There remains a distinct feeling of unknown surrounding the competition, which returns for the first time since the Orange and Bathurst associations split following the 2006-07 season, but there was a handful of things that became very apparent on day one.

Here's the five things we learned from the opening day of the 2019-20 season:

There's been just one day of play so far in the 2019-20 summer but it's already glaringly obvious this is the cricket both Orange and Bathurst's associations should have been playing for the last decade or so.

There's been just one day and we're already looking at a much higher standard competition than the standalone title races in each association, and we need to bear in mind the best players still have to return to their clubs after being on Cricket NSW Plan B Regional Bash duty this weekend.

Then consider the fact that standard will lift the competitiveness of the competition, as will the old rivalries once they start returning - think Cavaliers and Bathurst City, two clubs that have a long history of hostility, that will remain despite few players from yesteryear still taking the field.

Most importantly, it's exciting and it'll be intriguing to see how it plays out, and that can't really be said of either standalone competition in recent years.

While there's always a handful of stand-out bats in both competitions, for the most part bowlers have had the better of the decks in Orange and Bathurst in recent years but you can almost guarantee that won't happen this summer.

There will be runs.

The drought the region is experiencing is devastating and it has led to hard, flat wickets all around with fast outfields as well and if that continues through the summer, it makes for an absolute paradise for batters.

We've already seen Orange City's Dave Boundy crunch the competition's first ton while Bathurst City's Joey Coughlan and CYMS' Tom Belmonte should on and pass triple figures on day two next weekend.

There was a handful of half-tons as well, with Cavaliers' Cam Laird falling just short of a century with 91 too.

Since he linked with CYMS in 2012-13 no one in Orange has taken more wickets than Chris Novak and in his younger years he was probably hard done by to never get a Western Zone cap, because he took plenty of scalps at the rep level too.

That was all bowling seam-up though, he's turned to bowling leg spin full-time this summer.

It's understandable why plenty would question the decision but he's got the complete backing of his skipper Hugh Le Lievre and with good reason, they're coming out pretty well.

He was somewhat loose on Saturday but considering that and Riawena not being conducive to spin at all, his 2-55 from almost 14 overs is enough to suggest he could potentially become the BOIDC's biggest threat this summer.

He's not a complete rookie, he bowled leggies as a youngster, and considering his smarts and experience as well that consistency will come, he'll be among the top wicket-takers this season.

Bathurst City skipper Joey Coughlan did it all on Saturday, taking three wickets to help skittle Rugby Union for 167 before pushing his side within touching distance of a first innings win with an unbeaten knock of 86.

That's pretty impressive as is, but it's more remarkable considering he's defying injury to do it.

Coughlan called himself a week-by-week prospect after pulling out of Bathurst City's Royal Hotel Cup win over Kinross a week earlier, thanks to the hernia he's battling, so to come out seven days later and all but win his side the game is a gutsy effort.

He's made of tough stuff, Redbacks' skipper.

Angus Le Lievre can already be considered one of the BOIDC's premier players but if it was being judged on facial hair alone he'd stand head and shoulders above the rest.

His beard is nothing short of magnificent.

Full, flowing, well-manicured and with a massive ginger streak, it really is quite an incredible and it's quite surprising he didn't pick up a wicket on Saturday because it would be insanely difficult to not just bask in its glory as a batter.