Donning the baggy blue of Orange District Cricket Association didn’t cross Lachie Coyte’s mind when he made the tough decision to finish playing with St Stanislaus College Bathurst and shift back to his junior club full-time in season 2017-18.
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Heck, he’s only 15, so playing first grade wasn’t even a serious consideration, the main factors in his decision were giving himself the chance to play in his own age group and do so under former NSW Country batsman Frank Weymouth’s eye.
So you can imagine how he’s feeling after being named to make his Orange debut in Sunday’s Mitchell Cricket Council President’s Cup clash against Mudgee.
“I’m absolutely stoked,” Coyte smiled.
“Constantly playing up age groups with Stannies, I sort of never found a lot of form. It certainly helped when I’d come back to play for Orange, or Mitchell, but I wanted to have a year of club stuff in my own age group.
“I wanted to play under Frank as a coach as well and with him coaching Orange City’s under 16s it made sense to come back this year.
“But in terms of senior cricket, I thought I’d just play a bit in whatever grade they needed me as some extra stuff. I’ve played plenty of junior rep cricket with Orange, but I hadn’t even given playing under 19s this season a thought, let alone opens, so I’m really looking forward to debuting.”
Despite those pre-season expectations Coyte has cemented his place in Orange City’s top grade side this year, taking the gloves with aplomb and showing plenty with the bat, including a match-winning 43 against Kinross.
However, he’s not expected to don the gloves on Sunday. Not with Cavaliers skipper Matt Corben returning to the side, and Centrals’ Nick Dunlop and CYMS’ Mick Hannelly also named.
Corben is regarded as the best gloveman in town, while Dunlop is one of the most experienced representative players in the side and Hannelly did the job in Orange’s drought-breaking Western Zone Premier League win over Parkes a fortnight ago.
“I very much doubt I’ll be doing the job when Matt Corben’s in the side, he’s the best ‘keeper in town,” Coyte said, also making the observation that glovemen is one area Orange isn’t lacking in.
Not that going without the gloves is a problem for the young gun, quite the opposite.
I hadn’t even given playing under 19s this season a thought, let alone opens.
- Orange debutant Lachie Coyte
“I’ll just do whatever (Orange skipper) Daryl (Kennewell) needs me too, I’m just happy to be playing,” Coyte enthused.
“It’s actually the first season where I’ve really been trusted with the gloves, full-time, so it’ll probably be good to get out and have a run around the field again.
“I think my glovework has been okay, but there’s always room for improvement and that’s another opportunity for me [on Sunday], to maybe pick-up some stuff from the other wicketkeepers in the side.
“I’m really looking forward to it, hopefully we can get a win and I can make an impact.”
After a first-up loss to Bathurst a victory on Sunday will keep Orange in touch with the Barracudas, while a loss would be a terrible blow to the Bluebaggers’ hopes of a decider berth.
Cavaliers quick Harry Pearce will also make his open debut for Orange against Mudgee on Sunday, winning his place on the back of some excellent early-season form.
Sunday’s clash kicks off at 10am, at Orange’s Wade Park.