CRICKET
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
CYMS captain Jacob Sands thinks this is the best chance his side will have to beat Cavaliers in a grand final when the two sides meet this weekend in the Orange District Cricket Association first grade decider at Wade Park.
This will be the third grand final between the two teams in the past four seasons with Cavaliers claiming both of the previous encounters on their way to five straight Bathurst Orange Inter-District Cricket titles.
And Sands believes the side that will play today and tomorrow is the best CYMS have put up to challenge Cavaliers for first grade supremacy.
The CYMS batting line-up boasts the likes of Dean Turner, Ian Clatworthy and Dave Neil.
Meanwhile, the four-pronged bowling attack of Daniel Sandford, Matt Morrow, Josh Sands and Allan Dhatt has been damaging of late.
It is these players who have enabled CYMS to manufacture a run of eight games without loss and that has Sands confident about their chances of ending Cavaliers reign at the top.
“I think if it is going to be any year it is going to be this year because this is the strongest team we’ve had for some time,” the CYMS skipper said.
Cavaliers counterpart Richie Venner paid CYMS respect yesterday acknowledging this weekend’s opponents will be the toughest batch yet.
“I think if it is going to be any year it is going to be this year.”
“I actually think this is one of the strongest sides CYMS have produced in the past five or six years,” Venner said.
CYMS are hoping it is third time lucky in grand finals against Cavaliers while Venner’s men will be motivated to send some big figures in the club out with another premiership.
The skipper expects this will be paceman Lincoln Woods’ last season in first grade while batsman Craig Evers confirmed earlier this week he would retire after the grand final.
It is likely to be a huge game to bow out in with both sides on big winning runs.
CYMS have not lost a first grade game since the start of December while Cavaliers won five straight along with their Royal Hotel Cup win.
This has prompted every captain in the competition to predict a close finish, unlike their meeting last year which Cavaliers won by 335 runs.
“We’re going into the game full of confidence and we have been playing pretty well so hopefully it’s not like last year,” Sands said.
Play between Cavaliers and CYMS will commence at 1pm today at Wade Park with action on day two starting at 10am tomorrow.
CAVALIERS: Richie Venner (c), Trent Colley, Craig Evers, Lincoln Woods, Stuart Middleton, Mitch Evers, Daniel Carter, Brad Wright, Chris Martin, Matt White, TJ Cunynghame, Marc Williams, Greg Martin
CYMS: Jacob Sands (c), Michael Johnston, Matt Baker, Ian Clatworthy, Dean Turner, Dave Neil, Martin Crowe, Josh Sands, Allan Dhatt, Matt Morrow, Daniel Sandford, Dom Ferguson