougars had a sniff.
Smith changed that though, waiting for the right ball to punish and while he fell short of a half century he helped his side to a competitive total.
Smith was removed by Cougars captain Ben Knaggs, who brought himself on late and finished with the eye-catching figures of 4/4 from 3.3 overs.
"Obviously we had to try and push it a little," Smith said of his time in the middle, his knock including two sixes and four boundaries.
"We'd slowed up and there was a few wickets but we still needed to keep going.
"The boys were happy but I thought we were short. Especially with the CYMS lineup, I thought 180 would be very chaseable."
CYMS lost Tom Nelson (7) early in the chase but Tom Coady and Lachlan Strachan soon had their side in control.
But Smith, the fifth bowler to be thrown the ball by captain Ed Haylock, swung the match when he came on after drinks.
He drew an edge from the in-form Coady (43) in his first over and he knocked over Strachan (37) as well after the Cougars all-rounder tried one big shot down the ground too many.
They big wicket of Larance (15) came soon after, the teenage star also going hard at the ball, and Smith bowled Knaggs with a peach the very next ball to be on a hat-trick and in command of the match.
He missed out on the hat-trick but didn't have to wait long to complete his five-wicket haul as Jake Settree (1) departed.
"It was the first one in awhile so it was good to get one," Smith laughed.
"I was a bit lucky. Three were driven straight to mid-off and you don't get that all the time."
Smith did the bulk of the damage but Dan Medway was also crucial at the other end in the second session.
The spinner barely allowed a big shot to be played and after building pressure he ripped through to the CYMS tail to finish with 4/19 from 7.2 and complete a crucial win.
"The boys stayed pretty positive," Smith said of his teammates.
"They [CYMS] were never really above the run-rate but they were on par.
"Dan kept one end really tight and that helped us defend. He kept one end tight and we could take wickets from the other."
The Blues meet RSL-Colts in what is another intriguing match in next weekend's final round before the Christmas and New Year's break.
Smith will be on deck for that game, and the first round back next year on January 11 but is unlikely to feature again on Saturdays after that.
Colts head into next weekend's game with momentum on their side after completing a third successive win on Saturday.
The men in red were made to work for the victory over South Dubbo, and again had Charlie Kempston to thank.
Kempston continued his fine run of form by banging 71 at the top of the order and Jason Ryan made an equally important 65 as Colts chased down Souths' total of 7/214 with one over to spare.
Angus Norton had earlier made 79 for the Hornets while Joe Coles kept his side in the game with the ball, taking 3/24 from eight overs.
The final match of the round saw Rugby score a narrow surprise win over Newtown.
Aidan Bennewith made 58 for Rugby, batting first, but it was two tailenders who proved decisive in the match.
Jakke Gardiner (35 not out) and Adam Richards (39 not out) hit a 56-run partnership late on to get Rugby to 7/168 after the 40 overs.
That proved to be enough as Richards stepped up with ball as well, taking 2/24 from eight.
Ben Rosenbaum was also outstanding for Rugby, taking 3/16 from eight as the Tigers were restricted to 7/161 in reply.
Jarrod Toole (44 not out) and Trent Smith (40) were among the runs but couldn't get Newtown across the line in the seven-run loss.
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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.
