One loss from as many starts may not look that bad on paper, but if the Western Zone Premier League's is anything to go by Orange's opening-round loss to Bathurst has put the Bluebaggers well, well behind the eight ball already.
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In short, if the competition's trend continues, the Bluebaggers' four remaining preliminary games are all must-win fixtures, because another loss would all but spell the end of their title hopes.
Just once in the last seven editions of the competition has a side that's lost more than one game gone on to make the final, way back in season 2013-14.
Dubbo qualified for the final, taking on the undefeated Parkes, after dropping two preliminary games, they edged out Mudgee for a decider berth on net run rate alone.
You're never going out there to lose one of these games.
- Orange captain Ed Morrish
"Well you're never going out there to lose one of these games anyway, so that doesn't really change our attitude much," Orange skipper Ed Morrish said ahead of Sunday's trip to Parkes.
"Sure, it would've been great to knock off Bathurst and have a confidence boost under our belt but we'll just have to do what we can to make sure we don't drop another game now."
In the past Parkes have posed an imposing figure for Orange, not surprising really when you consider the Bluebaggers' 2017-18 win snapped an 11-year, 3,942-day losing streak against the Lachlan Valley-based heavyweights.
That is long-forgotten though, Morrish said, even though Parkes did win last summer's encounter by 116 runs at Woodward Oval, the same venue they'll square-off at on Sunday.
"Personally I haven't played against Parkes in three or four season, so I don't really know anything about them at all anymore," Morrish said.
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"I don't think there'll be anyone carrying any scars though, there's not many guys left from those teams that constantly got beaten by them.
"They'll have a few guys from the Orana Outlaws (Cricket NSW Plan B) Regional Bash side so I'm sure they'll be pretty handy and we'll have our work cut out for us.
"It's just about improvement for us. We got close against Bathurst but we didn't play our best cricket, so if improve and get close to that level I think we can get the job done."
Cavaliers' Angus Cumming comes into the side after missing the loss to Bathurst, as does Kinross' James Larkin who starred for the Central West Wranglers in the Regional Bash last weekend.
Kinross quick Ed Taylor has also been named to make his debut for the Bluebaggers after being on the radar for most of last summer.
"I'm excited to see how a few of the young guys go, James Larkin's obviously done pretty well for the Wranglers and we don't want to put too much pressure, but it looks like he'll do well in this side too," Morrish said.
Sunday's second round of the Western Zone Premier League starts at 10am.
- ORANGE: Ed Morrish (Orange City - captain), Matt Corben (Cavaliers - vice captain), Blake Weymouth (Orange City), James Larkin (Kinross), Bailey Ferguson (Cavaliers), Lachie Coyte (Orange City), Hugh Le Lievre (CYMS), Angus Cumming (Cavaliers), Mitch Black (Cavaliers), George Cumming (Kinross), Zac Reimer (Centrals), Ed Taylor (Kinross)
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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.
