GULGONG CRICKET
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Winning the Country Plate is a realistic goal according to Gulgong captain Stuart Bromley.
Despite having never advanced to the quarter-finals stage of Country Cricket NSW’s third tier knockout competition, Bromley is optimistic about his team’s chances.
“With the side we have this year, hopefully we can win the competition,” Bromley said.
In past Plate competitions, Gulgong have started well but faltered when it came to the one game before the quarter-finals.
Bromley said if his team were consistent in the field and with the bat, then there is no doubt Gulgong can go deep into the competition.
“We all showed what we could do when things went well,” he said referring to their 173-run demolition of Molong last weekend.
However, Gulgong also showed what happens when they are not on their day.
They lost to Lithgow in round one of the Rod Hartas Trophy last Saturday.
Lithgow scored 9-168 and Gulgong were dismissed 23 runs short for 145. At one stage they were 7-68.
“The pitch was really slow and it was difficult to score runs,” he said.
“It was just one of those days where everyone had a bad day. In a case like that you can rely on one person in the team to score runs but it didn’t happen and it was just a bad day.”
But scoring 7-355 against Molong with Bromley and Matt Knudson belting 124 and 73 respectively, has given Gulgong plenty of confidence heading into the Plate clash with Gilgandra.
“We got a big boost against Molong and we just have to continue on with it,” Bromley said.
This will be the first meeting between Gulgong and Gilgandra.
Bromley said he has no clue what to expect from the hosts on Sunday.
Gilgandra have reached the quarter-finals of the Plate twice in the past four seasons
“[I know] not much at all but I’m guessing they will have a reasonably strong team,” he said.
“If they get the good players from the surrounding areas, then they will be pretty decent. It won’t be a walkover.”
Gulgong have made several changes for Sunday’s clash to the team that took part in last weekend’s Rod Hartas Trophy.
Mark Hundy, Jared Clulow, Cal Ruming and Luke Norris have been included with Aidan Woods, Damian Doherty, Brad Honeysett and Will Jackson sitting out.
Sunday’s match will be played at Gilgandra.
GULGONG: Stuart Bromley (c), Mark Hundy, Dion Hollow, Jared Clulow, Matt Knudson, Darren Coubrough, Steve Haney, Mick Jarvis, Nathan Lane, Luke Norris, Andus Honeysett, Cal Ruming.
Gulgong District cricket round two fixtures on Sunday:
Bowlers v RSL at Victoria Park (Gulgong).
Coolah v Mendooran at Coolah.
Goolma v Centennial Hotel at Goolma.