The equation is simple for Cavaliers on Friday night – win and get their Royal Hotel Cup title defence back on track, or lose and be all but resigned to missing the final four.
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After a first-up thrashing at the hands of Orange City the reigning champions’ clash against Blayney on Friday night has become a must-win prospect, two consecutive losses will force the side to rely on other results going their way to qualify for the semi-finals.
In a massive boost for Cavaliers, the maroons will have the services of marquee player Matt White – now playing for Manly-Warringah in the NSW Premier Cricket competition in Sydney – on Friday night.
White, a former Mitchell Cricket Council and Western Zone colts speedster, returned to Wade Park as Cavaliers’ marquee man last summer and agreed to do so again in 2016-17.
White went wicketless in the one game he played last year against CYMS, but revved it up plenty in taking 0-22 and helping his side trump the green and golds by 20 runs.
“I hope I can pick a couple up this time, it was a bit embarrassing coming back from Sydney and getting none last time,” White laughed.
“But we won that game, that was the main thing so hopefully we can get another win [on Friday] night.
“I’m really looking forward to it, I was unavailable for the [Orange City] game so I made sure I could come back for this one, it’s always exciting to get out on the field with your best mates, it’s great to come back to my junior club too.”
White trained with Cavaliers on Wednesday night and said being able to pass on some knowledge to the maroons’ younger brigade is as big a reason for coming back to Orange as playing is.
“Definitely, I love being able to pass a bit on to those guys and teach them a little bit,” White enthused.
The situation is identical for the Jameel Qureshi-led Blayney side, which lost to Centrals in November.
The Manly-Warringah tearaway said coming back and playing against the likes of Qureshi, and Blayney’s marquee Mick Curtale who he played Western Zone colts with, is something else to look forward to.
“That’s another bonus. You get to know so many boys around Sydney playing down there as well, but it’s great to be able to come back and play against those guys,” White said.
“The guys you played against a lot at representative level and played with at different times too, I’m looking forward to seeing those kind of guys again.”
White is expected to take the new ball on Friday night, the game kicks off at 6.30pm at Wade Park.