ORANGE selector Steve Warrington remains positive ahead of tomorrow’s Mitchell Cricket Council colts preliminary final against Bathurst, despite being demolished in last weekend’s major semi-final.
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The Bluebag colts suffered a demoralising 133-run thrashing at the hands of minor premiers Mudgee, but Warrington said his troops had forgotten about the thumping.
“You can’t dwell on games like that,” Warrington said.
“We were short on players, but the boys who played stood up. We take plenty of positives from that; Mudgee didn’t bowl us out, Andrew Johnson dug in and got a great half century and we got 180 which would win most colts games.”
Orange welcomes back Western Zone colts Charles Litchfield and James Ryan, despite Ryan being in some doubt with a shoulder complaint. Kinross all-rounder Cameron Williams has been placed on stand-by should Ryan come up unfit.
The Bluebag colts will also welcome back regulars Sam Nicholls and Matt Corben, along with Josh Doherty while Kinross seamer Hugh Britton will don the baggy blue and white for the first time at colts level.
“Bathurst have a good side,” Warrington said.
“They’ve got plenty of experience, but I would’ve thought a couple might be out with the President’s Cup final being played. But, regardless, we’ll back ourselves to take it to Bathurst, and get a win up.”
Orange wicketkeeper Max Dodds said there was more than just a spot in the grand final on the line tomorrow.
“We really want to win something for Orange,” Dodds said.
“Steve Ryan has put in a lot of effort this year, and we’d really like to win something for him too.”
Bathurst also welcome two players back from Western Zone duty in Jeremy Judge and Kyle Aubin.
“That strengthens the top order a lot,” Bathurst coach Scott Inwood said.
Bathurst completed a clinical 110-run victory over Lithgow in the minor semi-final, and Inwood said he wanted more of the same.
“If we can play the same way we did against Lithgow I don’t think it is going to be easy for Orange, put it that way,” Inwood said.
“If we are able to get through and knock over Mudgee on their home ground it would be a win to be fairly proud of. We’ll just concentrate on this match first though.”
ORANGE: John Warrington (c), Charles Litchfield, James Ryan, Max Dodds, Andrew Johnson, Sam Nicholls, Matt Corben, Toby Polkinghorne, Hugh Britton, Braden Riles, Josh Doherty, Rowan Wilson, Cameron Williams (one to be omitted).
BATHURST: Blake Aubin (c), Wayne Sellers, Derryn Clayton, Angus Daymond, Tyler Horton, Pete McCleary, Jeremy Judge, Kyle Aubin, Alex Mitton, Jim Tristram, Brad Glasson, Tom Loader
