CYMS and Cavaliers meet in their third consecutive Orange District Cricket Association grand final this weekend which only serves to heighten the enmity between the two clubs, which was exacerbated in a hostile round two fixture earlier this summer.

The green and golds have emerged victorious from the last two deciders and with all things considered, Gott said this decider match-up is exactly what his side wanted.

“Oh, that rivalry is definitely there for me too, the guys have been speaking about it for the last few weeks, and we were watching the [preliminary] final from the Wade Park hill hoping it would work out this way for a third one,” Gott said.

“You know, you might think the side that has lost the last two would have more motivation but the the way the boys are speaking, there’s certainly no lack of motivation on our side.”

Incredibly Gott, who came to Orange from Sydney after 15 years playing with Penrith, could just as easily have been in Cavaliers colours this weekend.

“I actually sent the feelers out to a couple of clubs … but I got the response faster from CYMS so I’m there,” Gott laughed.

“My wife’s family is from Orange so we thought we’d come out here and get into the country lifestyle. The boys at CYMS are a great bunch of blokes and they’ve let me come and go with work commitments all year, it’s been great.”

Gott said his side is brimming with confidence after claiming the minor title and progressing straight to the decider, he’ll play a huge role for CYMS with the new ball this weekend.

“Confidence is high, you’re never going into a grand final without backing yourself,” he said.

“I will take the new ball, but it’s more about experience I think. Being that senior player, building pressure from one end and keeping the Cavaliers boys quiet, particularly Richie.”

Based on previous results and this summer too CYMS enter the grand final as heavy favourites, something Cavaliers gun Josh Doherty acknowledges freely. After all, CYMS won last year’s decider by 267 runs.

“I think the result will be much closer than last year. After all the success the club’s had we were favourites for a long time. We’ve really relished our role changing into that of the underdog, the Mighty Ducks role, we’re happy enough sitting back and letting that attention go onto CYMS and just worrying about ourselves,” Doherty said.

“Just don’t start quacking,” Gott laughed.

“We haven’t beaten CYMS yet this year,” Doherty added.

“You haven’t played our full strength side yet either,” Gott interjected, with a big smile.

Doherty said after a character-building win over Orange City in last weekend’s preliminary final, the maroons enter the decider confident as well.

The burly all-rounder has been at the forefront of the clubs’ hostilities in recent times too, but said “that’s all part of the fun” and is expecting the green and golds to come hard at him this weekend as a result.

“It’s cliche, but it’s very much the what happens on the field stays on it way of thinking for me,” Doherty said.

“A few words, it all makes for a more exciting game of cricket and I enjoy it. It gets me into the contest, so I’ll welcome whatever comes my way out there.

“We’re starting to peak at the right time and last weekend was a bit win for us, we’ll carry that momentum in.”

This weekend’s grand final starts at 1pm on Saturday and continues from 10am on Sunday, at Wade Park.