While Cowra successfully defended the Grinsted cup last weekend against Young, the players did so in the knowledge that if they succeeded, a bigger test loomed on the horizon: Parkes.
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The Parkes teams sit in first and third in the Lachlan Premier League, with the Royal Colts undefeated to this point of the season, while the Cambridge Cats are the only team to have drawn against the Colts.
It sets up a big show down at Twigg Oval this Sunday, with the Parkes representative side, filled with the best of both teams, coming across to try and grab the Cup back from Cowra, last year’s winners.
Cambridge Cats opener Zachary Bayliss, along with captain Anthony Heraghty and pace bowler Jonah Ruzgas, will be among those playing for Parkes this Sunday.
The Cats will also take part in a smaller-scale, but no less competitive curtain raiser on Saturday afternoon, competing against the Cowra Valleys at Woodward Oval.
With two wins and two losses to start the season, the Cats will be looking to instill themselves as a premiership contender with a win against the Valleys.
The Valleys, for their part, will be keen to win and open up a situation where the Colts and Valleys will have a clear separation from the competition.
While Jacob McNaught has been a consistent performer with the bat, opener Greg Garlick and bowler Scott Wilson both made vital contributions last week, making the Valleys a formidable opponent.
However, despite last week’s loss to the Royal Colts, Zachary Bayliss is optimistic that it was just a sub-par week, with himself, Jonah Ruzgas and Hudson Hawke returning to form a near full-strength side this week.
While Bayliss acknowledges the Valley’s strengths, he believes that correcting his own side’s form holds the key to victory.
“I think we’ll just focus on bowling and fielding better than what we have been, It’s probably let us down just a little bit in the last few weeks,” he said.
“The best team will win on the day, that’s all we can hope for.”