The RSL Colts have begun their end of season two day cricket with an emphatic start, posting up a dependable total in their bid for a spot in the RSL-Whitney Cup finals.
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The third placed side fired early and often in their tilt against ladder-leading Macquarie with opener Charlie Kempston opening the account just short of a half-century knock on 46 before being caught out by Angus Cusack.
Colts captain Marty Jeffrey said that the game had taken on a new level of importance given their opponent, and what it could mean for the Colt's finals hopes.
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"We're feeling pretty good after it, it was a really important day of play, it still is a really important game for us next weekend, playing against Macquarie going into the semis, when we're sitting in third, it's big in terms of where we're going to finish," Jeffrey said.
Batting collapses have plagued Colt's lineup this season, but the issues seem to have shaken out on Saturday, with Brad Cox falling just short of a century in a heroic effort in the middle of the batting order, going for 98 before being dismissed by Brayth Stevenson.
"King Cox, they like to call him, he's always in there for us when the big games come up, the best players really stand up in those circumstances and he did it again for us," Jeffrey said.
"It just shows his class when the pressure's on and for Charlie to tip in as well and do what he does early that's always going to help us out at the start of the order."
"I was really happy to win the toss and have a bat, just stick to our plans and put that reasonable total on the board on what was a pretty slow outfield and a tricky wicket."
Jason Ryan added on another 34, but the most momentous event in Jeffrey's eyes was the quick dispatch of Macquarie's opening batsmen, bringing Jason Green into play for the second up batting lineup early.
"Macquarie have always had guys that can come out hard, but they have a solid middle order too, Greeny is a bit like Brad is for us, they bat around him, they know they've got the power in that bottom order, so it's good that Greeny's out there straight up for us next week," Jeffrey said.
"Those two early wickets from that great set of five overs we bowled and we're going to get to put in a very new ball against these guys who are usually coming in four, five and six."
While the ultimate outcome is still in the balance, Jeffrey sees the 226 run total as a solid investment in what is now looking more more and more like a semi-final berth.
"I think we've put the worries to rest, everyone's been hitting the ball reasonably well, but just without that bit of purpose, I think now everyone knows what they're doing," Jeffrey said.
While the RSL Colts showed the bulk of the positive momentum on Saturday, the Newtown Tigers got their fight for a finals spot under way in earnest against the CYMS Cougars.
The Tigers posted up 138 runs in their innings, led by Steve Skinner in the opening spot, who put up 31 runs before Ben Knaggs took over for CYMS.
Knaggs bowled an incredible 24 overs straight and took five wickets in a stunning captain's showing.
That put CYMS on top but two late wickets gave Newtown hope.
Both Lachlan Strachan and Bailey Edmundsfell late in the day, leaving Tom Coady and Gilbert Chaseling at the crease.
Elsewhere, South Dubbo Hornets elected to bat first after winning the toss, with captain Adam Wells putting up 22 at the start of the innings to stabilise South's batting order, who eventually finished up 103 all out before Rugby began their chase in earnest, moving to 68 runs for 6 wickets by the end of the first day.
All four sides will return to complete their games next weekend on Saturday, February 29, with Newtown fighting to close in on finals.