It’s been many years since ORC, the only non-Orange side to win more than one Royal Hotel Cup, has competed in the day-night tournament.
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So long in fact, the last time ORC did turn out under the bright lights of Wade Park Facebook wasn’t a thing, Brangelina still was, Obi-Wan Kenobi was winning the high ground on Anakin Skywalker and Tigers legend Bruce Webb was inspiring his clubmates with his batting exploits week-in, week-out.
To be fair, Webb’s still inspiring the Tigers.
Ask anyone at ORC, the legend of Bruce Webb grows a little bit bigger every week.
But even though the club’s favourite son hasn’t picked up a bat in years ORC skipper Wayne Sellers is certain his Tigers, one of three Bathurst-based clubs competing in 2017-18, can take the Twenty20 tournament by storm.
ORC’s style of play should transfer seamlessly into the shortest form of the game, Sellers says.
“We’re better in the shorter form of the game. We like getting runs fast and early,” he explained.
“We just have to be mindful of our wickets. We’ve been working on improving our fielding.
“We need to be sharper and safer.”
Although Sellers admitted he “doesn’t know a thing” about his Kinross opponents, he said the Tigers were champing at the bit to play in what has fast-become the strongest club-based T20 competition in Western Zone.
“It’s the way of the future,” he said.
“The team is really keen. We have a Monday night Twenty20 competition (in Bathurst) but it’s more casual.
“We’ll be taking a bus over and making a night of it.”
ORC have drawn an unenviable run in this year's tournament though, after Friday’s clash with Kinross they’ll face powerhouses CYMS and Cavaliers then finish the preliminary stage against reigning champions Lithgow.
The two titles ORC has won came in 1994-95 and 1998-99, when it was a 40-over competition.
Friday’s clash kicks off at 6.30pm, at Wade Park.
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.
