Western will be better for finishing fifth at last year’s NSW Combined High Schools Championship, so much so one of Orange’s four representatives in Blake Weymouth says he’s expecting his side to be gunning for the title at Armidale this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Orange City’s Weymouth returns to the side after making his debut last year as does Cavaliers spinner Hugh Middleton, while two of the latter’s club teammates in Cam Laird and Hudson Izzard have made the cut for the first time.
The quartet will link with the likes of Bathurst’s Nic Broes, Dubbo’s Tom Nelson and Ben Wheeler and Mudgee’s Lochie Endacott, forming a powerful batting line up that Weymouth thinks can take on any attack.
That batting line up will also include Dubbo’s Brock Larance, who was named player-of-the-tournament last year, was named in NSWCHS’ first XI and has gone on to represent the Australian under 16s.
“I think we are definitely more of a batting side, we probably don’t have that one really quick bowler so I think we’ll be trying to score plenty of runs,” Weymouth said.
“Last year we were a bit younger so [winning the title] probably wasn’t (the goal) but this year I think it is.”
Western will face Sydney South West on Monday’s opening day of the carnival before taking on Riverina and Sydney East on days two and three respectively, with Thursday’s final match-ups to be determined by those results.
We are definitely more of a batting side ... we’ll be trying to score plenty of runs
- Western's Blake Weymouth
While Weymouth said his side will be confident, he also admitted to not knowing much about any of the opposition.
“Hunter won it last year so I think they’ll be strong again but you don’t really know until you play against teams, you don’t know who is and isn’t there,” Weymouth said.
As a more senior player in his second year, Weymouth said his goal this week is simple – “score plenty of runs”.
He also said he has his eyes on a much-coveted NSW cap.
Both Weymouth and Middleton were included in NSWCHS’ under-15 side for the NSW All Schools trials last year, but have moved up into the open ranks now.
“I’d definitely like to score plenty of runs and the NSWCHS side is a goal too,” Weymouth said.
Having a number of friendly faces in the side is a bonus too, considering how well they all know each other, and having been at this level before Weymouth offered his first-year teammates a simple piece of advice leading into the four-day carnival.
“Back yourself,” Weymouth said, succinctly.
All four of Orange’s stars have form on the board too, which will help in terms of confidence.
Weymouth is coming off a half-ton on the weekend and has posted triple figures this season too while Middleton has taken wickets for fun at times. Laird’s passed 50 this summer and taken scalps too, while Izzard has found his feet in Cavaliers’ top grade side.
Games kick-off at 9.30am on Monday morning, and on the other days too.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below …
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
