RSL begin their first grade premiership defence in fine fashion at Collins Park

Narrabri District Cricket Association’s first grade one day comp defending champions RSL are off to a winning start to the 2024/25 campaign after prevailing by 90 runs against Tourist Hotel in round one.

Jarrett Tough’s men have won the past four 45-over premierships, and in the grand final rematch at Collins Park on Saturday they showed that a change to a white ball and a 40-over format will not hold them back in their hunt for a fifth straight title.

Nathan Trindall captained RSL in their first-round clash and elected to bat after winning the toss. His side performed well on a slow pitch that was more suited to the bowlers as they batted out the 40 overs and made 7-193, before knocking over Tourist Hotel for 103 runs in 25.4 overs.

The win put the defending champs on the front foot and continued a hot start to the season following two prior victories in the T20 competition.

It was inspired by the in-form Jake Brayshaw who backed up his player-of-the-match effort for the NDCA’s representative side six days earlier. Brayshaw opened the batting for RSL on Saturday and lasted almost 25 overs at the crease before departing for 29, but he did the real damage in the second innings when he spun his way to game-best figures of 5-27 from eight overs.

That saw him earn three NDCA best and fairest points, while two went to his brother Cooper (50) and one was awarded to their teammate Will Ford (26 and 4-27 from 7.4 overs).

Tourist Hotel took their first wicket of the day in the seventh over when opener Jye Manton dismissed Jordan Doolan (16) with the assistance of a Chase Harrington catch.

That made the score 1-23, which became 2-65 in the 17th over when Max Hunter (13) was bowled by Dylan Segundo.

Jake and Cooper Brayshaw then put on a 30-run partnership before Jake (29) was caught by Segundo in the Manton-bowled 25th over, and Ford and Cooper Brayshaw then combined for the RSL outfit’s best partnership of the day as they put on 65 together before departing in quick succession as Ford (26) was caught and bowled by Danny Laws during the 32nd over before Brayshaw was caught by Hamish Duncan in the Harrington-bowled 33rd over, just one delivery after he had brought up his half-century with a boundary.

The score was 5-166 when Brayshaw departed, and Duncan took the next two scalps to remove Zaac Brayshaw (10) and Bailey Keeler (1) as the RSL men made their way to 7-193.

Shane Murphy (11*) and Rowan Keeler (2*) both ended up unbeaten after the final ball had been bowled, and Tourist Hotel’s opening bowlers Duncan (2-19 from six overs) and Manton (2-26 from eight overs) were their side’s best with the ball.

Duncan also opened the batting for his team and was joined in the middle by Nick Tomlinson. They guided the chasing side to 61 before Duncan (13) was caught and bowled by his cousin Jake Brayshaw in the 15th over.

That started a devastating collapse for Tourist Hotel as they lost 5-7 to find themselves struggling on 5-68, and they could only add 35 more runs before losing their final wicket to fall 91 runs short of the required total.

Jake Brayshaw bowled two wicket-maidens on his way to 5-27 from eight overs, and Ford was also impressive as he took 4-27 in 7.4 overs.

Murphy took the match-clinching catch to dismiss Terrance Duncan (2), which was his third grab of the day.

Tomlinson (27) was Tourist Hotel’s top scorer teammates and Segundo (17) and Lachlan Woolford (13) were the only other batsmen to hit double figures aside from the openers.

RSL will get a chance to finish the coming weekend in outright top spot as they meet Wilga Razorbacks in a round two day/nighter at Hogan Oval.

The Razorbacks also scored a big win on Saturday when they chased down 79 runs to prevail by nine wickets against Tatts.

Tourist Hotel will look to bounce back when they meet Tatts at Collins Park in a game that will see both sides compete for their first win of the 40-over campaign.