Defending champions RSL on top in both grades going into the T20 break

Narrabri District Cricket Association’s one day competitions have entered two-month breaks following round eight matches that were contested on Saturday, and it is Narrabri RSL Cricket Club that leads the way in both grades with just four rounds left to play in February.

RSL is at the top of the first grade ladder alongside its 2021/22 season grand final opponents Tourist Hotel. Both of those teams are on 41 points following their round eight victories, which were their fourth of the season to go with three washed-out draws and a loss.

RSL downed Tatts by four wickets at Hogan Oval while Tourist Hotel won by forfeit against Western Razorbacks for the second time in four rounds.

Those results meant that the two top-ranked sides are now guaranteed spots in the finals, given that neither can finish outside the top three on the ladder come the season’s end.

The Razorbacks, which currently occupy fourth place on the four-team ladder, can now only finish as high as third with four rounds left to play. They will accumulate 44 points if they win all of their four remaining games, while both RSL and Tourist Hotel will both finish on at least 45 points.

Still in the minor premiership hunt is third-placed Tatts, which is just 15 points adrift of the two top-ranked teams and can still finish on top of the table if it mounts an unbeaten late-season push in the last four rounds in February.

Tatts is yet to win a game on the field this season from three attempts, with the side’s lone victory coming via forfeit against Western Razorbacks in round seven.

Meanwhile, RSL players currently dominate the individual statistical categories in first grade with a third of the season remaining.

Bernard O’Connor is the leading run-scorer with 124, at an average of 41.3, from three innings so far this season. He is the only player to have scored more than 100 runs, with his teammate Jake Brayshaw second on the run-scorers list with 90.

Those two players are also at the top of the best and fairest tally with four points each, and Brayshaw leads all players in runouts (one) and catches (four).

The youngest of RSL’s Brayshaw brothers, Cooper Brayshaw, is the leading wicket-taker so far this season with eight scalps.

RSL also leads the second grade one day competition ladder with four rounds remaining.

The defending champions have won three of the four matches they have played so far this season to go with two byes, two washed-out draws and a loss. That leaves them on 44 points, six points (one win) clear of both Tatts and Tourist Hotel, which are both on 38 points.

Both have played three games and have won one of those, and they both have two losses to go with three byes and two washed-out draws.

With the one day competitions now breaking, the NDCA’s T20 campaigns will get underway this Saturday.

The second grade competition will begin when Tatts meets Tourist Hotel, and the Coates Hire Namoi Super Slog T20 franchise comp will get underway as well.

Start times and locations for those games will be released soon.