CYMS, as a club, is on the verge of one of the most successful seasons in Orange District Cricket Association history.
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Third grade captain Pat Duffy, second grade skipper Michael Fletcher, Centenary Cup captains Jeremy Finlayson and Rich McFarlane and first grade skipper Hamish Finlayson will lead their sides in grand finals today, and tomorrow, with all five of the club’s senior teams qualifying for their respective deciders.
Incredibly if each of CYMS’ sides win the green and golds will have earned all but one of the trophies on offer in the entire association after already securing the top grade Limited Overs Cup, Lower Grade Twenty20 title and the Royal Hotel Cup.
The green and golds also claimed the McCarthy Cup - the ODCA club championship.
Not bad considering it’s also the club’s 70th anniversary.
“I can’t speak for other players, but I don’t think the 70th anniversary is motivation in itself,” first grade vice-captain Dave Neil, speaking to the Central Western Daily in place of Finlayson, said.
“It’s just a happy coincidence that we’ve had a good year when the club has reason to celebrate anyway. Putting five teams on the park each week is a massive achievement in itself.
“To have five in a grand final would have to be an incredibly rare, if not unique, achievement for a country cricket club.”
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Neil, a former first grade captain and club legend, said CYMS has been working towards this moment for some years, thanks to its unmatched junior base.
“The number and quality of our junior players over the past five years was always going to generate strong lower grade sides,” he said.
“More than a few have matured into first-grade calibre cricketers as well. It would be an incredible effort to win all four.
“Given the trophies we’ve won across the grades already this season, if we can add the four major premierships it would have to go down as the most successful year in the club’s history.”
CYMS’ first graders will take on Cavaliers at Wade Park, from 12.30pm today and 11am tomorrow, while the reserve grade side takes on perennial heavyweights Orange City at Riawena Oval, from 1pm today and 11am tomorrow.
In third grade, CYMS clash with heavy favourites Gladstone, at Jack Brabham (1) and in Centenary Cup CYMS Fahys take on CYMS Kelly’s at Jack Brabham (2). Both games kick off at 1pm today.